Feta & Cranberry Penne Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
Feta & Cranberry Penne Salad with Orange Vinaigrette is a delightful and refreshing dish, perfect for any occasion. This vibrant salad combines the tender texture of penne pasta with creamy feta cheese, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy toasted walnuts, and fresh baby spinach, all drizzled with a zesty orange vinaigrette. It’s not only quick to prepare—taking just 20 minutes—but also versatile enough to serve as a side or a satisfying main course when paired with grilled chicken. Ideal for picnics, potlucks, or a light dinner at home, this salad bursts with flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves about 4 people 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz penne pasta
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup toasted walnuts, chopped
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a small bowl, whisk together fresh orange juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked penne pasta with crumbled feta cheese, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, baby spinach, and thinly sliced red onion.
- Drizzle the orange vinaigrette over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately or chill for about 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 10mg