Light Greek Pasta Salad a fresh, flavorful pasta salad that is perfect for lunch, dinner, potlucks, or BBQs! Great as a main dish OR a side dish!
Light Greek Pasta Salad
Something about summer always makes me and my family start to crave pasta salad. It’s just a great way to eat something cold and refreshing, but with a little more bulk than some green salads provide. Plus, who doesn’t love a good plate of pasta? Especially when it tastes as delicious as this one. You’ll love the blend of flavors in this. It’s so fresh and light. The tangy lemon and sweet honey in the dressing, the fresh mint and bitter olives, and the added crunch of the cucumbers and red onions combines to make every bite a delight! With so much flavor, you would never guess that this salad is a healthier version of a regular Light Greek Pasta Salad.
What Makes It Healthier?
There are only 2 tablespoons of olive oil in this dressing. The extra creaminess comes from the Dijon mustard and honey. I love any kind of pasta salad, but I can usually do without the heavy dressings, especially when the pasta is drowning in it. This is definitely not the case with this salad. The dressing doesn’t overpower the pasta and the vegetables. It’s always better when these fresh ingredients get to speak for themselves.
Make It A Main Dish
This Light Greek Pasta Salad is a meal in itself, but if you want to make it a little heartier you can add grilled chicken or serve it as a side with our Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce or with our Easy Crockpot Gyros. If you are a fan of the tastes of the Mediterranean, you may also like our Mediterranean Flatbread Pizzas. Counting calories and fat? In a 1 1/4 cup serving of this Light Greek Pasta Salad there are 280 calories, and 7 grams of fat.
How To Make Light Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 oz. penne pasta 2 cups uncooked
- 2 medium cucumbers seeded and chopped
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes cut in half
- 3/4 cup pitted Greek Kalamata olives cut in half
- 1/2 red onion sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves chopped
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
Dressing
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp lemon peel grated
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- In a small bowl, combine all of the dressing ingredients and mix well. Set aside.
- Drain pasta and rinse well with cold water.
- Add cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and mint leaves to the pasta.
- Pour dressing over the pasta and vegetables and gently mix. Sprinkle with feta cheese.
- Refrigerating for at least 1 hour before serving will really bring out the flavors in the salad.
Becky Hardin says
Such a delicious pasta. So much flavor!
Tara says
So refreshing and easy to make! Will make again.
Katerina @ diethood .com says
YUM!! I would love this for lunch!
Matt Taylor says
I love Greek pasta salads! And this recipe is so fantastic! 🙂
Betsy says
Super easy! Very fresh and tasty!!
IKOH IKOH says
I love you guys very much.
Erica says
🙂 Thanks!
Pam Hinckley says
I am planning a family reunion and looking forward to being with the family, however, cooking and food are not my strengths, but ideas from this blog are giving me some encouragement and excitement about this upcoming challenge. Thank you.
Erica says
Have you seen our Reunion Meal Planning Guide?? It would be perfect for you! Here is the link: https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/ultimate-family-reunion-meal-guide/
Hope this helps!