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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Cold Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe

    Modified: Mar 14, 2025 · Published: Jun 13, 2024 by Sarah Jenkins. This post may contain affiliate links. See the Privacy Policy at the bottom of this page.

    Jump to Recipe
    healthy salmon pasta salad in bowl on countertop.

    This Cold Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe is a delicious blend of fresh veggies, tender pasta, and fresh salmon, all tossed in a tangy lemon vinaigrette. Perfect for a hot summer day, I love this for a light dinner or a backyard barbecue. 

    salmon pasta salad with veggies and feta in bowl on cutting board with baguette on the side.

    I've been making this simple salmon pasta salad for years and it's one of my favorite dishes during the summer months and definitely one of my favorite pasta salad recipes. It's nice and light, healthy, and easy to pull together. Not to mention totally riff-able. 

    In This Post
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Key Ingredients
    • How To Make Salmon Pasta Salad
    • Variations And Substitutions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Easy Summer Dishes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Easy. Once the salmon is cooked, it's really just a matter of tossing everything together. Super simple!
    • Healthy. In case you've missed it, salmon is really healthy - rich in healthy fats and vitamin D! Use whole wheat pasta for extra health bonus points. 
    • Great make-ahead dish. Because this is served cold, it's the perfect make-ahead dish - great for when you need to bring something for a potluck, or summer picnic, or need a quick and easy meal after a long day. (This cold asparagus salad is also a delicious salad dish to serve up alongside salmon or chicken!)
    • The perfect way to use up leftover salmon!  If you have leftover salmon from another dish, this is a great use for it. Sometimes I'll even make an extra filet when I'm making salmon, just to use in this simple pasta salad. 

    Key Ingredients

    Just a few simple ingredients make up this delicious pasta salad! 

    ingredients for salmon pasta salad on countertop, labeled.
    • Short Pasta. You'll want to use a short pasta shape here. Penne pasta, fusilli, or spiral pasta all work well.
    • Fresh Veggies. Cherry tomatoes, English cucumber (you don't need to worry about the seeds), red onion, and red bell pepper add color and crunch. But feel free to toss in what you have - zucchini or asparagus would be amazing with the salmon!
    • Cooked Salmon. Use freshly cooked (and cooled) salmon, leftover salmon, or even canned salmon for this dish.
    • Vinaigrette. A simple mix of olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, honey, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic clove.
    • Feta Cheese. Doesn't cheese make everything better?  Feta has that creamy, tangy element that enhances the Mediterranean flavors of this dish and adds just a touch of saltiness.

    How To Make Salmon Pasta Salad

    This recipe comes together in a snap! Here's how to make it:

    1. Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 16 oz of short pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool. Transfer the cooked pasta to a large bowl and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to cool completely.
    cooked pasta in bowl on countertop.
    1. Prepare the vinaigrette. In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup olive oil, ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 minced garlic clove. Set aside.
    2. Combine pasta and veggies. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes, 1 medium cucumber (sliced and quartered), ½ small thinly sliced red onion, and ½ chopped red bell pepper.
    1. Add the vinaigrette. Pour the vinaigrette over the pasta mixture. Toss to mix well.
    2. Add the salmon and feta. Because the salmon and feta are delicate, you'll want to add them at the very end to prevent them from crumbling or falling apart to much. Gently fold in 3 cups of cooked salmon pieces and ½ cup crumbled feta cheese. Toss lightly to incorporate.
    salmon pasta salad in bowl on countertop.
    1. Serve. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and enjoy immediately. For best results, let the salad sit for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. 

    Variations And Substitutions

    • Try a different dressing. While I feel like the vinaigrette works well if you're serving this on a hot hot day, you can try different types of dressings depending on what you're in the mood for. Swap the vinaigrette with a creamy dressing made of Greek yogurt, dijon mustard, and fresh dill for a twist.
    • Try different veggies. Add or substitute with other veggies like green peas, green onions, zucchini, or asparagus.
    • Try different proteins. Use grilled chicken, tuna, or shrimp instead of salmon. Or try this with smoked salmon for a different take.
    • Try some fresh herbs. Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or chives can add a burst of freshness to the salad and go great with the salmon.
    salmon pasta salad with feta and veggies in bowl on countertop. with feta.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use canned salmon?

