Here is a recipe for Greek Pasta Salad- the perfect make-ahead salad for summertime picnics, BBQs, potlucks, and easy summer dinners. A hearty ratio of fresh vine ripe veggies and herbs, tender orzo pasta, and chickpeas tossed in the tastiest Greek Salad Dressing! Video.
If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it. ~ Toni Morrison
Summer is picking up the pace as it does here in the San Juan Islands of the PNW. Sometimes I feel like the sunny season is almost over, when truly it really is just beginning. There is a frenzied palpable energy of not wanting to miss out on any of the summer goodness! The warm season is short here. And there is so much to do! I am reminding myself that whatever I get to experience will be enough. There is a perfect amount of time to soak up summer. It gives me a sense of ease to say that. I am choosing (hopefully, I will remember to remind myself often) to just flow with it all and revel in the beauty of the simple things.
Which brings us to picnics, BBQs, and potlucks! Such a gift to share time and meals with our community again. I am always looking for good potluck dishes to share at gatherings. This Greek Pasta Salad is great to include in the potluck repertoire!
Greek Pasta Salad is filled with fresh crunchy veggies and zesty herbs with just enough pasta to complement and soak up the delicious Greek Salad Dressing. I love how orzo pasta doesn’t take up a lot of space in the salad. It just adds to it without stealing the show. You can add feta or keep it vegan.
Greek Pasta Salad | 60-second Video
Many things to love about this Greek Pasta Salad!
- The ingredients are easily obtained and it is fairly quick to make!
- It can be made ahead of time.
- It is packed with summer seasonal veggies.
- It is so deliciously good and will satisfy most palates.
- It is perfect for sharing!
Greek Pasta Salad Ingredients
- orzo pasta
- red onion
- red bell pepper (or 1/2 red, 1/2 green)
- fresh oregano
- canned chickpeas
- kalamata olives
- cucumbers
- cherry tomatoes
- fresh parsley (optional basil and mint)
- feta cheese (sheep’s feta is the best!), optional
Greek Salad Dressing Ingredients:
- red wine vinegar
- fresh lemon juice
- dijon mustard
- garlic
- dried oregano
- salt
- black pepper
- olive oil
How to make Greek Pasta Salad
Step 1: Cook the pasta. Orzo takes about 6 minutes to boil in water. Salting the cooking water will heighten the flavor immensely!
Step 2: Make the dressing. We make the Greek Salad Dressing right off the bat. Using dried oregano gives a more zesty punch to the dressing.
This is a great dressing to double up on. You’ll be happy to see it in your fridge. It is so very versatile! Not only great for pasta salads, but also perfect for green and vegetable salads and as a marinade for chicken. It keeps for at least 2 weeks refrigerated.
Step 3: Chop the veggies. We marinate the diced onions in the vinaigrette first to mellow them and follow with the veggies as we chop them. Bell peppers, chickpeas and olives all get a jump on soaking up flavor from the dressing before adding the pasta.
Step 4: Combine. Add in cooked orzo pasta, more dressing and cubed feta cheese (if using). Mix to combine.
Step 5: Adjust the flavor. Taste and adjust flavor adding more dressing, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon if needed. Add fresh basil and mint just before serving.
Hope you enjoy this delicious Greek Pasta Salad!
Storage
This Greek pasta salad recipe will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Serving suggestions
Serve as a vegetarian main, along with a chilled summer soup like our Gazpacho or Cucumber soup!
Or pair this with our grilled chicken or this cedar-planked salmon.
More Pasta salad Recipes you may enjoy!
- Classic Greek Salad
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Summer Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto
- Lemon Basil Orzo Pasta Salad
- Farmers Market Pasta Salad
- Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad (Balela Salad)
- Mediterranean Farro Salad w/ Marinated Zucchini and Chickpeas
- Lemony Chickpea Quinoa Salad
- 35 Easy Delicious Potluck Ideas
Greek Pasta Salad
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 31 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
- Category: Pasta Salad, Salad
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Mediteranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This healthy Greek Pasta Salad is the perfect make-ahead pasta salad for summertime picnics, BBQs, potlucks, and easy dinners. A hearty ratio of fresh veggies combined with tender orzo pasta, chickpeas tossed in the tastiest Greek salad dressing.
Ingredients
Greek Pasta Salad
- 1 1/2 cups, 9-10 oz, orzo pasta uncooked
- 1/4 red onion, about 1/3 cup, diced small
- 1 red bell pepper (or 1/2 red, 1/2 green), chopped small
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 15 oz can chickpeas, 1 1/2 cups, drained
- 1/3 cup kalamata olives, sliced
- 2 cups thin skinned cucumber, chopped small
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup basil and/or mint for garnish if desired
- 6–8 oz feta cheese (sheep’s feta is the best!), optional
Greek Salad Dressing:
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Cook the orzo pasta according to the package directions in salted water. Drain and rinse with cool water and set aside.
- Make the dressing by whisking together red wine vinegar, lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Drizzle in olive oil, whisking all the while to emulsify.
- Add diced red onions and a 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette to a large bowl. Allowing them to marinate while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Add bell peppers next along with oregano, chickpeas, and kalamata olives.
- Add cucumbers, tomatoes and parsley. Toss altogether. Add in cooked orzo pasta, 1/4 cup more of dressing and cubed feta cheese (if using). Gently mix.
- Taste and adjust flavor adding more dressing, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon if needed.
Toss with basil and mint just before serving.
Notes
Add red pepper flakes if desired.
Salad will keep up to 4 days in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 698.4 mg
- Fat: 17.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26.9 g
- Fiber: 4.8 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 18.9 mg
Sweet and tangy BBQ tofu sandwich last week. Veggie-packed-and-bursting-with-flavor Greek pasta last night. And the vinaigrette will make a quick and delicious dressing for future salads. I’m not sure which search led me to you, but I’m glad I found you.
So glad you’re here Dahlia! Really appreciate the review!
This is such a crowd pleaser!
Great to hear this Faye!
Cette salade est une explosion de saveur. Je suis tellement contente de t avoir connu .Un grand merci !
Glad you enjoyed this salad Manon!
I made this using a gluten free orzo and the flavors are still great!
Great to hear Lexi!
Yummy and healthy
Great!
I made this for a baby shower over the weekend, and everyone loved it! I let it sit refrigerated overnight, as suggested, and the flavors deepened and brightened. Thank you!
Great Janet, thanks for letting us know!
if i just wanted to make the dressing, how many servings would you say it is? using the 1x measurements (i want to add the dressing to myfitnesspal recipe log but it’s asking for serves how many lol!)
There is a separate post for the Greek Salad Dressing, that will have more of those details!
Tonia,
This Greek salad was simply delicious!
I certainly love salads with all the the different colors!
I doubled the recipe& there wasn’t a lot left over!
Yummy the next day as well!
I will definitely make again.
Thank you!
Wonderful to hear Suzan! Thanks so much for letting us know.:)