This gluten free Greek Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh flavours from crunchy veggies, including bell pepper and cucumber. It’s then tossed in a creamy Greek yogurt based dressing; there’s oregano, dill, garlic and a bunch of fresh lemon juice. This one is a delicious make-ahead salad that is perfect for those upcoming summer bbqs!
Hey you guys! What’s up? How was your weekend? I guess my American friends are still enjoying their 3 day weekend! That extra day, right? So good! We were grilling up a storm this past weekend. Nothing like it and even if the weather is sub par, it still tastes awesome (maybe more so). So one thing we ate lots of was this greek pasta salad.
Gluten Free Pasta Salad
I’ve always loved pasta salad. Well, I’ve always loved pasta or, er, carbs. I remember years ago when hubby and I were only teenagers, going to university, we would often visit the food court at the mall for a little nosh. There was this pizza place where we would love to grab a slice and a big serving of pasta salad. Boy, did I love that spot.
The restaurant is still there at the mall and I remember a while back we decided to have it again (ya know, for nostalgia purposes and all). Perhaps my tastes have matured or something, but it wasn’t how I remembered it. That ever happen to you guys? Try something that you remember enjoying in the past only to find out it wasn’t the same to you?
These days I would much rather make something fresh at home anyway, ya know? I can make it how I like it and, most importantly, I know what’s in there. Isn’t it just awful when you order a salad out and it’s all wet and way to much vinaigrette or dressing? First world problems, I know.
For this Greek pasta salad I used gluten free rotini pasta and the results were delicious! Did you know that May is Celiac Awareness Month? People who suffer from Celiac Disease can’t eat foods containing gluten. A lot of companies these days are expanding their product line to contain varieties for people who must eat a gluten free diet. While I don’t have to eat gluten free, I do regularly prepare gluten free meals.
What I love about this Greek pasta salad is that it is so quick to make. Like, 10 minutes! While the pasta is having a little bath in some salted water, prepare the rest of the ingredients and make your dressing. Then combine it all. Easy, right?
Yogurt Based Dressing
Ok, that dressing, you guys. You know how lots of pasta or potato salad have a really calorie laden sauce? Awesome right? I know. However, with the upcoming summer (i.e. bathing suit season) approaching waaaaay faster than I would like it to, this one is a little lighter in the calorie department because it’s made primarily with Greek yogurt. It has a little punch of flavour to really brighten things up with a bunch of fresh lemon juice and some garlic. Oh so good! This is a pasta salad you won’t mind having an extra serving of.
I hope that this one make an appearance on your picnic table this summer season. You’re going to love it!
Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon.
~D
P.S. If you missed my last post, you can check it out here.
P.P.S. If you think this Greek Pasta Salad will make your belly happy too, please be sure to hit that little Pin button. Many thanks, you guys. XO
Gluten Free Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Greek Pasta Salad
- 340 g gluten free rotini pasta
- 1/2 orange bell pepper -chopped, about 1 cup
- 1/2 green bell pepper -chopped, about 1 cup
- 2 baby cucumbers -sliced & slices halved (about 1.5 cup). See below.
- 1 cup grape tomatoes -halved
- 1/4 cup red onion -thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives -pitted and sliced
- 1 cup feta cheese -crumbled, plus more for garnish
Creamy Oregano Dressing
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup lemon juice -about 2-3 lemons, juiced
- 1/3 cup olive oil -I used 'light tasting' version
- 1 tsp oregano (dried)
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 2 cloves garlic -finely minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 chili flakes -optional
Instructions
Greek Pasta Salad
- Cook rotini pasta per package instructions, about 8 minutes to al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water. Combine with remainder of ingredients. Add Creamy Dressing (add slowly to your taste - I like to use the full amount) and stir to combine. Garnish with additional feta cheese, if desired. Enjoy!
Creamy Dressing
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine.
Notes
I only recently decided that I like cold pasta salad, and it was after eating a Greek one like this!!! It looks SO YUMMMMMM!!!! I need to make this for lunch today!
Yay! Hope you love it, Sarah 🙂
What a beautiful salad, Dawn! It’s amazing all of the gluten-free ingredients available now – so nice that people with gluten intolerance have delicious options like this! Perfect summer meal and definitely would be a welcome addition to any picnic spread…
Thank you very much Marissa! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend 🙂
There is no grill party without a pasta salad around here. Never ever! This is a great one to make soon.
I agree, Adina 🙂 !! Thanks so much!
