Olive Pasta Salad: A Colorful and Flavorful Feast
A zesty pasta salad loaded with mixed olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and a bright lemon-herb vinaigrette. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or meal prep!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins (includes chilling)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish/Salad
- Method: No-Cook (except pasta)
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- Pasta & Base:
- 12 oz short pasta (farfalle, rotini, or penne)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- Olives & Veggies:
- 1 cup mixed olives (Kalamata, green, Castelvetrano), pitted/torn
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 English cucumber, diced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced
- Cheese & Herbs:
- 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chiffonade
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano, minced
- Dressing:
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- Make dressing: Whisk olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Combine: In a large bowl, mix pasta with olives, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, and roasted peppers.
- Toss: Pour dressing over salad. Add pasta water 1 tbsp at a time if needed to loosen. Gently fold in feta and herbs.
- Chill: Refrigerate at least 2 hours (overnight for best flavor).
- Serve garnished with extra herbs and feta.
Notes
- Meal prep: Stores refrigerated for 4 days (add herbs fresh)
- Vegetarian: Ensure feta is vegetarian-friendly
- Gluten-free: Use GF pasta and check dressing ingredients
- Protein boost: Add chickpeas or grilled chicken
- Shortcut: Use store-bought Italian dressing + 1 tsp lemon zest
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Find it online: https://us.recipesfood.org/olive-pasta-salad/
