Spinach Pasta Salad

Name: Spinach Pasta Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 18 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces penne pasta; 4 cups baby spinach; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; ½ cup red onion, sliced; ½ cup feta crumbles; ¼ cup olive oil; 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 2 cloves garlic, minced; ½ teaspoon dried oregano; ½ teaspoon kosher salt

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Spinach Pasta Salad is a delicious blend of baby spinach, penne pasta, feta cheese, tomatoes, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Tasty and simple to make in just 15 minutes!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: I’ve made this three time’s already and I get compliments every time! Easily doubles and if you’re lucky to have any left, it keeps really well! I’ve had to share your link every time. Thanks for the quick, tasty healthy summer dish

Spinach Pasta Salad in a white bowl with cherry tomatoes, red onion, and feta cheese.

If you are looking for delicious and simple pasta salad without mayo, this tangy Spinach Pasta Salad is for you. Made with fresh mediterranean flavors, you are going to love this easy side dish that’s great for any occasion!

This recipe goes great with Greek Chicken or this Balsamic Chicken Marinade. For another fresh salad, be sure to try this Farro Salad recipe, Tuna Pasta Salad with Dill, or this 5-ingredient Pesto Pasta Salad.

Table of Contents

Why this Recipe is the BEST!

This recipe for Spinach Pasta is truly the best. It’s simple to make and features tangy mediterranean flavors. Plus, it comes together quick.

If you are hesitant to eat raw spinach, this salad will change you. The tangy vinaigrette dressing does a great job of slightly wilting the spinach and giving it so much flavor.

This is a great pasta salad to serve at barbecues, brunches, and can be eaten as a meal itself. It’s also great to make ahead and have on hand. I like to serve it alongside grilled chicken and salmon.

The flavor and texture combination of the this dish is so good. Crunchy onions paired with smooth feta and sweet cherry tomatoes, it’s the perfect pasta salad.

Give this recipe a try and you’ll agree that it’s the best!

Ingredients

To make Spinach Pasta Salad, you need: baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese, and cooked penne pasta. For the vinaigrette you need: olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, and kosher salt.

Baby Spinach: baby spinach leaves tend to be smaller and more delicate. Feel free to cut the spinach into smaller pieces or use as is in this recipe.
Feta Cheese: feta is a great cheese to use here because of its smooth and salty bite. You can make the salad vegan by omitting the cheese entirely or serve it on the side.
Penne Pasta: penne is one of my favorite pasta shapes for this salad. It’s the perfect bite size and I like the texture better than bowties or macaroni. However, you can use whatever pasta shape you have on hand.

This salad is super customizable as well! You can add in other veggies like celery, bell peppers, or corn. Canned garbanzo beans or sun dried tomatoes would also be delicious here.

How to Make Spinach Pasta Salad

This recipe for Spinach Pasta Salad is super simple to put together and is customizable using whatever pasta and veggies you have on hand. Start by cooking 8 ounces of pasta in boiling water until al dente. Drain, rinse, and set aside.

process shots showing how to make the recipe including the vinaigrette and tossing it altogether.

Step 1: make the vinaigrette by whisking together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, and kosher salt. You can make this ahead of time as well.

Step 2: in a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced red onions, halved cherry tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese. If you are making ahead, add the feta cheese just before serving.

Step 3: pour on the vinaigrette. I like to add all of the vinaigrette, but you may want to start with just half and add more according to taste preference.

Step 4: gently toss the salad together to combine. You can use two wooden spoons to do this or a pair of kitchen tongs. Pour the salad into a serving bowl and serve immediately.

Spinach Pasta Salad with cherry tomatoes and red onions in a white serving bowl.

Spinach Pasta Salad can be eaten immediately, or refrigerated for later. I like to make it about 30 minutes in advance of serving so that the spinach can wilt slightly and the pasta has a chance to absorb the vinaigrette.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

Use baby spinach if you can find it. Baby spinach are just spinach leaves that are harvested earlier and are more tender with a slightly sweeter flavor.
Cherry tomatoes work great here because they don’t get as wet and mushy as diced tomatoes.
Penne is a great shape for absorbing the flavors in this pasta salad. You can use any short pasta shape you like.
This salad can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to three days.

What is a good dressing for pasta salad without mayo?

If you are looking to avoid mayo in your pasta salad, make a vinaigrette dressing instead. Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, and whatever seasonings you like, to have a delicious and tangy pasta salad dressing without mayonnaise.

Should you rinse pasta for pasta salad?

While you would never normally rinse pasta for a hot pasta dish, it’s ok to rinse it when making pasta salad. Rinsing it will help to cool down the pasta as well as remove any additional starches from the pasta. This will prevent the pasta from absorbing too much of the vinaigrette.

What to serve with Spinach Pasta Salad?

Spinach pasta salad is hearty enough to serve on it’s own for a light lunch, but to make it a full meal, serve it with grilled meats. Healthier choices included grilled chicken breasts, salmon, or even tofu. It’s a great salad to serve at barbecue, potluck or picnic, since the you don’t risk contamination from the mayo sitting out.

White bowl full spinach pasta salad recipe on a wooden countertop.

More Pasta Salad Recipes!

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