Have you ever brought a dish to a potluck and had no one eat it? Well, it's happened to me. And it's happened more than once. And it's not fun. In fact, it downright sucks... If this has happened to you and you want to avoid it in the future, then make this Healthy Greek Pasta Salad with fresh veggies - it's the best pasta salad and one of the best summer potluck dishes around! And you won't be bringing any home - I promise!
Maybe it's a timing thing, or a table placement issue, but it's still disheartening to look over and see that your dish has barely been touched. This Greek pasta potluck salad is not only healthy, it’s easy to prepare and always a hit at any potluck or BBQ. And it's so simple. But aren't most good things in life?
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I think that is perhaps part of the issue when my food doesn't get eaten, I try to get too fancy and don't remember to stick to the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). But either way, I will go to great lengths to avoid bringing that food home.
During the potluck, I find myself glancing over at the table, monitoring the progress of my dish. And if I see it's not getting eaten, I sort of go into a bit of panic mode. Out of pure desperation, I have actually asked people if they've tried the dish, then hinted to them how great it is and directed them to it's placement on the table.
It's pathetic, I know, but I just can't stand to put all that work into something and have it just sit there or go to waste, especially when I know how damn good it is! And I definitely don't want to be taking it home.
Potluck Fail!
I was taught that you do NOT ever take home your leftovers - they are for the host. So, unless your host insists you take it home, which is a sure sign of food failure, taking home your potluck leftovers is not only an admission of failure, and it's tacky.
And it's really the same principal as purging stuff from my house. Once I drop that dish off on the potluck table, as far as I'm concerned, it's gone; I have officially parted with it. I don't want it back and have no more room for it in my fridge or my life.
Although my kids constantly beg me to bring leftovers home, I will do just about anything to avoid leaving a potluck with leftovers in tow, including abandonment. You'll be comforted to know that I never had to take leftovers of this salad home.
🥘 Ingredient Notes
What I love about this cold pasta salad recipe is how healthy and simple the dressing is and it's loaded with fresh vegetables and herbs! It's also made with real ingredients. All you need for this Greek salad dressing is:
- fresh garlic
- freshly squeezed lemon juice
- olive oil
For the salad part you need:
- pasta
- red onion
- tomatoes
- English cucumbers
- red bell peppers
- feta (I use light/low-fat)
- Kalamata olives (you can use regular sliced black olives, but the Kalamata olives are so much better!)
- fresh herbs ( mint and basil)
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Herbs -I do not recommend using dried herbs
- Garlic - you can use minced garlic in a jar, if you don't have fresh
- Pasta - I use rotini pasta, but you could use penne, fusilli pasta, orzo pasta, bowtie pasta or another type of pasta. You can use whole wheat pasta, smart pasta or a lighter pasta to bring down the WW points. Sometimes I use a colorful pasta (tri-color rotini) for fun (as in these photos) !
- Gluten-free- use a gluten-free pasta
- Lemon juice- if you don't have fresh lemon juice, use concentrated, but only use HALF the amount.
- Tomatoes - you can substitute cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
- Add ins - add grilled chicken and make it a complete meal!
👪 Serving size
And if you are looking for summer BBQ side dish ideas, this healthy Greek Pasta Salad is a simple recipe and perfect to whip up on a hot summer day. I would double up the recipe if serving large groups.
But you can scale it for any size group, including a family dinner. Just click on the serving size on the recipe card, adjust for how many servings you'd like and the ingredient quantities will magically adjust! The recipe, as is, serves 10 (1 cup servings).
🔢WW Points
This delicious pasta salad recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ 5 WW points per 1 cup serving (with regular pasta) and light feta. If you use lighter pasta and fat-free feta cheese, it will bring down the points.
🥗 Main Dishes to serve with Greek Pasta Potluck Salad
If you're looking for a main dish to serve with this Greek Pasta Salad, pork or chicken pairs exceptionally well with this salad. I recommend Slow Cooker Pulled Pork on a Bun or BBQ Beer Butt Chicken because they are ideal for a BBQ or potluck!
If you're just making it for your family at home, try this Marinated Grilled Maple Pork or my Bonanza Copycat Monterey Chicken! Or go all out Mediterranean with these Grilled Greek Ribs or this Chicken Souvlaki Wrap.
