A Creamy Greek Pasta Salad recipe, with all the ingredients you love in a traditional Greek Salad like cucumber, tomatoes, red onions, black olives, and feta, mixed with Italian bowtie pasta. Serve this delicious pasta with moussaka or baby back ribs!
I've tasted a lot of pasta salad recipes over the years. After many church potlucks, women's Bible studies, and other events, you can't help but sample hundreds of various pasta salad recipes.
However, there's one particular Greek Pasta Salad recipe that stands out in my mind above all the rest. It's a recipe that my friend Rose shared in a Pathways Community Church cookbook which was published in 2006.
If there's one thing I love about this particular pasta salad recipe it's the combination of cucumber and Feta cheese. I know that sounds simplistic, but it's such a great combo! I have used Rose's recipe as a starting point and have made some slight adjustments because, you know, that's just what I do!
I decided to make my own salad dressing instead of using store-bought dressing. The end result was amazing! To make a meal out of it, serve the Greek pasta salad with Raquel's feta quiche. It's a match made in heaven!
Jump to:
🧐 Why This Recipe Works
- It's a straightforward, easy recipe!
- The pasta salad can be prepared ahead of time.
- It tastes even better the next day!
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredient And Substitutions
- Bowtie Pasta — Although I'm using this colorful and fun bow-tie pasta, spiral, shell, or any shaped pasta can be used to make this Greek Pasta Salad recipe.
- Black Olives — If you want to make this salad even better, replace the canned black olives with Kalamata olives. You can also add pitted green olives to this salad.
- Feta Cheese — Besides good quality Feta cheese, you can also use cubed sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
- Chili Peppers — The chili peppers give this salad a little spicy kick. If you mild food, you can leave them out.
- The Dressing — The simple creamy dressing is made with a mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ranch dressing, herbs, and spices.
🥗 How to Make Greek Pasta Salad
Step 1: Add water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a six-quart Dutch oven. Bring to a boil then add pasta.
Step 2: Stir the pasta to keep it from sticking together and cook for ten minutes, or according to package directions. Drain the pasta in a strainer and rinse with cold water.
Step 3: Add cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, tomatoes, black olives, and hot chili peppers to a medium-sized bowl. Add pasta to the bowl and mix to combine.
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Step 4: Whisk dressing ingredients together in a measuring cup. Pour dressing over the pasta salad and gently mix to combine.
Step 5: Sprinkle feta cheese over the pasta salad and fold in until completely incorporated. Chill and serve as a side or as an appetizer.
Looking for other great pasta salad recipes? Check out this delicious seafood pasta salad recipe from Lisa at LittleBitRecipes.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with this yummy Greek pasta salad? There are so many great options! I love to serve it as a side with this Greek Gyros Pita, Greek-style air fried Cornish hens, and these Greek chicken skewers.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Greek Pasta Salad is a cold salad that usually served as a side dish. A mixture of freshly chopped vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, red pepper, black olives, and chili peppers) is mixed with a tangy Greek dressing. Cold pasta and Feta cheese complete this delicious dish!
Although you can cool the pasta prior to adding it to the other salad ingredients, it's not necessary. As a matter of fact, the flavor just might soak in even better if the pasta is still warm. However, if the pasta is too hot, it can slightly cook the vegetables, which is not desirable.
You can absolutely make this Greek Pasta Salad Recipe the night before. It might actually taste even better! The flavors will be infused into the salad, and mixing in a little additional dressing prior to serving it will really wake up the flavor!
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- Pepperoncini peppers are also great in this salad.
- If you are short on time just use Paul Newman's Balsamic Vinaigrette instead of making it from scratch.
- Cubes of cheddar and salami are also great additions to this Creamy Greek Salad Recipe.
🍋Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Creamy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 9 oz dry bowtie pasta
- 1 medium cucumber (chopped)
- ½ medium bell pepper (sliced)
- ½ cup red onion (sliced)
- 1½ cups grape tomatoes (sliced in half)
- 1 6 oz can whole black olives
- 1½ cups crumbled feta
- ½ cup spicy chili peppers
Dressing
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Additional Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sea salt (to salt boiling water)
Instructions
- Add water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a six-quart Dutch oven. Bring to a boil, then add pasta.
- Stir the pasta to keep it from sticking together and cook for ten minutes, or according to package directions. Drain the pasta in a strainer and rinse with cold water.
- Add cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, tomatoes, black olives, and hot chili peppers to a medium-sized bowl. Add pasta to the bowl and mix to combine.
- Whisk dressing ingredients together in a measuring cup. Pour dressing over the pasta salad and gently mix to combine.
- Sprinkle feta cheese over the pasta salad and fold in until completely incorporated. Chill and serve as a side or appetizer.
Notes
- Put some of the salad dressing aside and stir it in just prior to serving. This really wakes up the flavor of the pasta salad.
- Pepperoncini peppers are also great in this salad.
- If you are short on time just use Paul Newman's Balsamic Vinaigrette instead of making it from scratch.
- Cubes of cheddar and salami are also great additions to this Creamy Greek Salad Recipe.
Cindy says
I loved this, but made some modifications. I used chopped Campari tomatoes, a three pepper blend, and Kalamata olives. I tossed in a 5 oz. bag of coin-sized Hormel pepperonis. My pasta came in a 12 oz. box, so I used all of it. Not a fan of ranch, I substituted Greek yogurt blended with olive oil, white wine vinegar, and fresh dill. Mixed that with the remaining dressing ingredients, and it’s very good.
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Cindy, Sounds like you made your own recipe, haha. I'm glad you enjoyed it, sounds yummy. Thank you for the review!
Lori says
I have made this twice and both times it was a huge hit! It’s easy and super good! The cucumber is refreshing! I made a ton and it did not last!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Lori! I really appreciate the review!
Kelly Methey says
This recipe is calling my name! Sounds so good, especially with summer coming. Adding the meat and cheese makes it dinner in a bowl on a hot day!
Thanks, Hilda, for another great recipe.
HildaSterner says
Thanks, Kelly, I hope you like it as much as Art did!