Go Back
Close-up view of a creamy Asparagus Pasta Salad with peas, hard-boiled eggs, and sausage in a large glass bowl.

Layered Spring Pasta Salad

A refreshing and vibrant Layered Spring Pasta Salad packed with tender pasta, crisp spring vegetables, crumbled feta, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light, make-ahead meal that showcases the best of spring produce.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta Layer
  • 12 oz short pasta such as rotini, fusilli, or farfalle
  • 1 tsp salt for pasta water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for tossing pasta
For the Spring Vegetables
  • 1 lb fresh asparagus woody ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup frozen peas thawed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 6 radishes thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
For the Creamy Lemon-Herb Dressing
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh chives chopped
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste
For the Cheese Layer
  • 4 oz feta cheese crumbled

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Cutting Board
  • Sharp Knife
  • Large clear serving dish (e.g., trifle bowl or glass bowl, 3-4 quart capacity)

Method
 

Prepare Pasta and Vegetables
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain well, rinse with cold water to stop cooking, then drain again thoroughly. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking and set aside to cool completely.
  2. While the pasta cooks, blanch the asparagus: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the cut asparagus and cook for 2-3 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. Immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking, then drain well. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the cooled asparagus, thawed peas, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced radishes, and diced red onion. Set aside.
Make the Dressing
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, chopped fresh dill, chopped fresh chives, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Assemble the Layered Salad
  1. In your chosen clear serving dish (trifle bowl or glass bowl), begin layering. Start with approximately half of the cooled pasta, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
  2. Spoon about one-third of the dressing over the pasta layer, spreading gently.
  3. Next, evenly spread half of the mixed spring vegetables over the dressing.
  4. Sprinkle half of the crumbled feta cheese over the vegetables.
  5. Repeat the layers: add the remaining pasta, then another one-third of the dressing, the remaining mixed vegetables, and finally the remaining feta cheese.
  6. Spoon the final one-third of the dressing on top, spreading it lightly. You can garnish with a little extra fresh dill or chives if desired.
  7. Cover the salad tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally 4-6 hours, to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.

Notes

This Layered Spring Pasta Salad is best served chilled. It can be made a day in advance; the flavors deepen with time. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If making ahead, you might want to reserve a little extra dressing to drizzle on top just before serving if the salad seems a bit dry.