Cucumber Pasta Salad (Printable)
Tender pasta with cucumber, cherry tomatoes and a creamy yogurt-dill dressing — chilled and ready for summer gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 9 ounces short pasta such as rotini, fusilli, or penne
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
→ Dressing
06 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
07 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
08 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
09 - 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Optional Add-Ins
12 - 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons capers
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool. Set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
03 - Add the thinly sliced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and chopped dill to the bowl. Gently toss to coat the vegetables with the dressing.
04 - Add the cooled pasta to the bowl. Toss all ingredients until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - If desired, gently fold in crumbled feta cheese and capers.
06 - Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Toss again before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- This salad stays bright and crunchy for hours, making it your secret weapon for potlucks.
- It’s so customizable that you’ll never get bored—there’s always something new to toss in.
02 -
- Once I skipped rinsing the pasta and the salad turned gummy—let it cool completely.
- Letting the salad chill in the fridge really does make every ingredient sing together.
03 -
- After slicing onions, soak them briefly in cold water to mellow the bite.
- Use a microplane for the garlic so it melts seamlessly into the dressing.