High Protein Greek Pasta Salad (Printable)

Protein-packed Mediterranean pasta with fresh vegetables, feta, and tangy yogurt dressing. Ready in 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 ounces whole wheat penne or rotini

→ Protein

02 - 10.5 ounces cooked chicken breast, diced
03 - 7 ounces reduced-fat feta cheese, cubed
04 - 7 ounces Greek yogurt, plain, nonfat

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 large cucumber, diced
06 - 7 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
09 - 3 ounces pitted Kalamata olives, halved

→ Dressing

10 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Prepare pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process, and set aside in large mixing bowl.
02 - Add cooked chicken or chickpeas, cubed feta cheese, diced cucumber, halved tomatoes, sliced red onion, diced bell pepper, and halved olives to the pasta. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
03 - In separate small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until completely smooth and emulsified.
04 - Pour prepared dressing over salad mixture. Fold gently with large spoon until all ingredients are evenly coated. Garnish with chopped fresh dill or parsley if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate in airtight container for up to 48 hours to allow flavors to develop.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The Greek yogurt dressing keeps everything creamy without being heavy like traditional mayo-based salads
  • This salad actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge making it perfect for meal prep
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water until it is completely cool or the heat will wilt the fresh vegetables and melt the feta
  • The dressing will seem thick at first but the juices from the tomatoes will thin it out as it sits
03 -
  • Toast the oregano in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding to the dressing to deepen its flavor
  • Let the salad sit for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the feta to soften and create a creamy coating on the pasta

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