This salad is totally up my alley Dawn! I love all the textures and that creamy oregano dressing sounds amazing. I’m always looking for new pasta salad sides for the summer! This one will surely be making an appearance! Pinned! Thanks for sharing Dawn! Hope you have another great weekend of grilling ahead!
The gluten-free pasta from Barilla sounds great – since my husband has gone on a gluten-free diet we are continuously trying different brands and as you said there are some fantastic products out there but it takes a little bit of time to find them. I did not know that May was Celiac Awareness month – it is great for people to know a little bit more about it. Gladly my husband is not Celiac but has just an intolerance and it was life changing for him to cut out gluten. The salad sounds delicious with lots of goodness in it. Thanks for sharing!
It totally is, Miriam! If you try the pasta out, I’d love to hear how you like it! So nice now that more brands are extending their line to carry more gluten free varieties – so much more than years ago, right? Thanks so much and have an awesome upcoming weekend 🙂
Yes, the 3-day weekend was great. We are prepping to sell our home, so it has been nothing short of chaotic, but onward and upward as it goes on the market tomorrow. This seems like a great meal in and of itself as we are trying to use the kitchen less these days! Keeping this one close by in my recipe drawer.
I can only imagine!! Exciting, though, I’m sure! Good luck with it! Have a great weekend, Cindy 🙂
Sorry I’m a little late to commenting, Dawn! That extended weekend is a killer for productivity!! 😉 You can’t do summer without a pasta salad (or 5,000), so I’m definitely in need of a vat of this Greek flavor bomb! I could seriously make a meal out of this, easy! Cheers, doll!
No worries girl :)! Thanks so much! Hope you have a lovely upcoming weekend!
Barilla makes a great Gluten-Free pasta and I love that you’ve dressed it up in Greek flavors! Anything with feta makes my heart skip a beat! Thanks for sharing!! Cheers! XOXO
Thank you Annie! I love feta too 🙂 Hope you’re week is going wonderful! XOXO
Ah carbs. I do love ’em. We should know better trying to get fit and all but it’s so hard to resist! 🙂 Pasta salad especially. My mom would make a macaroni salad that’s carbs over carbs over carbs it was delicious haha! Your greek pasta salad just screams summer picnics, which I cannot wait to have. I don’t have to eat gluten free either and I actually kind of avoid it because I think it tastes different (Just me?) so yay that this pasta doesn’t! Something to try. Happy Wednesday Dawn! It’s sunny out here, hope you’re having a fab day over there!
Your mom’s macaroni salad sounds like it is AWESOME!! The Barilla gluten free pasta is so good! You should definitely give it a try 🙂 Thanks Jolina! Hope you’re week is going wonderful!
I love pasta too! I don’t make pasta salads very often though….I need to change that quickly! This looks packed full of flavor. I love all the healthy veggies you’ve added too! This looks like a winner!
Thank you Kathy! It’s a great one for summer 🙂
Dawn, I cannot tell ya how many times I’ve tried something from my past only to find that it isn’t as grand as I remember – sometimes I, too, think it’s cos my tastebuds have “matured” but other times I feel that home cooked is way fresher – kinda like this pasta salad! My daughter LOVES pasta salad (when she went through a gluten sensitivity stage I used to use GF Barilla too) and she would so love this – btw, I didn’t know that May is Celiac Awareness Month – so thanks so much for the heads up! Happy Wednesday to ya!
I’m glad I’m not the only one 🙂 That pasta is great, isn’t it? Thanks so much, Shashi! Happy Wednesday to ya too, my friend!
Oh man, I love Greek pasta salad! I made it not too long ago and was reminded that I’m a big fan. I love the sound of your Greek yogurt dressing!
Thanks Nicole; the dressing is definitely on the lighter side 🙂
carbs are the best! even though i think it’s weird to pair carbs with carbs (i love spaghetti and garlic bread but i still don’t understand the point of serving them together lol). anyways, all that tangy greek yogurt and lemon juice sounds like a good way to make the dressing taste lighter and feel more summer-ready!
Agreed 😉 Can’t go wrong with carbs if you ask me! Thanks Heather!
I didn’t know that Barilla made gluten-free pasta. That’s awesome! This pasta looks soooo yummy. I love that you still get all that pasta deliciousness, but lightened up with Greek yogurt as dressing. I’ve never used Greek yogurt as a pasta dressing before, but now I totally have to try it! Pinned!
Yes! And it’s really good! Thanks so much for the kind words and Pin, Tracy! Hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂
OH WOW Dawn, this Greek Pasta Salad looks amazing and reading through the ingredients, everything is so fresh and seasonal. I love that you used Greek yoghurt in this recipe…so much lower in calories.
