Summer Greek Salad

This Easy Greek Salad with feta cheese and cucumbers is one of the simplest no pasta side salads you can make.

With traditional Mediterranean flavors like tomatoes, Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, and of course, feta cheese, this no-guilt Greek Cuisine is perfect for a summer picnic.

Combine the fresh and vibrant vegetables with your favorite Greek dressing, and it becomes one of the best Greek Dishes with a big, bold taste.

Why you will love making Summer Greek Salad!

Fresh and healthy ingredients: Side dishes are often filled with loads of carbs, and while that IS wonderful, sometimes crisp cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, and bold Greek dressing is the healthiest salad of all.

Just like the 1905 Columbia Salad Recipe, nothing more to enjoy, but the earth has provided us, and with so many variations of this salad, there is a recipe with exactly what you have in your fridge.

Rustic or Chopped: I prefer traditional large pieces of vegetables, but if you want to chop all these Greek flavors down to bits and pieces, it still works perfectly. See our suggestion below for a power bowl.

This side needs a side: Serve this salad up with some air fryer pita bread chips. Just yum, yum!

Simple Ingredients

• Juicy Tomatoes – any type of ripe red tomatoes work well in this salad. I like in-season vine ripe tomatoes, but any kind can be used – including grape or cherry tomatoes are fine as well.
• Cucumber – The main difference between a regular cucumber and an English cucumber is shape and color. English cucumbers also have fewer seeds. For this salad, I used a regular cucumber, but English would substitute just fine if needed.
• Red onion– As I have explained many times over, adding red onion directly to a meal can make it spicy. However, there is an easy way to tone down red onions in salads. First, slice the onion and then soak the onion in cold water for about 30-40 minutes. Another tip is to simply use smaller or fewer pieces of onion in the overall salad.

• Selection of olives: green olives and Kalamata olives, both drained, bring tons of color.
• Pepperoncini– Pepperoncini are small peppers. Banana peppers can be a good substitution if you cannot find pepperoncini.
• Greek dressing – Aside from a bit of tossed extra virgin olive oil and lemon vinaigrette, store-bought dressings like olive gardens, creamy Greek dressing, or Kraft Greek vinaigrette are a quick time saver.
• Feta cheese – large crumbled or sliced block of Greek feta cheese.

How to make Feta Greek Salad

1. Cut down red onions and place them in a bowl of cold water. Set bowl aside. Soaking onions in water helps pull out the bite of the onion. 
2. Quarter cucumbers and grape tomatoes.
3. Slice pepperoncini and drain olives of any juices.

4. Mix tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olives, and pepperoncini and mix well.
5. Pour dressing on top (about 1/4 – 1/2 cup) and mix well until evenly coated. Optional: Season with kosher salt and black pepper.
6. Serve immediately topped with feta cheese or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Expert Greek Salad Recipe Tips

Mixing up the shapes: As with many salads, how small or chunky you cut the fresh vegetables impacts the amount of flavor you get in one bite. It’s fine to cut these down to itty bitty pieces (think salsa style) or leave them huge and rustic.

Additionally, cucumber could be spiralized into long curly cues instead of pieces making for not only a pretty salad but one full of cucumber.

Add some cooked pasta – Traditional Greek Salad does not have pasta, but that doesn’t mean you cannot turn this dish into something special by adding some large macaroni or shell pasta. Just adjust the amount of dressing as needed.

Fresh Salads can have toppings, too: Classically, this has no lettuce, but let me turn you onto something – add a few spinach leaves or arugula to a bowl.

Add on the Greek Salad vegetables, top with a bit of hummus, quinoa, and tzatziki sauce, and turn this basic salad into a super protein power bowl.

FAQ’S

What is diner-style or restaurant-style Greek Salad?

Typically restaurants add lettuce, feta, red onions, and a few Kalamata olives.

What’s in a traditional Greek Salad Dressing?

Olive oil, fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and various spices like oregano.

What is feta cheese made from?

Goat or sheep milk.

Related Greek Side Dish Recipes 

• Baked Greek Salad Recipe– Bright, beautiful Greek vegetables like red peppers, olives, and onions, all spiced beautifully, makes a unique worldly dish to bring your taste buds to life. If you are sick of cold salads, potato casseroles, and fluff dessert recipes, this healthy side dish recipe might be just for you.
• Whipped Olive Feta Dip Recipe– Whipped Feta Dip combines amazing Mediterranean olive with incredibly seasoned and whipped feta cheese into the most indulgent and elevated dip ever.

• Layered Greek Dip Recipe– Layered Greek Dip with Hummus, Cucumber, Tabouli Salad, and Feta Cheese is a Unique Mediterranean-inspired dip that screams delicious Greek flavors. Easy appetizer dip combined homemade with store-bought hummus – plus so easy to alter with your mouthwatering ideas!
• TikTok Baked Feta Pasta Recipe– This incredibly bold pasta side dish with baby salad tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, and fresh herbs and spices blend so creamily with robust pasta. Truly one of the most “main dish” side dish meals you will make, this easily doubles as a no meat meal.