Greek Orzo Salad

Greek orzo salad serves a crowd and could be a main or side dish. It’s loaded with flavor and veggies, making it a healthier pasta salad option for potlucks, cookouts, or barbecues!

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With outdoor eating season coming up, I want you to be prepared with the best pasta salad possible. Especially if you don’t eat meat, it’s a great idea to bring something to a cookout that you know you’ll be able to fill up on.

Greek orzo pasta salad will be a hit with vegetarians and meat eaters alike, and is a breeze to throw together. It would pair well with a veggie burger, soup, or a cheese board. It is also great with grilled chicken, shrimp, or fish for those who do eat meat. 

What makes this the best Greek orzo salad recipe?

This orzo salad recipe is light, flavorful, and a healthier option than a lot of mayo heavy pasta salads you might finds at picnics or backyard barbecues. It has the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean like olives, dill, and lemon. 

I went light on the veggies here, so if you or someone you’re cooking for thinks they don’t love veggies, this is a good option for having a few but not a ton. If you love veggies, you can easily add more to the mix.

Greek orzo salad ingredients

• Orzo
• Grape tomatoes
• Yellow bell pepper
• Red onion
• Cucumber
• Kalamata olives
• Parsley
• Dill
• Feta

How to make Greek orzo salad

1. Cook orzo according to package directions. When it’s done, drain and rinse with cool water.
2. In a large bowl, combine orzo, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, cucumber, olives, parsley, and dill.
3. Toss with dressing and top servings with feta cheese if desired.

Greek orzo salad dressing ingredients

• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Red wine vinegar
• Garlic
• Honey
• Salt & pepper

How to make Greek orzo salad dressing

In a small mason jar (affiliate link), add all dressing ingredients, close, and shake to combine. You could also whisk them together in a small bowl.

Top tips and questions

What is orzo?

Orzo is a small pasta that’s ideal for use in soups and pasta salads. Because it is so small in size, be sure not to overcook it or your salad may become mushy.

What kind of olives are best for orzo salad?

I like the flavor and texture of kalamata olives in orzo pasta salad. You could use whatever olives you prefer.

Can I make Greek orzo pasta salad in advance?

Yes, you can make this salad up to two days ahead of when you will serve it. Keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Tips for customizing

• Use whole wheat orzo to increase the fiber and protein in this recipe
• Swap the orzo for whatever small cut pasta you have on hand
• Add crispy chickpeas, grilled chicken, or shrimp to make this a complete meal
• Leave off the feta to keep this salad vegan
• Add canned, quartered artichoke hearts and/or chopped fresh spinach

What to serve with Greek orzo salad

• Balsamic Tofu
• The Best Crispy Tofu
• BBQ Tofu
• Butter Bean Soup
• White Bean Dip
• The Best Veggie Sandwich
• Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

More salad recipes

• Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad
• Vegan Potluck Barley Salad
• Mediterranean Couscous Salad
• Warm Kale and Quinoa Salad
• Israeli Couscous Salad
• Vegan Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Tofu
• Pesto Tortellini Salad
• Caesar Pasta Salad

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

Recipe

Greek Orzo Salad

A light and fresh Greek orzo pasta salad made with tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, olives, herbs, and a fresh Mediterranean dressing.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 374kcal

Author: Lindsay Moe

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Ingredients

Greek Orzo Salad Dressing

• ▢ ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ ¼ cup lemon juice
• ▢ 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon honey
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Greek Orzo Salad

• ▢ 16 ounces orzo pasta
• ▢ ½ pint grape tomatoes, halved
• ▢ 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
• ▢ ½ English cucumber, diced
• ▢ ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
• ▢ ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
• ▢ ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• ▢ 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
• ▢ 1 cup feta cheese, optional
• ▢ Salt & pepper as needed

Instructions

Greek Orzo Salad Dressing

• Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small mason jar, close the lid, and shake to combine. Alternatively, you could whisk it together in a small bowl.

Greek Orzo Salad

• Cook orzo according to package directions. When it’s done cooking, drain and rinse with cold water until cool to the touch.
• In a large bowl, combine orzo, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, onion, olives, parsley, and dill.
• Add the dressing and stir until combined. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
• Top servings with feta cheese if desired, or you can stir it right into the salad if you prefer.

Notes

 

Serving sizes may vary depending on whether you use this as a side dish or main dish salad. Nutritional information is an estimate.

Tips for customizing

• Use whole wheat orzo to increase the fiber and protein in this recipe
• Swap the orzo for whatever small cut pasta you have on hand
• Add crispy chickpeas, grilled chicken, or shrimp to make this a complete meal
• Leave off the feta to keep this salad vegan
• Add canned, quartered artichoke hearts and/or chopped fresh spinach

Nutrition

Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 421mg | Potassium: 310mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 575IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 1mg

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