Spinach Pasta Salad

If you’re looking to make something quick, fresh and tasty, we’ve got you covered with our classic spinach pasta salad. Loaded with raw spinach, briny olives, feta cheese and a homemade vinaigrette, this dish has all the makings of perfect pasta salads for a crowd. And a pasta salad recipe that gives us an excuse to use up that wilting bag of spinach? We’ll take it!

Make this healthy dish as a summer dinner on those hot days when you don’t want to turn on the oven. Or, make it ahead of time for when you’re headed to a picnic and need a potluck recipe. And since it makes fantastic leftovers, you never have to worry about making too much.

Ingredients for Spinach Pasta Salad

• Penne: This recipe calls for whole wheat penne pasta, but you could use any other small pasta shapes like orzo, spiral pasta or orecchiette.
• Spinach: Use fresh baby spinach like the recipe calls for, or buy a bunch of spinach, cut off the stems, and give it a good clean before using.
• Tomatoes: The recipe calls for a large tomato, seeded, so it’s not too watery when chopped. Halved or quartered cherry tomatoes would also work well here.
• Cheese: The vinaigrette calls for grated Parmesan which adds a nice depth, and the salad calls for crumbled feta. Opt for the blocks of both types of cheese and grate and crumble them at home.
• Green onion: Use both the greens and whites of a thinly sliced green onion for a little kick to this spinach pasta salad.
• Olives: The olives are my favorite part of this salad. The recipe calls for Greek olives, but I also love using oil-cured black olives. Here are the olive varieties to get to know.
• Olive oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for the vinaigrette for that bright, grassy flavor.
• White wine vinegar: Tangy white wine vinegar is a classic acid for a vinaigrette. You could also use champagne vinegar instead.
• Dijon mustard: Mustard is a staple vinaigrette ingredient that provides flavor and adds a creaminess to the texture.
• Garlic: Use fresh minced or grated garlic to give the dressing a little oomph.
• Seasoning: I love an oregano-based vinaigrette, and it goes perfectly with the Mediterranean flavors of the pasta salad. Finish off the vinaigrette with salt and pepper.

Directions

Step 1: Cook pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and then give it a good rinse in cold water so it cools down the pasta and stops the cooking.

Step 2: Mix salad

While the pasta is cooking, make your vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, white wine vinegar, Parmesan, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper together until well combined. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the pasta with the spinach, tomatoes, crumbled feta, green onions and olives. Add the vinaigrette and toss so everything is well coated. Serve immediately.

Taste of Home

Spinach Pasta Salad Variations

• Try a different pasta: This spinach pasta salad recipe can be tweaked in so many different ways, including changing up the pasta itself. Try different pasta shapes, or even something like a spinach pasta or tortellini.
• Use a different dressing: Try a different salad dressing, like poppy seed dressing or a roasted garlic vinaigrette.
• Change up the tomatoes: Play around with different fresh tomatoes, or use sliced-up sun-dried tomatoes as a tasty variation.

How to Store Spinach Pasta Salad

Store your leftover spinach pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

Can you make spinach pasta salad ahead of time?

This is an easy salad to make ahead. You can make the whole thing from start to finish and store it together—it gets better with time!

Spinach Pasta Salad Tips

Taste of Home

What mistakes should you avoid when making spinach pasta salad?

It’s pretty hard to go wrong with this pasta salad. Just make sure to follow the cooking directions on your pasta, and let it cool before adding it to the other ingredients so the spinach doesn’t wilt. If you do overcook the noodles or forget to rinse them, it could result in soggy pasta salad.

Should you let pasta cool before making pasta salad?

Make sure to let the pasta cool before mixing it with the other ingredients. That way the cheese doesn’t melt and the spinach stays a little crispy. But don’t worry, the pasta cools down really quickly when you rinse it in cold water.

What can you serve with spinach pasta salad?

This is a satisfying meal all on its own, though pairing it with protein makes it more filling. It’s also a perfect side dish for proteins like cast-iron steak or Greek-style lemon chicken.