🥗 Best Pasta Salad Recipe

This fresh and flavorful pasta salad is a perfect side dish for picnics, barbecues, or quick family meals. It combines tender pasta with crisp vegetables, salty olives, creamy cheese, and a light olive-oil dressing. The mix of Mediterranean ingredients like Feta cheese, Cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives creates a vibrant dish that’s refreshing and satisfying.

It’s easy to make ahead, travels well, and tastes even better after chilling in the refrigerator for a while.

📝 Ingredients

• 12 oz **Penne pasta

• 1 cup halved **Cherry tomatoes

• 1 cup sliced **Cucumber

• ½ cup sliced **Red onion

• ½ cup **Kalamata olives

• ¾ cup crumbled **Feta cheese

• ¼ cup chopped **Fresh basil

Dressing

• ⅓ cup **Olive oil

• 2 tablespoons **Red wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon **Dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon Garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon **Dried oregano

• Salt and black pepper to taste

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook penne pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.

2️⃣ Prepare the Vegetables

Slice the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the fresh basil.

3️⃣ Make the Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.

4️⃣ Combine the Salad

In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese.

5️⃣ Toss with Dressing

Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is well coated.

6️⃣ Chill and Serve

Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend.

⭐ Tips for the Best Pasta Salad

• Use al dente pasta so it holds its shape in the salad.

• Chill the salad before serving for better flavor.

• Add grilled Chicken or Shrimp to turn it into a full meal.

❓ Q & A

Q: How long does pasta salad last?
A: Stored in an airtight container, it lasts 3–4 days in the refrigerator.

Q: Can I make pasta salad ahead of time?
A: Yes. In fact, making it a few hours ahead improves the flavor.

Q: What pasta works best?
A: Short pasta like penne, rotini, or farfalle holds dressing and ingredients well.

Q: Can I make it vegetarian?
A: It already is! Just ensure your cheese is vegetarian-friendly if needed.