This delicious, easy-to-make Mediterranean Pasta Salad is a quick and simple lunch or dinner that is refreshing and great leftover! Made in under 30 minutes, it’s the perfect dish to prepare for a busy week ahead!

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

If you’re also a pasta lover like me, this recipe is definitely for you!

Finding the time to cook is never easy during the weekdays, which is why I’m a big fan of quick, tasty, and nutritious dishes that can keep in the fridge for a couple days. This Mediterranean Pasta Salad has been my go-to lunch lately and it’s seriously so satisfying and full of flavor! I use a whole box of pasta to make a large batch to have enough for a few meals, but this is also a great crowd-pleasing appetizer or dish you can take to a get-together with friends! 

What You Need to Make This Recipe

I’m all about cooking with easily accessible ingredients that you can find at any grocery store because who wants to be driving across towns for specialty items? Plus, this recipe can be switched up depending on what you have on hand or your taste preferences so make sure to scroll down for my favorite ways to switch it up! But if you want to make this recipe how I have been doing it, all you need is… 

• Pasta (your favorite shape) – Although I usually like to cook with brown rice pasta or chickpea pasta, I definitely recommend using the classic wheat pasta for this recipe. I find that gluten-free pastas whether it’s rice, quinoa, chickpea, etc. tends to harden when it’s cold so I prefer wheat pasta for pasta salad recipes… (unless you have celiac of course)!
• Lemons – Fresh lemon juice adds brightness and a touch of acidity to this recipe, so try to use fresh lemons instead of the concentrate. I promise it makes a difference!
• Olive oil – A source of healthy monounsaturated fats! If your in the mood to try a new oil I love using avocado oil too – It doesn’t change the taste of the recipe at all!
• Vegetables – I used mini cucumbers and red onion! I’m team mini cucumbers (always)… they’re just way crunchier and tasty in my opinion, but any cucumber would work! If you don’t have red onion, you can swap it for a white onion or shallot but I definitely recommend red onion to create that “greek salad”/mediterranean flavor.
  
• Crumbled goat cheese 
• Spices – I used oregano and garlic powder but you can also add Italian seasoning or swap the garlic powder for fresh garlic instead. If you do that, just make sure that you finely grate it to avoid any large pieces of garlic that can be overpowering.

Ways to Switch it Up

My favorite part about this recipe is how well it pairs with other ingredients! It’s super easy to build more flavor with just a few extra items that you may already have. Or if you’re missing an ingredient or two, here are some alternatives you can try instead!

• Crumbled feta instead of goat cheese
• Try a dairy free cheese like Miyokos
• Use orzo or tortellini instead of regular pasta
• Add in cherry tomatoes, olives, chickpeas, spinach, basil, or sundried tomatoes
• Add red pepper flakes for a spicy pasta salad!

How to Make Mediterranean Pasta Salad

To make this recipe, first prepare your pasta according to the directions on the package. 

While waiting for the water to boil, dice the cucumbers and onions and place into a large bowl. Next, crumble the goat cheese in the bowl of cucumbers and onions.

In another small bowl, combine lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, and garlic powder and mix until combined. 

Once the pasta is ready, drain it and allow it to cool. After your pasta has cooled for about 10-15 minutes, combine the pasta with the cucumber, onion, and goat cheese and mix well. Next, pour the dressing over the pasta and mix well again. Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!