🔪 How to Make Greek Pasta Salad
You can make this tangy pasta salad recipe a day ahead or prepare it quickly right before you need it - it doesn't take long. Oh and no oven required, just stove top!
Top tip
This dish is best served cold, so if you are in a hurry, run the pasta under cold water after you drain it. Then you can skip the extra refrigeration time.
🌡️Storage
Store leftovers of this Greek Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you are making it in advance, make the pasta ahead of time, cut up the veggies, mix the dressing, then store the vegetables, dressing, and cooked pasta in individual containers and mix them together before serving. These ingredients do not freeze well.
So, if you don't want to leave the potluck, shamelessly with leftovers in hand, then keep it simple and make this Mediterranean Pasta Salad- it's the best Greek pasta salad! It's such a yummy, refreshing, and healthy summer salad and the perfect side dish, you'll be lucky if there's any left!
If you like Greek Pasta, you may also like my Healthy Greek Pasta Toss!
So, if you are looking for a pasta salad for a potluck, this Greek Pasta Salad is the perfect one!
Happy potlucking!
🥗 More Potluck Salad Recipes!
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📋 Healthy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe (Potluck Salad)
Ingredients
- 3 cups tri-color rotini or any spiral pasta
- ¼ cup medium red onion diced
- 1 large tomato diced
- ½ a seedless English cucumber diced
- 1 red peppers seeded and diced
- ¾ cup light feta cheese
- ½ cup black Kalamata olives I also use the pre-sliced ones if I feel extra lazy -they don't look as nice, but they save you the hassle of dealing with pits and/or chopping
- 4.5 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4.5 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoon each chopped fresh mint and basil
Garnish
- additional fresh basil and mint, as desired
- fresh lemon wedges, if desired
Instructions
- Cook pasta in water (as per package directions) until tender (al dente), but still firm. Drain. Put in the fridge to cool while preparing the rest of the ingredients. If you are in a hurry, run the pasta under cold water before placing in the fridge to speed up the cooling time.
- In large bowl, combine cooled, cooked pasta and remaining ingredients, tossing well. Refrigerate until cold (it's best served cold). Serve.
- May be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Colleen
This delicious salad would never be ignored at any potluck. It's fresh, pretty, and tasty AF! Great job, Terri.
Kaitie
This looks perfect for a potluck (or just easy lunches for the week). And I agree - it’s ya key to bring home the leftovers UNLESS the hosts insist! 🙂
Terri Gilson
thanks, Kaitie!
Nick @ GreekBoston.com
This is getting me excited for summer. I love a good BBQ and pasta salad is a staple! Of course, you can make it any time of year but it's better in the summer 🙂
Terri Gilson
I so agree, Nick!Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Elaine
Terri, I can't imagine this salad being overlooked at a potluck. It would probably be the first to go, as who doesn't love pasta salad? And now that there are so many great choices in gluten-free pastas, this is a recipe that anyone can make. I love this Greek twist on traditional pasta salad!
Terri Gilson
Thanks so much, Elaine! I really need to keep it simple (like this) when it comes to potlucks!
TheFirst365Days.com
Yum!! What great pictures and recipes. Look forward to following along. xoxo http://www.thefirst365days.com
Food Meanderings
Thank you for following! I also look forward to following your blog!
Sheryl
The Greek Salad looks wonderful. I've also gotten some of my favorite recipes from friends and co-workers.
Food Meanderings
Thanks, Sheryl! Yes, potlucks are one of the best sources for awesome recipe finds!
apuginthekitchen
Lovely blog and the salad is gorgeous. Thank you for following my blog also!!
Food Meanderings
Thank you -you as well!
anotherday2paradise
Looks so yummy and easy too.
Food Meanderings
Thanks - yes, it's very easy and tasty!
Sue Slaght
I love Greek Salad ans this looks like a great way to make it into a complete meal. Best of all easy and that is the number one requirement for me. 🙂
Food Meanderings
Thanks, Sue! Yes, it can definitely be a complete meal-especially if you want to keep it vegetarian!
chef mimi
What lovely ingredients!
Food Meanderings
Thank you - yes, nice and summery and healthy!