This is my go to pasta salad when I cater. It’s super quick and simple to put together and everyone loves it! What more could you ask for?
I like my dressing a little heavier on the vinegar. If this is too much for you, just add more oil until it tastes balanced…
You can add more or less pasta, olives, pepperoncini, tomatoes, feta and onions to taste. Or add a little cucumber or some fresh tomatoes. It’s a pretty forgiving salad. This is just the basic recipe. Experiment!
PrintGREEK PASTA SALAD FOR A CROWD
Ingredients
Scale
- for the pasta:
- 2 lbs assorted pasta
- 1 can black olives, chopped
- 1 small jar pepperoncini, chopped
- 1 small jar sun dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 1 large or 2 small bricks feta cheese, crumbled
- for the dressing:
- 1/3 cup red wine or apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 T dried oregano
- 1 t dried basil
- dash or two of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 T Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper from the mill
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box
- Drain and cool
- Add the rest of the pasta ingredients
- Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing thoroughly
- Add enough to the pasta to moisten it, reserving the rest to add later if the salad dries out
e
When I eat this at home, I usually open a bottle of Riesling or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
easy peasy…
This looks amazing.
And I’m not just saying that cuz I can only eat soft food for a few more days!
I love these flavors.
Drooling here!
Jenny,
You poor thing! I’m in the middle of some dental work also and have actually lost a few pounds because it’s so hard to eat!
Hope you feel better soon teach!
xxoo,
RMW
That looks great and I have company coming to try it on. I have everything but the pepperoncini. Hope I can find it. Thanks.
I’m always looking for a great pasta salad recipe for picnics and to take camping. THANKS!!!
Looks good.
Wow this looks so yummy!
I want to make it today! Greek Salad is my favorite salade. The pasta looks good with it. Thanks for the recipe. xo Jenny
Yum, yum! I like all the ingredients, and it sounds easy. Also, I like your action shot!
I can get a little carried away with action shots. I have a very compulsive nature!
What a fabulous idea making the classic Greek salad a pasta salad RMW! 😀
Looks yummy! How many people do you think this recipe would feed as a side dish at a party? I have to make a pasta salad for a baby shower for 35 people, and wondering if this would be a good amount?
It would probably be enough for 35 women as a side dish, but I’d probably add one more pound of pasta, another can of olives and maybe a little more sun dried tomato. I might up the oil a little bit to make it a little less tart and leave the vinegar amount the same. I, however, always overdo these things and end up with leftovers!
If you decide to make it, let me know how it turns out!!!!
xxoo,
RMW
Thank you for this recipe. It has become my go to as well 🙂 I’m Always asked to share the recipe.
Jill,
Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me. It made my day!
Barb
Hi RMW – I made the salad for my sister-in-law’s baby shower and it was a hit! Thanks so much for posting such a great recipe for a large group 🙂
Danielle! I am so happy that it worked for you! Makes me feel really good!!!
xxoo,
RMW
What quantities would you suggest for the salad as a side dish for a superbowl party for 125! We serve roast beef on a bun with salad and potato chips at half time.
I’ve always served pickled Bean Salad (5, 2L jars) but I can’t get them anymore.
I bought 2.8 kg (6+ lbs) of dry fusili and penne pasta.
Thanks for any help
Kathie
Kathie:
I would probably make five or six lbs of pasta, triple the rest of the ingredients and maybe just double the dressing.
Let me know if you try it!!
xxoo,
RMW
Hi
I’m going to make it for superbowl but I’m nervous about timing. Can I make it ahead without it going soggy? I bought some tin roasting pans, I have several large bowls and a soup pot. Any help with how to prepare for 130 and the transport it (we party at our theatre).
This is amazing that I can get this info “over the airwaves!!
Thanks for your help
Kathie
Kathie:
Yikes! It looks like I missed your comment and it’s probably too late to answer since the pre show has already started.
For future reference, I have made this salad the night before and just put a little of the dressing on it and then the next day added the rest of the dressing. If you put all the dressing on it the night before it can get a little soggy.
Hopes this helps…
xxoo,
RMW
Hi
It was a hit!
I used 10 pounds of pasta for about 120 people. I’d say I have about 2 pounds leftover. I put in your ingredients plus cucumber and peppers and a recipe of tabbouleh. Thanks!
Kathie – Yeah! You have no idea how happy that makes me!
Thanks so much for letting me know. I really like the cucumber idea. I think I’ll try adding that next time.
xxoo,
RMW
Thanks
I just read the first reply about making it ahead. I cooked the pasta ahead and added the other ingredients the day before. The tabbouleh has a dressing so it kind of moistened it but wasn’t a real dressing. I ended up cleaning out our big blue coleman cooler and I made the salad in it. It worked out really well. I put on rubber gloves and dug in and tossed it!
I added about 8 cups of dressing (oil, vinegar etc plus 1 container of tzikiki so it was slightly creamy) about 4 hours ahead.
It was fun! Thanks for giving me your guidance which gave me the confidence to try it!
K
Thanks for sharing. I plan to make this for a crowd on July 4th. Have you ever added artichoke hearts to the salad?
Rebecca,
I haven’t, but one of my friends makes this recipe quite a bit and adds a jar of drained, chopped artichoke hearts – it’s wonderful….
Let me know how it turns out!!
xxoo,
RMW
How many peeps does this recipe feed?
Hi Thimbleberry:
It depends on what you are planning to serve with it. If you have a hearty main dish and a few other side dishes, this would probably feed 15 to 20 people…
RMW
This pasta salad looks so good! I’ve been looking for a really good pasta salad recipe with an oil and vinegar dressing, definitely going to try this when summer rolls around.
We loved this salad…Thanks for the recipe. We even loved it as leftovers all week long.
Emily,
Yippee! I’m so happy you liked my recipe and thank you so much for taking the time to tell me.
RMW