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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

Published: Nov 21, 2020 · Modified: Jan 31, 2023 by Ginny · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Take this Easy Pasta Salad Recipe to all your events and parties. It only takes 30 minutes to make. It is a light and refreshing dish that is a perfect lunch!

White bowl filled with fresh chopped red onions, pasta and parsley on top.
Simple and Delicious Easy Pasta Salad with Fresh Parsley
Contents hide
1 Why This Recipe Works
2 🥗 Ingredients
3 📎 Instructions
4 💡 Expert Tips
5 Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

You have to love simple, easy salads to share with family and friends. This one is packed full of fresh ingredients and the flavors are incredible.

Why This Recipe Works

Made in just 30 minutes – If you need a fast recipe on short notice, this quick and simple salad is easy to whip up.

Has lots of fresh ingredients – Red onions, cucumber, bell peppers, and parsley will fill you up.

Inexpensive – You don’t have to put a huge dent in your wallet to make this meal. It has frugal ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen!

Meal prep friendly – Pre-cook the pasta or simply prep your vegetables early so you can simply toss and eat.

Meal prep lunches – Make these into meal prep lunches for the week. It is much healthier than take-out meals. If you need a little extra protein, cube up some salami or pepperoni here.

Portable – Make this salad for those church picnics and for the block parties. Whip this one up when you are going to or hosting a baby shower or bridal shower. The flavors are fabulous and the actual salad is gorgeous to serve.

🥗 Ingredients

This salad is so incredibly easy to make and tastes so refreshing. Let’s talk about some of the main ingredients to get you started.

Pasta: I prefer to use rotini pasta. Swap it out for any of your other favorite varieties, but I love how the dressing, feta and little veggies get stuck in the spirals and it saves that flavor from dripping off the noodle.

Vegetables: The vegetables are such an important part of this recipe. They add flavor and character to the dish. We like to add red onions, green peppers, fresh cucumber, and parsley.

Flavorings: You’ll get tons of flavor in this pasta salad. The extra flavor comes from the white vinegar, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and feta cheese.

📎 Instructions

Step One: Prepare the pasta according to the directions on the package.

Step Two: After cutting the cucumber lengthwise, scoop out the insides with a spoon. Throw out the seeds. Chop up the cucumber, onion, and bell pepper in bite-sized pieces and place them in a large bowl.

Step Three: Add the chopped parsley and crumbled feta cheese. Mix the ingredients together.

Step Four: In a separate bowl, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pour this dressing on the vegetables and stir.

Step Five: Pour the pasta into the vegetables and mix thoroughly.

Step Six: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours before serving.

💡 Expert Tips

  • Don’t overcook the pasta noodles or it will become too soggy.
  • Add in your favorite vegetables, herbs, or ingredients. Black olives, mushrooms, chopped cheddar cheese, or oregano are all great ideas.
  • Try to keep the veggies chopped to a similar in size. This will make it easier to eat.
  • Add a little bit of salt to the pasta when boiling.
white bowl with fresh vegetables and pasta topped with crumbled feta.
Super Easy Pasta Salad is Perfect for a Summer Day!

⏲️ Recipe FAQ

How long can I keep the pasta salad?

As long as it’s kept cool and in a sealed container, it will last up to five days in the fridge.

What other kinds of cheese can I use?

This recipe is super versatile, so swap the feta for other varieties. Cheddar, mozzarella, goat cheese, and parmesan work well.

Is it okay to use another kind of pasta?

Sure thing! I like rotini for this, but there are other types that will work fantastic. Penne, rigatoni, farfalle, and fusilli are just a few ideas that work.

Related Recipes

  • 25 Budget Friendly Vegetarian Meals
  • 20 Easy Vegan Lunch Ideas

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

Nothing tastes better than the simplicity of flavors coming together like they do in this pasta salad. Just a few ingredients brings it all together in just a few minutes. {WW 8 Purple, 10 Blue, 10 Green, Vegetarian}
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean, pasta
Diet: Vegetarian
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 437kcal
Author: Ginny

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

  • 1 lb Rotini Pasta
  • ½ Red Onion large
  • 2 Green Peppers
  • 1 Cucumber
  • ⅔ cup Fresh Parsley
  • 1 cup Crumbled Feta Cheese (one 6 oz. container)

Salad Dressing

  • Juice of One Large Lemon
  • ⅔ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • ½ cup White Vinegar
  • ½ tsp Onion Powder optional
  • ½ tsp Garlic Powder optional
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

Pasta Salad Dressing

  • In a medium bowl mix together lemon juice, olive oil, white vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper until well combined. Transfer dressing into the large bowl and stir to combine all ingredients. Set aside.

Easy Pasta Salad

  • Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out and discard the seeds. Chop the cucumber, red onion, green pepper into pieces of similar size. Transfer into a large bowl.
  • Cook pasta just barely to al dente according to package directions. Drain. Add to the bowl with the chopped vegetables and mix thoroughly until pasta is evenly coated in dressing.
  • Roughly chop parsley. Add parsley and crumbled feta cheese to bowl. Stir to combine.
  • Cover. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Mix in your favorite veggies, cheese, and herbs.
Keep the salad in the fridge until you are ready to serve. 
Don’t overcook the pasta noodles .
Feel free to add in your favorite vegetables, herbs, or ingredients. Black olives, mushrooms, chopped cheddar cheese, or oregano would all be great ideas.
Try to keep the veggies similar in size. This will make it easier to eat.
Add a little bit of salt to the pasta when boiling it, so it’s a little more flavor. It also helps it from sticking. 
If you are going to make your pasta earlier, drizzle it with a little olive oil and shake it in the container before placing it into the refrigerator so it won’t stick together. Works like a charm. 
Meal prep the veggies and dressing early to cut down more time. 
This salad keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 
Use goat cheese, mozzarella or parmesan if you don’t have feta. 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 8g | Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 218mg | Potassium: 278mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 635IU | Vitamin C: 32.3mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1.5mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @savorandsavvy or tag #savorandsavvy!
Easy Pasta Salad RecipeEasy Pasta Salad Recipe
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About Ginny

Hi! My name is Ginny and I know how busy life can be! I am a mom working hard to prepare healthy meals for my family that is always on the go!

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Family Photo Hi! My name is Ginny and I know how busy life can be! I am a mom working hard to prepare healthy meals for families on the go! Read More...

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