Greek Orzo Salad, enjoy this tasty salad any time. Use fresh veggies and a delicious homemade Greek dressing to make the most flavorful salad ever. This orzo salad is ready in 30 minutes and perfect for picnics and meal planning. Make a big batch and have your salad all week or for an amazing side at a picnic.
I am a sucker for a great pasta salad. Make it an orzo salad and forget it! Years ago, I was at a family party and had the most amazing orzo veggie salad. That was it, I’ve been making my own version ever since, yum!
Greek Orzo Salad
There are many great things about this salad. It tastes amazing! Extremely versatile, as you can change up your veggies if you don’t love the Greek theme.
In addition, the same goes for the dressing, use another dressing, like lemon tahini or Caesar Dressing if you feel like changing things up.
This orzo pasta salad is awesome to bring to the beach, lake, picnic! The salad travels really well. We bring it along to lacrosse tournaments all the time!
Ingredients
Main recipe ingredients above with variations below and in the recipe.
Greek Vinaigrette Ingredients
The Greek Vinaigrette takes just a few minutes to prepare and adds amazing flavor to the orzo.
Tips and FAQs
- This is one of those salads that get even better when made ahead. Knock yourself out and make it one day ahead of time.
- This salad keeps well covered in the fridge, about 4 days.
- Orzo is a pasta. It looks like large rice.
- Kalamata olives are perfect for this salad. Use pitted olives for making the prep work easy.
Step by Step Instructions:
- Cut up your veggies and olives while orzo cooks according to package instructions.
- Gather the Greek vinaigrette ingredients.
- Make the vinaigrette. This can be made up to 2-3 days ahead of time.
- Mix the veggies with the pasta and pour vinaigrette on the orzo. Feel free to keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
Variations:
- Obviously this is an orzo salad, however, feel free to use small pasta such as penne, ziti, or rotini.
- Roma or vine-ripe tomatoes can be used.
- We use olive oil but any favorite such as avocado or sunflower oil can be used.
- A store made Greek vinaigrette can top the salad.
- Artichoke hearts can be added to the salad.
- Use chickpeas in place of pasta.
Add-ins:
- Add baked chicken breasts to the salad.
- Grilled Greek Gyro Chicken is a tasty addition.
- Poached Shrimp would be delish.
What can I serve with Orzo Salad?
- Pair with Baked Crispy Chicken Drumsticks, one of my personal favorites
- Marinated Chicken Drumsticks would be a. great combo.
- Parmesan Chicken Tenders would be fantastic with this salad.
- Baked Lamb Chops would be an awesome pairing for a tasty dinner.
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SHOP THIS RECIPE:
- Orzo: We cook this every week. Perfect for meal planning
- Large Clear Salad Bowl: This is a great bowl for salad.
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Easy Greek Orzo Salad Recipe
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
Greek Orzo Salad
- 8 ounces dried orzo pasta
- 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
- 1 large red pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 medium red onion, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup diced grape tomatoes Note 3
- 1/3 cup diced Kalamata olives
- 8 ounces crumbled feta cheese
Greek Vinaigrette
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2-3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 6 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the orzo according to package instructions. Let pasta cool.
- Add to the cooked and cooled orzo, diced cucumbers, red peppers, red onion, diced tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and Greek Vinaigrettte (recipe below).
- Refrigerate for at least an hour up to overnight to blend flavors.
Greek Vinaigrette
- In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Taste for seasoning, reseason if needed. Serve on pasta salad.
Notes
- Artichoke hearts can be added to the salad.
- Add baked chicken breasts to the salad.
- Grilled Greek Gyro Chicken is a tasty addition.
- Poached Shrimp would be delish.
Nutrition
This salad has all the Greek flavors I love! And you have great suggestions for add ons. This orzo salad will be on our weekly rotation this summer. Thank you for the great recipe.
Wonderful Jenny. I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe.
This Greek Orzo salad looks perfect! I love all the delicious flavors and ingredients, this will be great for summer picnics for sure!
Awesome Denise. Glad you love the salad.
Any recipe with the word Greek in it has my attention. This is a gorgeous salad and we love it here! The mix of flavors is fresh and delicious, and I also love the lemon tahini dressing you mention. Can’t wait to try that one too.
I’m glad you enjoy it. Definitely try the lemon tahini dressing. It’s delish with this salad too.
I love orzo salad! It’s easy to make, filling, and perfect for any Summer party! Want to try your version this weekend, it looks delicious!
I hope you enjoy the salad, Veronika.
Mmmm I LOVE Orzo so much and this salad looks scrumptious! I bet this would be awesome as a main dish with shrimp or chicken! Adding this to my meal plan for sure!
Wonderful Lori. We make this all the time. Yes, add in some protein for a one pot could salad dinner.
This salad is just too good. Love the amount of healthy ingredients and I bet the taste goes through the roof!
Elaine, this is always a hit, enjoy.
Love orzo and the flavor combo you have used in this dish. Perfect recipe for summer. Yum!
I’m so glad you enjoy the orzo recipe.
Saving this recipe to make this summer for sure! Love that I can make it ahead of time too! Thanks for sharing:)
An easy make ahead salad, Heather. Enjoy it.
I love orzo pasta and pasta salads so this is a must try recipe. It seems super simple and easy to make for a summer bbq 🙂 Thank you!
Wonderful Kathryn, enjoy the pasta.