Easy Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad with Feta
A simple, refreshing pasta salad combining fresh strawberries, spinach, and salty feta cheese with a light vinaigrette dressing, perfect for quick meals or gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cook (Assembly)
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pasta (rotini or penne)
- 5 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
- While the pasta cools, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients.
- Gently toss everything together until the pasta and vegetables are lightly coated with the dressing.
- Serve immediately or chill for later.
Notes
- You can prepare the dressing up to two days ahead and store it in the refrigerator.
- For a make-ahead option, assemble the salad without the dressing and store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours. Add the dressing just before serving.
- If you prefer a sweeter dressing, increase the honey slightly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 16
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 25