Mediterranean Pasta Salad

A classic summertime meal is this nutritious Mediterranean pasta salad. It’s incredibly filling, full of color and vegetables, and quick and simple to prepare!

Searching for a tasty and novel recipe for summer pasta salad? You need look no farther than this variant from the Mediterranean! Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and baby spinach are mixed with fusilli pasta. A homemade Mediterranean dressing and crumbled feta cheese offer a ton of flavor. This salad is a simple and quick weeknight supper or is ideal for potlucks and celebrations.

I enjoy switching up my pasta salads depending on the time of year, the ingredients I have on hand, and my mood. I prepare them a few times a month. This Mediterranean Pasta Salad is my favorite to prepare in warm weather! It will be a success with everyone if you combine it with feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives!

why you’ll love this pasta salad with spinach

• Tangy and refreshing. The cooling cucumbers, tomatoes, and spinach combine with the vinaigrette, feta cheese, and kalamata olives to make a tasty and revitalizing salad.
• Quick & easy to make. It just takes 20 minutes to prepare this meal! Ideal for bringing a food to share or for a hectic weeknight.
• It can be made ahead of time. This salad is the ideal make-ahead food since it really becomes better while it sits. Just prepare it in advance and keep it chilled until you’re ready to serve.
• Crowd pleaser. You can feed a lot of people with this salad! It’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, and potlucks. They all return for seconds (or thirds!).

Ingredients to make Mediterranean pasta salad

Color and freshness are crucial! Consider Mediterranean cooking and all of the wonderful ingredients that are commonly used in those recipes. Depending on your preferences, you can add more or less of what I like to include.

• Pasta! Yes, some of that will be necessary. I prefer to use pastas that are short and have texture, such as fusilli, ditalini, farfalle, or penne. Their forms absorb the salad dressings very well, and they are easy to consume.
• Tomatoes: Very Mediterranean! Both fresh and sun-dried tomatoes can be used.
• Cucumbers: It gives the salad a pleasant crunch and some greens.
• Something brined and salty: Roasted red peppers, artichokes, hearts of palm, and olives all work well here.
• Greens: I prefer to use baby kale, spinach, or arugula. Do you dislike large leafy greens? Try only mint, basil, or parsley!
• Feta cheese: If you wish to keep this pasta salad vegan, feel free to add as much as you like or none at all.

How to make Mediterranean pasta salad

1. Combine the dressing ingredients in a large serving bowl and whisk until emulsified.
2. Top the dressing with the chilled spaghetti and stir to mix.
3. Top the pasta with the remaining salad ingredients.
4. Toss the pasta salad until the dressing coats everything evenly.

Tips for making the best Mediterranean pasta salad

1. Don’t skimp out on the salt. How much salt? The general rule is 1-2 tablespoons for every gallon of water, however I usually eyeball this. To make sure there are still plenty of tastes in cold pasta, use two teaspoons.
2. Don’t overcook the pasta. In a pasta salad, nobody enjoys wet spaghetti. Make sure it’s moist without becoming overly soft. Observe the pasta box’s al dente cooking guidelines.
3. Rinse the pasta with cold water after cooking. This will assist in preventing the pasta from receiving any more heat right away or from heating up other salad components, such as the feta cheese.
4. Cut the veggies as uniformly as possible. This maintains the consistency of the eating experience and the attractive appearance of the salad. Some ingredients will be overdressed or underdressed if everything is different in size.

popular substitutions & additions

• Switch out the spinach with kale.Kale is a simple way to replace spinach if you don’t like it. You may use regular kale, but I prefer to use baby kale because it’s softer and simpler to consume. To make it less difficult, just cut it into bite-sized pieces.
• Beef up the protein with some chickpeas or white beans.You can add a can of white beans or chickpeas to the salad to bulk it up or add more protein.
• Add in some grilled chicken or shrimp.You may easily add some grilled shrimp or chicken if you want to turn this into a main course.
• Try it with pickled onions or jalapeños. You can add jalapeños or pickled onions for a bit extra spiciness or acidity. I like to include both!
• Add fresh herbs. This salad is a terrific way to incorporate parsley, mint, and basil.

what to serve/pair with your summer pasta salad

• Baked Lamb Chops
• Simple Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
• Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
• Grilled Beef Kabobs

how to store Mediterranean pasta salad

To see all the lovely hues, I prefer to keep pasta salad in a big glass container. Before serving, make sure to give it a good stir because some of the dressing might have sunk to the bottom.

How long will pasta salad last in the fridge?

You may keep this salad in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Then the vegetables will begin to wilt and the pasta will begin to go mushy. It will be gone much before then, though, if you’re like me!

Frequently asked questions

Can I prepare something in advance?

Indeed! In fact, this is a terrific salad to prepare in advance. To give all the flavors time to meld, I would suggest preparing it at least a few hours in advance, or perhaps the day before.

What happens if I don’t have every ingredient?

Don’t worry! It’s a really forgiving salad. Simply omit or use a different vegetable if you don’t have one of the ones on the list.

Is it possible to substitute another kind of pasta?

Indeed! Any kind of spaghetti will work well. In a pinch, I’ve even prepared this with brown rice or quinoa. Just remember to modify the cooking time appropriately.

This recipe for summer pasta salad is always a hit and can be made with any ingredients you happen to have on hand. It’s fantastic, quick, and fresh! The best thing is that this Mediterranean pasta salad is a great lunch prep option because it keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days.

More pasta salad recipes

• Greek Pasta Salad
• Avocado Pasta Salad
• Caprese Pasta Salad
• Spinach Pasta Salad
• Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
• Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

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The original publication date of this dish for Mediterranean Pasta Salad was August 15, 2018. The recipe has been slightly altered, and new step-by-step pictures showing how to prepare the pasta salad recipe have been added to the post.

Ingredients

Instructions

• Bring a big pot of water that has been liberally salted to a boil. As directed on the package, add the pasta and cook it. Rinse with cold water after draining until fully chilled. Put aside.
• In the meantime, combine the dressing ingredients in a large serving bowl and whisk until emulsified to create the salad dressing.
• Over the dressing, add the pasta and stir to mix. Toss the pasta salad with the additional salad ingredients until the dressing coats everything evenly. Serve right away or let it cool in the refrigerator until it’s time to eat.