Greek Pasta Salad
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This Greek pasta salad features a creamy pesto dressing and healthy fresh ingredients. It’s savory, delicious and satisfying. The (optional) chicken breast add-in turns this yummy side into a hearty lunch or dinner.
When the weather heats up I turn to quick and easy recipes that are cool and refreshing. This Greek pasta salad makes the top of the list. It’s added to the summer meal-plan rotation.
Once you try this tasty dish, I guarantee it will become a go-to favorite. Take this Greek pasta salad to potlucks and parties. You’ll come home with an empty bowl, and you’ll have friends asking for the recipe.
🛒 INGREDIENTS
- Trottole Pasta: Or another hearty pasta like gentile pasta, cavatappi, or campanelle.
- Mayonnaise: I prefer Best Foods or Duke’s mayo. But feel free to use whatever brand of mayo you have on hand.
- Basil Pesto: Homemade or store-bought. Costco sells really great pesto. It’s located in their refrigerated section next to the refrigerated pastas.
- Red Onion: Has a sweet peppery flavor that’s just a tiny bit spicy. It works well with the other ingredients in this Greek pasta salad.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes: Have an intense sweet/tart flavor that’s fabulous. They contribute color, taste and texture to the salad. If desired, you can even drizzle a bit of flavorful oil from the jar on top of the pasta salad.
- Marinated Artichoke Hearts: Bright, herby and tangy, they’re a great pairing with the other ingredients like pesto and sun dried tomatoes.
- Kalamata Greek Olives: Have a rich, strong, fruity taste. They’re often packed in a salty brine with red wine vinegar, herbs and olive oil.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Or use grape tomatoes. They contribute color, freshness and delicious texture.
- Feta Cheese: This tasty Greek ingredient is tangy, salty and creamy with a crumbly texture. It’s the ideal cheese for this pasta salad.
- Shaved Parmesan Cheese (optional): For more delicious flavor!
- Chicken Breast (optional): Adds protein to the salad. This add-in makes this Greek pasta salad a full meal – a perfect lunch or dinner.
Because I’ll take short-cuts when I need it, I buy a rotisserie chicken at Costco and cube up the breast section. It helps the assembly go faster.
Although I enjoy making pesto from scratch, sometimes I’m short on time. For this Greek pasta salad I used store-bought pesto from Sprouts Market. The deli container was .75 lbs and yielded 1 and 1/4 cups pesto. But if I’m heading to Costco, I’ll pick up a jar of their fresh basil pesto.
📖 RECIPE STEPS
RECIPE PREP: Cook noodles according to package directions. Cook them al dente so they’re not limp and have a gentle firmness. Drain off the hot water. Rinse the noodles under cold running water to cool them completely.
- STEP 1: In a small bowl, mix the pesto and mayo together.
- STEP 2: Add cooled pasta to a large bowl. Pour the pesto-mayo dressing over the pasta. Fold it into the pasta until all pieces are covered.
- STEP 3: Fold in the the onions, olives, artichoke hearts, and sun dried tomatoes. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and fold them in: tomatoes, chicken (optional), feta cheese, and parmesan (optional).
- STEP 4: Cover and refrigerate until serving time.
Greek pasta salad is also a perfect make-ahead dish. I store mine in a heavy-duty zip-top bag. I’ve found that pasta salads taste even better the following day once the dressing has had a chance to really soak into the noodles.
👩🏻🍳 RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions for making Greek pasta salad, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
Use whole-wheat noodles and light mayonnaise.
Add a protein like chicken, steak bites or shrimp.
When transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated, it can last for up to 5 days.
🥗 MORE HEARTY PASTA SALADS
- Cold Spaghetti Salad
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Summer Pasta Salad with Veggies
- Italian Pasta Salad
RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Flavor testers rated this the BEST Greek pasta salad. They greatly enjoyed the fabulous flavor, color and texture of this delicious dish. They said the creamy pesto dressing and healthy add-ins made this dish extraordinary.
If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.
Greek Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
Description
This fabulous Greek pasta salad has a creamy pesto dressing that highlights a medley of fresh ingredients. It’s savory, satisfying and delicious. Take it potlucks. Enjoy it for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Trottole pasta, cooked al dente
- 2 1/2 cups rotisserie chicken breast (optional), cubed
- 1 1/4 cup pesto, homemade or store bought
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup Greek Kalamata olives
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 3/4 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, finely diced
- 3/4 cup feta cheese
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese (optional), shaved or grated
Instructions
RECIPE PREP: Cook noodles according to package directions. Cook them al dente so they’re not limp and have a gentle firmness. Drain off the hot water. Rinse the noodles under cold running water to cool them completely.
- In a small bowl, mix the pesto and mayo together.
- Add cooled pasta to a large bowl. Pour the pesto-mayo dressing over the pasta. Fold it into the pasta until all pieces are covered.
- Fold in the the onions, olives, artichoke hearts, and sun dried tomatoes. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and fold them in: tomatoes, chicken (optional), feta cheese, and parmesan (optional).
- Cover and refrigerate until serving time.
Equipment
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Notes
How to cook pasta al dente: If instructions for cooking al dente are not listed on the package, reduce the suggested cooking time by 2 to 3 minutes. You’ll know when the pasta is done by doing a texture test. When you bite into the pasta it should not be hard, but there should be a tiny amount of resistance or a slight bite to the noodle.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Greek
Keywords: Greek pasta salad, Greek pasta salad recipe, cold pasta salad
Greek Pasta salad 👉🏻 Join the conversation
Have you tried this delicious salad recipe? Did you take it to a family gathering, or pack it for a work or school lunch, or enjoy it for dinner? Share your thoughts on this Greek pasta salad in the comments below.
