Description
This Feta & Cranberry Penne Salad with Orange Vinaigrette is a refreshing, flavor-packed dish that’s perfect for any occasion! It combines tender penne pasta, tangy feta cheese, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy toasted walnuts with a zesty, homemade orange vinaigrette. Tossed with fresh baby spinach and red onions, this salad is light yet satisfying. Serve it as a side or enjoy it as a hearty main dish. Best of all? It’s ready in just 20 minutes!
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 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
For the Orange Vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Pasta – Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
2️⃣ Make the Orange Vinaigrette – In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
3️⃣ Assemble the Salad – In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, crumbled feta, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, baby spinach, and thinly sliced red onion.
4️⃣ Dress & Toss – Drizzle the orange vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
5️⃣ Serve & Enjoy! – Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 15 minutes to let the flavors meld beautifully.
Notes
💡 Make it ahead – If preparing in advance, store the vinaigrette separately and toss just before serving.
💡 Add protein – Grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas make a great addition.
💡 Swap the nuts – Pecans, almonds, or sunflower seeds work well instead of walnuts.
💡 Make it gluten-free – Use gluten-free pasta to suit dietary needs.
💡 For extra zest – Add a little orange zest to the dressing for an extra citrusy kick!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Pasta Salad
- Method: Tossing, Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg