Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add your penne and cook according to package directions, usually about 9-10 minutes. You want it cooked through but still firm so it doesn't get mushy when you mix everything together. Drain in a colander and set aside to cool slightly.

While the pasta cooks, grab a large mixing bowl and add your halved cherry tomatoes. Now add the diced cucumber, red and yellow bell peppers. Don't worry about the sizes being perfect—just roughly chop them so they're similar in size and cook evenly with the pasta.

Toss in your thawed peas and corn kernels with the other veggies. Add the sliced Kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese to the bowl. Everything should look pretty bright and colorful at this point, which is exactly what you want for a spring pasta salad recipe.

In a small bowl, whisk together your 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Add 1 teaspoon of honey and stir until the honey dissolves completely. This dressing is light and tangy, not heavy like mayo-based versions. Taste it real quick and adjust—I usually add a pinch of salt and pepper here.

Pour the cooled pasta into your veggie bowl and toss everything together gently. You want to coat every piece without crushing the veggies or the cheese. Add your dressing and toss again so everything gets coated evenly. This is the moment where it really comes together—trust me on this.

Fold in your fresh parsley and mint right before serving, or save them to mix in later if you're prepping ahead. The herbs stay fresher this way and don't get bruised if you're storing it overnight. If you're serving it right away, go ahead and add them in—the flavors will be amazing.

Let the spring pasta salad recipe chill for at least 15 minutes before serving, though I personally love it even more after sitting in the fridge for a couple hours. The flavors marry together and everything tastes more cohesive. Taste and adjust the lemon juice or salt right before serving—sometimes it needs a little boost after chilling.