Greek Pasta Salad Recipe for Parties and Potlucks

I first made this Greek pasta salad recipe years ago, and it quickly became one of those recipes I could count on for parties and potlucks. I remember loving how easy it was to throw together and how absolutely delicious all of those bold flavors were once everything was tossed together and chilled.

I’ve served this pasta salad at several gatherings, and it makes a big batch. One time, I served it to a really large group and still had enough left over to take to a potluck. With 20 servings, it’s a great recipe when you need an easy side dish that will feed a crowd.

My favorite part has always been the sweet cherry peppers. They add a little crunch along with that sweet-and-spicy flavor that works so well with the salty feta, Kalamata olives, pepperoni, Parmesan, and Greek vinaigrette. Everything gets tossed with bow tie pasta and chilled until you’re ready to serve—simple, colorful, and packed with flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Greek Pasta Salad

It’s easy to customize. Swap the pasta, leave out an ingredient you don’t love, or add your favorite Mediterranean-inspired vegetables.

It’s made for a crowd. This recipe makes about 20 servings, making it perfect for parties, potlucks, cookouts, and family gatherings.

It’s incredibly easy. Cook and cool the pasta, prep the ingredients, and toss everything together with Greek vinaigrette.

It’s packed with flavor. Salty feta and Parmesan, Kalamata olives, pepperoni, tomatoes, and sweet cherry peppers give you a little bit of everything in every bite.

You can make it ahead. Assemble the salad, cover it, and keep it chilled until you’re ready to serve.

Greek Pasta Salad Ingredients

Bow tie pasta: Farfalle is a great pasta for a cold salad because the folds and ridges catch the vinaigrette and smaller pieces of cheese. You’ll need two 16-ounce boxes for this big-batch recipe.

Greek vinaigrette: Using prepared Greek vinaigrette is one of the reasons this salad is so easy. Use a dressing you already enjoy because its flavor comes through in the finished salad.

Cherry tomatoes: Cut these in half so they’re easy to eat and distribute throughout the pasta.

Red onion: Finely chopped red onion adds color, crunch, and a little bite. If your onion is particularly strong, you can use less.

Kalamata olives: These bring that distinctive salty, briny flavor associated with Greek-style salads.

Sweet cherry peppers: These are what make this version particularly fun. They add crunch and a sweet-and-spicy contrast to all of those savory ingredients.

Fresh parsley: Fresh parsley adds color and a fresh flavor that lightens up the richer ingredients.

Parmesan cheese: Grated Parmesan coats the pasta and adds another layer of salty, savory flavor.

Feta cheese: Crumbled feta adds the tangy flavor and creamy texture you expect in a Greek-inspired salad.

Pepperoni: This is another thing that makes my recipe a little different. Small pieces of pepperoni add savory flavor and make the salad extra satisfying.

See the printable recipe card below for exact amounts and complete instructions.

How to Make Greek Pasta Salad

1. Cook the pasta

Cook the bow tie pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.

2. Prep the salad ingredients

While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, finely chop the red onion, slice the Kalamata olives and sweet cherry peppers, and chop the fresh parsley.

3. Combine the ingredients

Add the tomatoes, onion, olives, cherry peppers, parsley, Parmesan, feta, and pepperoni to a large bowl.

4. Add the cooled pasta and dressing

Add the cooled pasta and Greek vinaigrette to the bowl. Toss everything together until the pasta and other ingredients are evenly coated.

5. Chill until serving

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad until you’re ready to serve.

Best Pasta for Greek Pasta Salad

Bow tie pasta, also called farfalle, is my choice for this recipe, but you don’t have to use it. The best pasta shapes for pasta salad are generally short, bite-sized varieties that are easy to toss with the other ingredients and give the dressing plenty of places to cling.

Whatever shape you choose, cook the pasta just until al dente. Pasta that’s too soft can become mushy once it’s tossed with dressing and chilled.

Tips for the Best Greek Pasta Salad

Don’t overcook the pasta. Cook it until al dente so it stays firm enough to hold up to the vinaigrette and chilling.

Cool the pasta before assembling the salad. Rinsing it under cold water stops the cooking and lets you assemble the salad without waiting for a big pot of pasta to cool on its own.

Cut everything into bite-sized pieces. You want some pasta, cheese, vegetables, and pepperoni together in each serving rather than large pieces sinking to the bottom of the bowl.

Use a Greek vinaigrette you really like. Because we’re intentionally taking the easy route with prepared dressing, its flavor matters.

Give it a good toss before serving. Some dressing and smaller ingredients will naturally settle while the salad sits.

Keep a little extra dressing handy. Pasta continues absorbing dressing as it sits. If the salad seems a little dry after chilling or the next day, a splash of Greek vinaigrette can freshen it right back up.

How to Customize Greek Pasta Salad

One of the nice things about a cold pasta salad is how forgiving it is. Keep the basic combination of pasta, Greek vinaigrette, feta, and olives, then adjust the other ingredients to suit your family.

For more vegetables: Try chopped bell peppers, artichoke hearts, cucumber, spinach, or roasted red peppers.

For more protein: Add grilled chicken or chickpeas, or swap the pepperoni for salami.

For more fresh flavor: Fresh basil, dill, or oregano would all work well with the Greek vinaigrette and feta.

To make it meatless: Simply leave out the pepperoni. There are plenty of bold flavors in the salad without it.

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

This is an especially convenient recipe for entertaining because you can make the pasta salad ahead of time and refrigerate it until the party.

To make ahead: Prepare the salad, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it. Before serving, toss everything again and check the dressing. Add a little more Greek vinaigrette if the pasta has absorbed too much.

To store leftovers: Keep leftover Greek pasta salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, as specified in your original recipe.

Greek Pasta Salad for a Crowd

This is one of my favorite things about this recipe. It was made for sharing! I’ve served this Greek pasta salad at several parties, and one time I served it to a really large group and still had leftovers to bring to another potluck. The full recipe makes about 20 servings, so it’s a great option when you’re feeding a crowd.

What to Serve with Greek Pasta Salad

Greek pasta salad works especially well as a cold side dish for summer dinners, cookouts, picnics, and potlucks. The tangy vinaigrette and salty feta pair nicely with grilled and barbecued foods.

• Orange Dreamsicle Salad
• Peach Cobbler
• Calico Beans
• Pistachio Fluff
• Mexican Street Corn

More Pasta Salads You’ll Love

Cold Shrimp Pasta Salad 

Creamy Asian Pasta Salad 

Cold Spaghetti Salad 

More Salads from Kid Friendly Things To Do

• seven layer basil salad
• Ramen Noodle Salad
• old-fashioned Waldorf Salad

Printable Recipe for Greek Pasta Salad

~Melissa – KidFriendlyThingsToDo.com