Greek Shrimp Pasta Salad is the kind of easy, fresh meal that disappears fast at potlucks, picnics, and busy weeknight dinners. Tender pasta, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and a creamy Greek-inspired dressing make every bite bright, flavorful, and totally crave-worthy!
Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Greek Shrimp Pasta Salad
Flavor: This salad is creamy, tangy, and zesty with fresh, crunchy veggies, briny olives, salty feta, and tender shrimp in every bite.
Why Make It: Using bottled dressing and cooked shrimp keeps this recipe quick, easy, and perfect for busy days with minimal prep and cleanup.
Serving Suggestions: This pasta salad makes a fresh and flavorful side dish for juicy lime grilled chicken kabobs or rich and savory baked lemon pepper chicken thighs.
Total Time: 30 Mins (plus a 1 hour chill) Servings: 8 Cooking Method: Stovetop/Chill
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta: Farfalle or penne are perfect here since all those little ridges and folds catch the creamy dressing. Cooking the pasta just to al dente keeps it nice and firm after chilling.
- Tomatoes: Firm, ripe tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes are best in this salad, as they add plenty of fresh flavor without making the dressing watery.
- Shrimp: Canned shrimp keeps this recipe extra easy, but thawed cooked frozen shrimp has a firmer texture and fresher flavor. Just pat it dry before adding it to the salad.
- Feta: Crumbled feta adds a salty, creamy bite to this salad. Crumble feta from a block or use pre-crumbled feta to keep it easy.
- Olives: Black olives keep things mild and simple, while kalamata olives bring that bold, classic Greek flavor.
- Mayonnaise: It makes the dressing extra creamy, so it clings to the pasta. Greek yogurt works well if you want a lighter twist.
- Variations:
- Swap the shrimp for cooked, shredded chicken, or leave it out entirely for a simple side salad.
- Load up on extra feta and olives if you want a bolder, more Greek-style vibe.
- Add fresh parsley, red onion, bell peppers, or chickpeas for an added flavor and crunch.
How to Make Greek Shrimp Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta in salted water. Drain and rinse.
- Chop the veggies and make the dressing.
- Combine the pasta with the veggies, shrimp, feta, olives, and dressing.
- Toss. Chill. Stir again, and garnish with extra feta (full recipe below).
Holly’s Best Pasta Salad Tips
- Salt the Pasta Water: So the salad tastes seasoned all the way through.
- Rinse the Pasta: Rinse the pasta until cool to stop it from cooking and to prevent it from clumping. Drain very well so the dressing does not get watery.
- Pat Shrimp Dry: Do this before adding so the salad stays creamy instead of loose.
- Make Ahead: If making the salad ahead, stir in a spoonful of dressing or mayo before serving to freshen it up.
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Stir before serving, and add a splash of Greek dressing if it seems dry. For best results, don’t leave it out at room temperature for long at picnics or potlucks.
Freezing is not recommended.
Easy Pasta Salads for Potlucks
Did you enjoy this Greek Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Greek Shrimp Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounces medium pasta uncooked, farfalle or penne
- 2 tomatoes diced
- 1 cucumber diced
- 4 ounces medium shrimp canned or frozen*
- 2 green onions sliced
- ¼ cup feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons sliced black olives or kalamata olives
Dressing
- ½ cup Greek dressing bottled
- ½ cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Bring salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook according to package directions.
- While pasta is cooking, chop the vegetables. Set aside.
- Once pasta is cooked al dente, drain and rinse under cold water.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour. Garnish with additional feta cheese if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
©The Shortcut Kitchen. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
REPIN this Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe!
What kind of greek yogurt did you use? Not all taste the same. Thanks!