This post is sponsored by Pure Leaf®, all opinions are my own.
Greek Pasta Salad
This pasta salad recipe is loaded with delicious couscous, cucumber, tomato, red onion, feta, and a homemade vinaigrette! This healthy and easy greek pasta salad is sure to be a summer favorite.
Serve as a side for Baked Greek Chicken Breasts or eat it on its own!
Flavorful, colorful, and easy Greek couscous pasta salad made with healthy, simple ingredients. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or outdoor parties. The fresh bold flavors are what make this easy Greek Pasta Salad a family favorite. But the use of couscous instead of a different pasta is what makes it so much fun. This is a pot luck hero, and my go to for summer entertaining. Everyone loves the fun shapes, the great taste, and the classic ingredients in this Greek Pasta Salad recipe.
Easy Greek Pasta Salad
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This greek pasta salad is easily enjoyed as a cold or room temperature salad, making it great for summer picnics, barbecues, and pot lucks. It is the ultimate dish for summer entertaining as it is visually stunning, boldly flavorful, and all kinds of fun. Not to mention it includes summer favorites like grape or cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and English cucumbers!
My favorite part of this easy greek pasta salad is the couscous. It is an Israeli couscous, also called pearl or gourmet couscous. Basically it is a bigger pasta pearl. And adds such a fun texture to this bright and delightful salad.
How to Make Greek Pasta Salad:
This is not your traditional Greek Pasta Salad, but it is full of fun Greek flavors, and a delicious dressing that really brings it to life. I love the dressing on this salad because it was inspired by a marinade I use when making Greek chicken. I then added a little bit of mustard, and some fresh basil, and when tossed with the couscous, it is unbelievably good.
To make this pasta salad, just stir cucumber, tomato, red onion, and feta into your seasoned couscous. You can then refrigerate it. If you do this, it is a good idea to squeeze some fresh lemon over it before serving as the couscous will soak in some of the dressing and it will need a little refresher. This pasta salad holds well in the refrigerator or in a cooler and tastes even better as the flavors meld, and the couscous absorbs the delicious vinaigrette. This recipe is loaded with veggies and the perfect make ahead side dish.
Pairing Ideas for Easy Greek Pasta Salad
This fantastic Greek Couscous Pasta Salad is great for summer entertaining, here are a few pairing ideas:
Beverage: Pure Leaf Lemon Iced Tea 18.5oz Single Serve
Pure Leaf Lemon Iced Tea is an excellent beverage to pair with this side salad. Not only does it taste delicious and come in convenient 18.5 ounce single serve bottles, but it is a premium iced tea brewed from fresh-picked tea leaves, not powders, not concentrates. I love this iced tea with everything all summer, but with this Greek Salad specifically.
The light lemon flavor compliments the veggies and flavors of this salad, and the cool refreshing, smooth delicious taste is sure to please. The way this iced tea is brewed, at a lower temperature, is part of what makes it so uniquely delicious. You can learn more about the Pure Leaf Iced Tea difference on their website: https://bit.ly/2HVZ4Lc
Main Dish: Grilled Meats
This salad is excellent with some grilled meats. It is a great side dish for all your favorite marinaded chicken recipes, hamburgers, and more. Or, if you want to turn it into a main dish, you can slice or dice some grilled chicken and stir it in, or serve it on top.
Dessert: Fresh Fruit or Something Light
Summer meals are all about light and flavorful, which is why this meal should be capped off with a light and refreshing dessert. A nice bowl of fruit salad, or berries with whipped cream make for a great fresh summer dessert.
Greek Pasta Salad Variations:
- Add grilled chicken or shrimp: You could even marinade the shrimp or chicken in the dressing used for this salad for additional flavor
- Add olives or artichokes, or other Greek inspired favorites.
- Chunked up avocado is also a great addition to this pasta salad. It adds a creamy element.
- Serve with pita chips.
A fresh and easy Greek Pasta Salad just in time for summer! This crowd-pleasing side dish is tasty with grilled meats, and delicious Pure Leaf Lemon Iced Tea at all your backyard barbecues.
Other great summer entertaining recipes:
Couscous Greek Salad
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 2 cups couscous
- 1 large english cucumber
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1/3 cup red onion
- 1/2 cup chunks of feta cheese
Dressing
- 1/3 cup fresh basil
- 1 1/2 Tbs dijon mustard
- 1 Tbs sugar
- 2 Tbs red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 2 Tbs lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat 1 Tbs of olive oil over medium high heat.
- Add cous cous, and toast
- Once cous cous is a golden brown, add water, and bring to a boil. Boil for 6 minutes. Then uncover and cook an additional 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile, dice english cucumber, and halve grape tomatoes, and thinly slice onions, and set aside.
- Mix dressing ingredients together in a small bowl, and whisk together. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked cous cous, veggies, and dressing. At the very end, toss the feta chunks into the mixture.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Jo says
How much couscous is used? It is not listed in recipe.
Rachael says
So sorry for the oversight! 2 cups
Doreen says
How much couscous in the recipe
Rachael says
2 cups. sorry for the oversight!
Patti says
How much couscous is needed for the recipe, it is not listed
Rachael says
Oh my goodness, what a silly mistake on my part. 2 cups. thanks!
Cindy says
Omg the dressing is delicious! I added some kalamata olives and it was a hit! Thanks!
Rachael says
I am so glad you liked it!