My husband can’t stop raving about this pasta salad.
★★★★★
Thanks for sharing the recipe. This looks so yum!
Your pictures are spot on. I love this food, Just hearing about the Greek pasta salad for the first time and I love the sound and look of it. Hope to try it out sometime.
Oh my gosh you’re making me so hungry with your Greek Pasta Salad. I’ve never had this dish before but I’d like to make it minus mayo (could I use sour cream instead?). I’m fixing to go check out your Mac n cheese recipe too.
I haven’t tried Greek food yet, and your pasta looks delicious! What’s the secret of Greek food ingredient?
This greek pasta salad looks delicious. It is so simple to make and so yummy. Thanks for sharing.
The salad looks absolutely amazing. It’s making me hungry lol And I have all the ingredients to make this!!! Thank you for the recipe
Oh my goodness! This looks so fresh and delicious! And it also does seem to be very easy to make. Perfect for a picnic or just for a quick lunch for work!
Oh my word this looks amazingly good my mouth is watering!
Yum! Now I know what I’ll be preparing for dinner later! Looks easy yummy and healthy!
Yay! I’m so happy to know you’ll soon be enjoying the delicious flavors of this Greek pasta salad. Thank you so much Patricia for stopping by for this recipe and leaving a comment. Have a wonderful week!
I haven’t tried Greek food yet, and your pasta looks delicious! What’s the secret of Greek food ingredient?
Oh boy that looks delicious. It made my mouth water just thinking about it!
Hi Angela. This Greek pasta salad is indeed mouth-watering delicious! I can hardly wait for you to whip up a batch and have a taste.
I love greek food so I had to pin this. All this food looks amazing.
Oyinkan, thank you so much for pinning this Greek pasta salad recipe to Pinterest. I appreciate it more than words can say. :-)
YUmmm! That pasta salad has been plucked from my wildest dreams. it looks so spectacular!
Sharon, your sweet comment has literally made my day! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I can hardly wait for you to try this Greek pasta salad recipe. So yummy. :-)
This looks so delicious. I’ve always been a fan of pasta salads. I love artichoke hearts so much.
Artichokes help make this Greek pasta salad super scrumptious! Amber, I hope you try this Greek pasta salad sometime this month. Have a wonderful week!
No wonder it is a favourite in your household. I absolutely love Greek pasta salad and it is so perfect for the upcoming summer months as well x
Summer and cool, refreshing pasta salads go hand in hand. Ana, I hope you enjoy this Greek pasta salad recipe this season.
Your Greek pasta salad looks and sounds absolutely amazing! I never would have thought to put artichokes in a pasta salad. Yummers!
Heather, artichokes alongside sun-dried tomatoes give this Greek pasta salad a beautiful burst of flavor! Thanks so much for stopping by this evening for a visit here at Confetti and Bliss. I really appreciate it. :-)
Yum! These are all my favorite foods and Greek salads are my favorite! Saving this recipe and I can’t wait to try it.
Helene, your sweet comment make me smile! Thanks so much for saving this Greek pasta salad recipe. You’re going to love it!
Me, too Helene. Isn;t this just the yummiest?? I am pinning for my family. Can;t wait to my next family reunion!!
Oh yum this sounds like it would be absolutely delicious, I am all for a good pasta salad in the summer, and I am definitely going to have to give this one a try.
Thanks Sarah! It makes my day to know you’ll soon be trying one of my favorite recipes for Greek pasta salad.
Thanks for the great recipe! This is one of my favorites at home. I’ll have to try your recipe for a new twist on what I do already!
You’re so welcome, Carolyn. I’m happy to know you’ll soon be enjoying this Greek pasta salad recipe with all it’s fresh, creamy goodness. :-)
There’s really something about summer and pasta salads! And this looks amazing. Perfect addition to any BBQ.
Thank you Jolina for your sweet comment. I agree this Greek pasta salad is a perfect BBQ side dish. I’m actually quadrupling the recipe this Thursday for a backyard BBQ for 40 here at my home for my husbands co-workers and their families.
My go to noodle is garden variety rigatoni as of late! And the colors in the salad are incredible! I love pesto mayo too. Looks like I will be adding this to my list of must trys!
Marlene, rigatoni would be perfect for this Greek pasta salad! Thank you so much for stopping by to visit my blog and leave a comment. Many good wishes for a wonderful week!
This looks so good and delicious, need to return pasta salad to my weekly menu.
Hi Joan! I’m so happy to hear that this Greek pasta salad might be featured on your weekly menu sometime soon. :-)
Now this is a flavorful pasta salad! Looks so yummy!
Thank you, Cara. This Greek pasta salad really is just as scrumptious as it looks!
This looks soooo good! Just came back from work and I am starving! Now I know what i’ll have for dinner!
Corine & Kirsty, I have a sneaky feeling this Greek pasta salad will become one of your all-time favorite salads! Enjoy. :-)
I love all the flavors in this, and it looks so easy and tasty!
Thanks Leah! It is indeed super easy to make. I hope you try this Greek pasta salad recipe sometime soon. :-)
I’m going to have to make this! It looks so yummy!
Woo-hoo! Elizabeth, I’m so happy to hear you’ll soon be enjoying forkfuls of this Greek pasta salad goodness. :-)
I make something like this all the time. I have found that the Irish in me is hiding a Greek somewhere because I love this blend of flavors.
Good morning, Mary. Thanks so much for stopping by for this Greek pasta salad recipe and leaving a comment. I really appreciate it!
MM that greek salad looks delicious!! It looks pretty easy to make too! Love those kinda recipes!
Thank you, Julie! I know you’re going to enjoy this quick easy recipe for Greek pasta salad with chicken.