Spinach Pasta Salad with Feta and Cranberries

August 16, 2025 by admin

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### 📝 Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this vibrant salad:

* **8 oz cooked pasta** (penne, rotini, or bowties work well)
* **2–3 cups baby spinach**, roughly chopped
* **½ cup crumbled feta cheese**
* **⅓ cup dried cranberries**
* **¼ cup red onion**, thinly sliced (optional)
* **¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans** (for crunch)
* **2–3 tablespoons olive oil**
* **1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar** (or a light vinaigrette)
* Salt & pepper to taste

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### 👩‍🍳 How to Make It

1. **Cook the pasta** according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.
2. In a large bowl, **combine the pasta, spinach, cranberries, feta, nuts, and onions**.
3. **Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar**, then toss gently to coat.
4. **Season with salt and pepper**, to taste.
5. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

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### 🍋 Tips & Variations

* **Add protein**: Grilled chicken or chickpeas make it a complete meal.
* **Try arugula** for a peppery bite instead of spinach.
* **Use goat cheese** in place of feta for a creamier texture.
* **Toss in apple slices or mandarin oranges** for more sweetness.
* **Make it ahead**: This salad actually tastes better after it sits for an hour or two!

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### 🥄 Final Thought

**Spinach Pasta Salad with Feta and Cranberries** is one of those recipes that’s just as fitting on a weeknight dinner table as it is on a holiday buffet. It’s flavorful without being fussy, nutritious without being boring, and so tasty you’ll find yourself making it again and again.

It’s the kind of salad that proves pasta can be fresh — and even a little fancy — when paired with the right ingredients.

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Would you like a printable recipe card or suggestions for making it vegan or gluten-free? I’d be happy to help!