Description
This Greek Yogurt Christmas Pasta is a vibrant and creamy pasta salad perfect for festive gatherings. Made with cooked rotini pasta, a tangy dressing of Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, it is packed with a medley of cheeses including sharp cheddar, feta, and parmesan. Fresh vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and herbs add bold flavors and textures, making this a refreshing and satisfying dish to enjoy during the holidays or any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 14 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
Dressing
- 1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Cheeses
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, diced
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Add-ins
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup English cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil rotini or fusilli pasta in salted water until it reaches an al dente texture. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it completely.
- Prepare Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Pasta and Dressing: Add the cooled pasta to the dressing and toss thoroughly to coat all the pasta pieces evenly with the creamy dressing.
- Incorporate Cheeses and Vegetables: Gently fold in the diced sharp cheddar, crumbled feta, grated parmesan, cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, halved Kalamata olives, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and chopped fresh parsley into the pasta mixture.
- Chill: Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. This chilling time allows the flavors to meld and the salad to become nicely chilled.
- Serve: Before serving, stir the salad again to redistribute any dressing and ingredients. Garnish with additional herbs or cheese if desired for a festive presentation.
Notes
- Use full-fat Greek yogurt for a richer and creamier dressing.
- Rinsing pasta with cold water stops the cooking and prevents stickiness.
- Feel free to add other fresh vegetables or swap cheeses based on preference.
- For a tangier flavor, increase the lemon juice slightly.
- This pasta salad can be prepared a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
