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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes - Salads

    By Carol Published: Jun 8, 2019 Modified: Feb 15, 2022 | This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

    Jump to Recipe
    4.38 from 32 votes
    45 minutes
    Pinterest image for Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

    Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is full of fresh, crunchy vegetables and bright, summery flavors!  It's the perfect crowd-pleasing salad to take to your summer get-together.

    Photo of Greek Orzo Pasta Salad in white serving bowl on white distressed background with serving spoon, garnished with parsley and lemon.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS - Click the Icon to Find the Info You Need FAST!

    • Why This Recipe is a Keeper!
    • What is orzo?
    • How do you cook orzo?
    • Ingredients:
    • How to Make Greek Orzo Pasta Salad:
    • How long does Greek Orzo Salad last in the refrigerator?
    • Be sure to try these other great pasta salad recipes!
    • Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
      • Equipment
      • Ingredients  1x2x3x
      • Instructions 
      • Notes
      • Nutrition

    Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

    Sharing one of my all-time favorite summer salads!

    Whenever we are invited to a get-together in the summer and need to bring something, chances are good I'll be toting this salad with lively Greek flavors along.

    The beautiful bright colors of the fresh crunchy vegetables--cucumber, yellow bell pepper, red onion and tomatoes--look like summer!  A light and lively lemon dressing, fresh herbs and feta cheese pull everything together into a flavor-packed summery crowd-pleaser!  People will be asking you for this great recipe!

    Best of all, orzo pasta cooks quickly so cooking it will barely heat up your kitchen.

    What is orzo?

    Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta that's also called risoni.  Although it looks like rice, it's not gluten-free unless you use gluten-free orzo.

    Photo of orzo pasta spilling out of a glass jar.

    How do you cook orzo?

    Orzo cooks very quickly.  Because orzo cooks so quickly, it's easy to overcook.  I highly recommend buying a good-quality orzo such as Delallo (affiliate link).  Delallo will hold up better in a pasta salad such as this Greek Orzo Salad because it's made with durum wheat semolina which is higher in protein than traditional wheat flour.

    Ingredients:

    • Orzo Pasta
    • Cherry Tomatoes
    • Yellow Bell Pepper
    • Red Onion
    • Cucumber
    • Parsley
    • Oregano
    • Kalamata Olives
    • Olive Oil
    • Lemon Juice
    • Red Wine Vinegar
    • Garlic
    • Black Pepper
    • Feta Cheese

    How to Make Greek Orzo Pasta Salad:

    Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is super simple to make!

    • Start by cooking the orzo.  Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil.  Add the orzo and cook to an al dente stage (the pasta should still have some bite to it).  Strain then rinse the pasta with cold water to cool it down quickly so it doesn't continue to cook.  Drain well.
    •  Chop:
      • Cucumber
      • Yellow bell pepper
      • Red onion
      • Fresh parsley
      • Fresh oregano
    • Halve:
      • Grape or cherry tomatoes
      • Kalamata olives
    • Mince:
      • Fresh garlic
    • Juice:
      • Fresh lemons

    Photo of all the ingredients for Greek Orzo Pasta Salad in glass bowl not combined.

    • Combine in a large bowl.

    Photo of Greek Orzo Pasta Salad being mixed together with white spoon in glass bowl.

    • Add crumbled feta cheese...

    Photo of salad being mixed together with feta cheese added.

    • Garnish with chopped parsley, parsley leaves and lemon wedges.  Season with salt and pepper.

    Close-up photo of Greek Orzo Pasta Salad in white serving bowl with serving spoon.

    That's it!  Light, lively, delicious Greek Orzo Pasta Salad!  Grilled chicken or shrimp are great additions!

    Photo of Greek Orzo Pasta Salad in white serving bowl with serving spoon.

    Let's eat!

    Photo of Greek Orzo Pasta Salad served from white serving bowl onto small white plates.

    How long does Greek Orzo Salad last in the refrigerator?

    When I make this salad ahead of time such as for my personal chef clients, I toss the orzo with a small amount of the lemon dressing to keep the pasta moist.  I then cover tightly and refrigerate.  When I'm ready to serve, I add the rest of the dressing and stir well.

    Be sure to try these other great pasta salad recipes!

    • Caprese Pizza Pasta Salad
    • Whole-Grain Pasta Salad with Cucumber Dressing, Peas and Fresh Dill
    • Chicken Pasta Salad with Spinach Buttermilk Dressing
    • Antipasto Pasta Broccoli Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette
    Greek Orzo Pasta Salad - Overhead hero shot of salad in white bowl on white distressed background with serving spoon, garnished with parsley and lemon

    Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

    4.38 from 32 votes
    By: Carol | From A Chef's Kitchen
    Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is full of fresh, crunchy vegetables and bright, summery flavors!  It's the perfect crowd-pleasing salad to take to your summer get-together.
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE TEXT INGREDIENTS TO PHONE SAVE RECIPE Saved!
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Side Dishes - Salads
    Cuisine Greek
    Servings 8
    Calories 356 kcal

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Wusthof Chef Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Glass Mixing Bowls

    Ingredients
      

    • Salt
    • 2 cups orzo pasta - uncooked
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes - or 2 cups, halved
    • 1 large yellow bell pepper - chopped
    • 1 small red onion - finely chopped
    • 1 English cucumber - seeded and diced (peeled if desired)
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
    • ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives - halved
    • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice - from 2 large lemons, or to taste
    • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    • 2 cloves garlic - minced
    • freshly ground black pepper - to taste
    • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
    • Parsley sprigs and lemon wedges - for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook to al dente. Drain into a sieve and run under cold running water to cool. Drain.
    • Combine orzo, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, cucumber, parsley, oregano and olives in a mixing bowl.
    • Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt and black pepper to taste.
    • Pour over salad and stir.
    • Fold in feta cheese.
    • Serve, garnished with parsley sprigs and lemon wedges.

    Notes

    MAKE AHEAD:  Drizzle a small amount of the dressing over salad, seal tightly and refrigerate. When ready to serve, add remaining dressing and stir.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 356kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 353mg | Potassium: 393mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 668IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 2mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @fromachefskitchen.

    More Side Dishes - Salads

    • Kale Quinoa Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing
    • 25 Best Beet Salad Recipes
    • Mediterranean Chopped Salad with Chickpeas
    • Creamy Cucumber Salad with Yogurt
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    Categories: Side Dishes - Salads

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chef JIm says

      June 23, 2019 at 10:26 pm

      Delicious! Easy, fresh tasting! Topped our servings with grilled marinated shrimp! Another keeper recipe!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        June 24, 2019 at 7:00 am

        Thanks so much, Jim! So glad you enjoyed! Adding grilled and marinated shrimp is genius! Thanks again!

        Reply
    2. Anonymous says

      June 08, 2019 at 9:04 pm

      5 stars

      Reply

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