Summer Pasta Salad

Bright, fresh, and bursting with Mediterranean flavors, this Summer Pasta Salad is the ultimate warm-weather dish that’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, or light lunches. Packed with colorful cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, sweet red bell pepper, and tangy feta cheese, this vibrant salad is tossed with al dente pasta and a zesty homemade lemon vinaigrette for the perfect balance of textures and flavors. Sliced black olives and a sprinkle of fresh parsley lend a delightful savory touch, while a simple marinade of olive oil, garlic, and oregano ties everything together beautifully. Ready in just 30 minutes, this chilled pasta salad is a refreshing make-ahead option that will steal the show at your next summer gathering.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 ounces pasta (rotini or bowtie)
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cup black olives (sliced)
• 0.75 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
• 0.25 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool it down. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, chop the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, sliced black olives, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped parsley.

Step 4

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss everything gently until evenly coated.

Step 6

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 7

Serve chilled or at room temperature. Garnish with additional parsley or feta cheese if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(535.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	597.2

Total Fat 56.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.4g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1201.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 21.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 4.5g	0%
Total Sugars 10.1g
Protein 3.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 84.6mg	0%
Iron 2.5mg	0%
Potassium 903.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 83.6%

Protein: 2.6%

Carbs: 13.8%