The Easiest 20-Minute Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Zesty Lemon Vinaigrette
Make this vibrant, refreshing, and nutrient-packed Mediterranean Pasta Salad in just 20 minutes. It features al dente pasta tossed with crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, briny olives, tangy feta, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing. This cold pasta salad is perfect as a side dish for potlucks, picnics, or as a light, healthy meal prep lunch.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 8 min
- Total Time: 23 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cook Dressing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (rotini, penne, or orzo)
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, halved tomatoes, diced cucumber, halved olives, sliced red onion, and chopped parsley.
- Pour the zesty lemon vinaigrette over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese.
- Taste the salad and adjust salt or pepper if needed.
- Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
- For make-ahead convenience, you can prepare the dressing up to two days in advance and store it separately.
- If you want a heartier meal, add 1 cup of cooked, shredded chicken breast.
- This salad tastes best when served cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 14
- Cholesterol: 25