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    Home » Pasta Salads

    Orzo Pesto Salad

    Posted: Dec 14, 2022 · Updated: Dec 14, 2022 by Tonje

    Jump to Recipe
    A bowl of salad, with the ingredients on the side.
    Two images of the same salad in a bowl: before and after mixing the ingredients together.

    Combine your favorite Mediterranean flavors in this easy orzo pesto salad. Tender orzo pasta, fresh vegetables, and a delicious pesto and lemon dressing pair perfectly together to make this tasty summer salad.

    A bowl of orzo pesto salad with vegetables, and a fork on the side.
    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love it
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Frequently asked questions
    • You might also like these recipes
    • Recipe
    • Food safety tips

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Why you'll love it

    • Easy and delicious pasta salad
    • Perfect as a lazy, cold lunch or dinner
    • Customize the recipe and use ingredients that you have available
    • A filling vegetarian salad that the whole family can enjoy

    Ingredients

    Orzo pasta: Orzo gives its name to this recipe, but you can also make this salad with any other small types of pasta, like penne.

    Tomatoes: Use cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes, or diced Roma tomatoes. Whatever you have on hand!

    Onion: The red onion adds a lovely flavor to this dish. I don't recommend substituting this for any other type of onion.

    Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice or bottled - they will both work fine!

    Artichokes: Canned artichoke hearts add a lovely flavor to the dish, but can be omitted if you prefer.

    Pesto: I use store bought pesto to save time, but you can certainly make your own if you want.

    Olives: Kalamata olives are delicious, but black or green olives will also work fine. Omit them if you're not a fan of olives.

    Feta cheese: Gives the salad a nice consistency, and a lovely salty flavor.

    Spinach: All good salads have some fresh, green leaves, and spinach is a great choice for this orzo pesto salad. You can also use any other leafy greens or lettuce that you like.

    The ingredients needed to make this recipe.

    Instructions

    You can find full instructions + ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this page

    One: Boil the orzo pasta according to the package instructions. Drain off any excess water, and leave it to cool.

    Two: Wash and dice the vegetables. Add them to a salad bowl, along with crumbled feta cheese, cooked orzo, and pesto.

    Three: Combine the ingredients well, and serve!

    Step by step images showing how to make this recipe.

    Top tips

    • Use store-bought pesto for convenience, or make your own from scratch if you prefer.
    • This recipe is great for using up leftover orzo pasta.
    • You can omit, substitute, or add any salad ingredients as you wish. Feel free to customize it to suit your preferences.

    Serving suggestions

    This salad is quite filling and can be served either as a main course or as a side dish.

    As a main, you can serve it for lunch or dinner, with a slice of fresh bread or Air Fryer Garlic Bread on the side.

    Pair this pesto orzo salad with a lean protein for a simple, healthy, and delicious dinner. For example, serve it with my Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken, Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks, or Baked Turkey Burgers.

    The ingredients for the orzo salad in a bowl, but they are not mixed yet.

    Variations

    • Omit the feta cheese to make this dish vegan. Make sure to also choose a vegan pesto, or make your own without Parmesan cheese.
    • You can easily omit any vegetables that you don't like.
    • Feel free to add any extra ingredients if you want. Diced peppers, cucumber, fresh herbs like basil leaves, or radishes could all be great add-ins.
    • To make the orzo pasta salad more filling, you could add some canned chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, or shredded chicken.
    • Make a Caprese version by omitting the feta cheese and all vegetables except the tomatoes, and add fresh basil and fresh mozzarella cheese.
    Close up of the orzo pesto salad with olives and tomatoes. Tomatoes and a lemon in the background.

    Storage

    Store any leftover orzo pesto salad in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. This salad keeps fresh and tasty and is a great option for a meal prep salad.

    I love to prepare a big batch of this to have for easy lunches throughout the week, or as an easy side dish for summer BBQs.

    To keep the vegetables even fresher, you could just refrigerate the orzo separately from the remaining ingredients, and assemble the salad immediately before serving.

    Frequently asked questions

    How is orzo pasta different from other types of pasta?

    Orzo pasta is a small type of pasta shaped like grains of rice. It tastes just like any type of pasta, but because it's so small, sauce tends to adhere well to it, and it tends to cook a little faster.

    Can you add pasta to salad?

    Absolutely! Pasta is a common ingredient in salads.

    Should orzo be rinsed?

    It depends on the usage! Rinsing the orzo before cooking removes some of the extra starch. In this recipe, I don't recommend that you rinse it, as the starch helps the pesto stick to the grains better.

    You might also like these recipes

    • Orzo Salad with Spinach, Feta and Lemon
    • Strawberry Walnut Salad
    • Watermelon Basil Salad
    • Avocado Chickpea Salad
    • Greek Pasta Salad

    If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with #hintofhealthy!

    Recipe

    Orzo Pesto Salad in a bowl.

    Orzo Pesto Salad

    This colorful and delicious orzo pasta salad with pesto is perfect to serve as a side dish or main course. Tasty, easy, and really healthy too!
    5 from 1 vote
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 284 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup orzo
    • 3 tablespoons pesto
    • ½ cup olives Kalamata
    • ½ cup canned artichoke hearts drained
    • ⅓ cup feta cheese crumbled
    • 1 red onion
    • 1 ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
    • ½ lemon juiced
    • 2 cups spinach washed

    Instructions
     

    • Boil the orzo pasta according to the package instructions. Drain off any excess water, and leave it to cool.
      1 cup orzo
    • Wash and dice the vegetables. Add them to a salad bowl, along with crumbled feta cheese, cooked orzo, and pesto.
    • Combine the ingredients well, and serve!

    Video

    Notes

    • The recipe serves 4 as a side dish, or 2 as a light main course.
    • Easily omit, add or substitute any ingredients that you like.
    • Add shredded chicken or canned chickpeas to make the salad more filling.
    • You can also try adding fresh herbs, cucumbers, peppers, mozzarella, or other salad ingredients that you enjoy.
    • Store any leftover salad in a refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 9gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 777mgPotassium: 363mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2029IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 127mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword 15 minute recipe, orzo, orzo pesto salad, pasta salad
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

    Food safety tips

    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

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