Picnic-Ready Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A refreshing, tangy pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumber, and feta cheese, dressed in a light lemon-oregano vinaigrette for easy outdoor gatherings. This Mediterranean-inspired salad recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 26 minutes, pairs penne pasta, cherry tomatoes, English cucumber into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 11 min Serves 6 Mediterranean cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-11 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  2. Step 2: Halve 1 pint (about 2 cups) cherry tomatoes, dice 1 medium English cucumber, and add to the pasta along with 1/2 cup pitted and halved Kalamata olives and 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese.
  3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until emulsified and fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to combine. Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld.

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