    Yes, canned salmon works well in this recipe. Just make sure to drain it thoroughly.

    How do I store leftovers?

    Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Can I make this salad ahead of time?

    Absolutely! This salad is a delicious make-ahead recipe. Prepare it a day in advance and let it chill in the fridge for the flavors to meld.

    What kind of pasta is best for this salad?

    Is it just me or does anyone else prefer pasta salad with short noodles? I like Short pasta shapes like penne, fusilli, or spiral pasta because they hold the dressing well and are easy to eat. However, if all you have is spaghetti, that will work in a pinch.

    Can I serve this salad warm?

    I love this as a cold salad, but if you want to serve it warm, that would work too! Simply follow all the instructions, but don't chill the pasta. Add all the ingredients to the warm pasta, toss, and serve.

    salmon pasta salad with veggies and feta in bowl on cutting board with baguette on the side.

    This Cold Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe is a versatile, delicious dish that's the perfect dish or perfect side dish for almost any summer gathering.  If you try this easy pasta salad recipe, let me know what you think in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!  

    More Easy Summer Dishes

    • Easy Baked Salmon In Foil, With Lemon And Dill
    • Easy Lemon Salmon Pasta
    • Smoked Salmon Sushi Bowls
    • Pasta With Chickpeas, Spinach And Tomatoes
    • Easy Salmon BLT Sandwiches With Garlic Aioli
    • Farro With Blistered Tomatoes And Pesto
    • Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger Pasta Salad
    • Chickpea Stew With Orzo And Greens

    Recipe

    salmon pasta salad with veggies and feta in bowl on cutting board with baguette on the side.

    Cold Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe

    Author: Sarah Jenkins
    This Cold Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe is a delicious blend of fresh veggies, tender pasta, and fresh salmon, all tossed in a tangy lemon vinaigrette. Perfect for a hot summer day, I love this for a light dinner or a backyard barbecue.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course pasta salad, potluck, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Italian, Mediterranean
    Servings 8
    Calories 450 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 oz pasta (short pasta, like penne)
    • 2 cup cherry tomatoes halved
    • 1 medium English cucumber sliced and quartered
    • ½ small red onion thinly sliced
    • ½ red bell pepper chopped
    • 3 cups cooked salmon cut into bite-sixzed pieces
    • ½ cup olive oil
    • ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 garlic clove minced
    • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Cool until room temperature (you can place it in the fridge for 30 minutes if you need it in a hurry.)
    • While your pasta is chilling, make the vinaigrette. Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, and minced garlic clove in a small bowl. Whisk well.
    • Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and red bell pepper to the pasta.
    • Pour the vinaigrette over the pasta and veggie mixture and toss to mix.
    • Add the cooked salmon chunks and feta cheese, and gently toss to incorporate.

    Notes

    • Leftover salmon or caned salmon both work great for this recipe.
    • Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 20gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 212mgPotassium: 559mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 515IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 78mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword 20-minute dinner, easy dinner, light dinner, potluck
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 3 votes

      Did you try this recipe? I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below! Cancel reply

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Chelsea says

      June 26, 2024 at 2:36 am

      5 stars
      The vinaigrette was so delicious! I also added some fresh basil and it was perfect!

      Reply
      • Sarah Jenkins says

        June 30, 2024 at 10:00 pm

        Thank you Chelsea!

        Reply
      • Rachel says

        August 05, 2024 at 10:58 pm

        5 stars
        This turned out well. I'm not generally a fan of vinaigrette so I used red wine vinegar instead of white wine, to make it a little less acidic. I also used whole wheat penne pasta to add a little nuance to the flavors. Delicious! With all the fresh veggies it was a nice, light Summer meal. Thank you.

        Reply
        • Sarah Jenkins says

          August 06, 2024 at 11:04 pm

          Thanks so much! Glad you liked it!

    2. Lynn says

      June 13, 2024 at 3:27 pm

      5 stars
      Yum!

      Reply
    Sarah Jenkins

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I love creating dishes based on what's in season and using local ingredients as often as I can. I hope you'll find some new to you recipes here that will inspire you to make something delicious!

    More about me →

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