Greek Pasta Salad is packed with tons of veggies to keep you full and tons of flavor to keep you happy! It is the best pasta salad recipe to bring to BBQs, potlucks, and picnics as well as make ahead for lunch. It can be eaten alone for a vegetarian pasta salad option, or top with a protein like tuna or grilled chicken.
This post was originally published on June 27, 2016, but it’s being updated with pretty new pics and a slight tweak to the recipe.
Confession #91 – While I totally believe in the whole 80% 20% rule for eating, and the idea of everything in moderation, I still have trouble stopping myself from eating more of certain foods when I do eat them.
Like Pasta. I’m cool with my 21 Day Fix Yellow container until I fill it with pasta. Then it’s just sad. I love my zoodles and spaghetti squash, so this isn’t a huge issue, but I was craving pasta salad this weekend and one little yellow scoop wasn’t going to cut it.
That’s how this Pasta Veggie Salad was born!
Ingredients for Greek Pasta Salad
- Cooked whole wheat or GF pasta – Use your favorite pasta brand and type and cook it according to the package directions.
- Diced cucumber – I left the skin on, but feel free to peel.
- Broccoli florets– Be sure to cut up into bite sized pieces.
- Grape tomatoes – Either cut in half or leave them whole, its up to you!
- Red onion– I love the color pop of the red onion, but if you don’t like onions you can sub more cucumbers, tomatoes, or broccoli, or just leave it out all together! TIP: soak your red onion in water while your pasta is boiling. This takes out the “bite.”
- Feta cheese– You can sub another cheese or omit if dairy free.
- Olives – I used kalamata, but you can use black olives instead. If you don’t like olives, you can double the dressing or skip! FIXers, this will change the ORANGE container amount.
- Lemon – Fresh lemon gives everything a nice burst of flavor!
- Homemade dressing of olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, fresh or dried oregano, fresh or dried basil, garlic power, and lemon juice – If you make the dressing the day before it will be THAT much more amazing, but will totally still work if you make it right before serving. No worries!
My goal was to fill this Greek pasta salad recipe with enough delicious veggies to have a proper serving and not feel deprived. I love the combination of fresh grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion, but also added some fresh broccoli cut up into small florets.
Perfecto! This salad has the perfect amount of crunch from the fresh veggies and flavor from the herbs, dressing, lemon, and feta cheese. And one serving was a whole heaping 1 1/2 cups! I hardly had room on my plate for anything else.
Love these flavors? Check out this Greek Cucumber Salad!
How to make Pasta Salad
- Mix ingredients for the dressing (can do the day before) and refrigerate. Be sure to taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
- Cook your favorite pasta according to package directions.
- Once the pasta is cooled, toss with veggies and olives. Squeeze juice from 1/2 lemon over salad and mix. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
- Last, stir in feta and dressing before serving.
What to serve with Greek Pasta Salad
This veggie packed salad would be a perfect thing to bring to a potluck or picnic or even a make ahead lunch for the week! You could always add some diced chicken, tuna, or even top with some egg for a protein kick.
This is also the best pasta salad recipe to make with a grilled protein. Try one of these:
My Fave Burger Recipe + Burger Sauce
21 Day Fix Grilled Lemon-Herb Pork Chops
Lemon Grilled Salmon {21 Day Fix}
What if I don’t like olives in my Pasta Salad Recipe?
I used a tiny amount of the 21 Day Fix orange container allotment for olives because I’m obsessed, but if you would rather omit, go for it! It won’t change much as far as containers go. Don’t tell Autumn, but you can add a tiny bit of extra feta and it will all work out the same.
Do you love Greek and Mediterranean food? Try another one of these recipes-
21 Day Fix Greek Spaghetti Squash Boats {Gluten-free}
Chicken Quinoa Mediterranean Salad with Tzatziki Dressing [21 Day Fix | WW]
Easy Gluten-free Mediterranean Chickpea Salad | 21 Day Fix | Weight Watchers | 2B Mindset
Easy Falafel Bites [Air Fryer | Oven]
Also check out: How to Measure Pasta for the 21 Day Fix + 21 Day Fix Pasta Recipes
Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked whole wheat or GF pasta
- 2 cups diced cucumber
- 2 cups broccoli florets cut up small
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes cut in half or left whole
- 1/4 red onion sliced (TIP: soak your red onion in water while your pasta is boiling. This takes out the “bite.”)
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbles
- 20 olives I used kalamata
- 1/2 lemon
Dressing
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- Sprinkle salt and fresh pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1/2 tsp dried basil
- Sprinkle garlic powder
- Juice from 1 lemon
Instructions
- Mix ingredients for the dressing (can be done the day before) and refrigerate. Be sure to taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
- Once the pasta is cooled toss with veggies and olives. Squeeze juice from 1/2 lemon over salad and mix. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
- Stir in feta and dressing before serving.
- Enjoy! Makes great leftovers or lunches for the week!
Notes
Nutrition
Mashall says
can I cook the brocoli before? I like cooked brocolli not raw.
Nancylynn says
Sure!
Denise says
Delish!! Fresh and filling without feeling overstuffed.
Nancylynn says
I love this one too, Denise! Thank you for your comment and star rating!
Carrie says
You’re not kidding when you say this recipe is great for meal prep! The flavors get better and better as the days pass! A total keeper, thanks for yet again another fab recipe!
Ivy says
This sounds so good! I dont like Olive and I see in your notes that I can double the dressing if I leave the olives out. Does that mean that I double all the ingredients for the dressing and just count a serving size one full orange?
Nancylynn says
Yes, if you double the ingredients for the dressing and omit the olives, it will count as 1 ORANGE per serving.
Katie says
I made this last night as a side dish with your burger recipe. Love it so much! Your recipes are all so wonderful! Thank you!
Adriana G says
Thanks for this recipe! For the dressing, would you need to count any teaspoons (Portion Fix)
Nancylynn says
Hi! No, because we count the dressing towards the orange container! 🧡
Kristen says
When prepping for the week would you mix in dressing or stack in a mason jar?
Nancylynn says
You can divide whole recipe in half and mix dressing one half and then dress the other half mid way through the week, OR your mason jar idea is a great one too!
Lori says
LOVED THIS RECIPE!!!! I was a big fan of the serving size. I even got my husband to eat it and he is picky. Very good with grilled chicken.
Nancylynn says
That is awesome, Lori!
Sarah says
I apologize..is a sizing size equal #1 1/2 cup or 1 and 1/2 cup…thank you!
Gen says
What can you substitute for the Feta cheese?
Nancylynn says
You can use whatever cheese you like – fresh mozzarella would be a delicious choice – but you can also leave it out!
Marie says
What is the carb content per serving?
Nancylynn says
I don’t count carbs – I am not sure! Sorry!
Vicki says
Greek Past Salad. How big is a serving???
Nancylynn says
One serving is 1 1/2 cups!