Best news is, I love this recipe because I am vegetarian…worst news is, it is Winter here in South Africa but no matter how cold it is, it is not going to stop me from making this tomorrow?!!!! LOVE IT.
Thank you SO much, Ashika!! The Greek yogurt definitely lightens things up 🙂 Hope you love it!
I eat stuff all the time that I used to love when I was younger and it never tastes as good as I remember it. Disappointing for sure!
I make a Greek pasta salad that J loves and he keeps telling me to put the recipe up, but I keep forgetting. Next time I make it, I’ll have to try your recipe instead 🙂
So awful, isn’t it? Least we can make it better at home, though! You need to put your recipe up, girl! I’m sure it’s fantastic :)!! Thanks Karrie! XO
This pasta salad is gorgeous!! I love Greek anything, but think I love it best when it involves pasta, too! I could probably eat an entire batch of this 🙂 🙂
Thanks Sues! I could too 😉
Pasta salads have always been a favorite of mine, too! There’s just something about cold pasta, filled with veggies and cheese, and the dressing! And I LOVE using Greek yogurt whenever I can, especially in dressings and baking. It makes you feel just a little bit better when you eat ALL the pasta! This sounds wonderful! Such a perfect recipe for summer. Pinned and hope your week is going well!
I know what you mean, Gayle! And I like you’re thinking 😉 Thanks so much for the kind words and Pin. Hope you have a wonderful week 🙂
YES! There are a handful of restaurants in my hometown that I used to love but when I’ve tried them in recent years they just don’t live up to the memory. It’s so sad! LoveloveLOVE pasta salad though! But I’m totally on board the carb train too, so I might be a little biased :). This looks like an awesome addition to any BBQ menu! Hope your week is going well Dawn!
Woo hoo for that carb train!! Thanks Kelsie – have an awesome week 🙂
Oh man, I totally know what you mean about preparing food at home vs going out, Dawn! We’ve done the same thing as you and gone to old favorite restaurants…and we’re almost always disappointed. But if you open a restaurant and serve this Greek pasta salad, then I promise you I won’t be disappointed! In fact, you’ll have to make extra batches every day just to keep up with me. Haha! This one looks amazing, and it’s perfect for summer grilling!! 🙂
Right?? Haha…you’re too kind, David! Thanks so much, my friend 🙂
It is after midnight and when I read this recipe, I jumped out of bed to check my pantry. Yay! I have all the ingredients! I’ll have this tomorrow. (Already pinned.) 🙂
Haha! That’s too funny 🙂 Hope you love it and thanks very much for the Pin, Amanda!
Greek salads are on of my all-time favorite salads and love how you spruced it up with this GF pasta!
Thanks very much Lisa 🙂
I adore a pasta salad and I absolutely love Barilla’s gluten-free pastas! I also love the gorgeous Greek flavors you have going on here – some of my favorites! And that Greek yogurt-based dressing is right up my alley. All kinds of perfect for the summer BBQs! Pinned! Have a wonderful week! XO
So good, aren’t they? You’re too kind, Kathryn! Thanks for the Pin too 🙂 Appreciate that! Have a wonderful week! XO
This is so colorful and love the idea that the dressing is swim-suit friendly too 🙂
Thanks Marvellina 🙂 Just right for summer 😉
I love all kinds of pasta salads and yours look amazing! Love the feta and veggie combination!
Thanks Jovita! Me too 😉
Oh. My. Yum! This looks perfect for summer!
Thanks so much Sara!
I totally know what you mean!! I have all these “old favorites” that I keep getting disappointed by. Maybe as we get older our tastes just change? I love that you’ve used Greek yogurt in the dressing here (keeping it Greek), and how cool is it that you’re using gluten-free noodles? Nice one Dawn! Even if we don’t get a holiday today at least we can enjoy yummy foods like this!! Cheers!
Right? Glad I’m not the only one 🙂 Thanks Katherine – so happy you like this one! Have an awesome week!
Pasta salad is definitely one of my favorite summer go-tos! Love this fun rendition, the greek flavors sound so tasty and refreshing!
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Me too Luci 🙂 Thanks so much!
Good one Dawn! Any salad with feta and tomatoes draws me right away. I grew up eating shopska salad and variations of it. Yum! We buy several of the Barrilla products, love the orzo for pasta salads, also the spirals you used here.So many options:)
Thanks Milena! You are totally making me hungry 😉
Perrrrfect salad for grilling season, heck, for any season, love all the ingredients you put together Dawn!! thanks for sharing! have a great Monday!
Thank you so much, Gaila! Have a wonderful week 🙂