The BEST Orzo Pasta Salad

The Best Orzo Pasta Salad recipe that the whole family will love! It has a greek twist, packed with healthy veggies and is quick and easy to make! 

The Best Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe

I am a huge fan of pasta salad! I just can’t resist trying all the delicious kinds at the grocery store deli or sampling all the types people bring to summer potlucks.  But I can’t lie, I’m a little picky! I don’t like them to be over dressed or too fussy.  This is the ultimate pasta salad because everything in it is just perfect, the flavors are spot on.  It has a lemony red wine vinaigrette dressing that’s sweetened by just a bit of honey and packed with vegetables!  The feta cheese adds just a bit of creaminess and the fresh basil makes it taste light and summery! You don’t have to use orzo pasta if you don’t have it on hand or prefer another noodle (my husband doesn’t like orzo) just swap it out for another 8 ounces of another pasta! We use bowtie noodles and rotini all the time! Enjoy The Best Orzo Pasta Salad  with your family this week and all summer long! It’s the perfect side dish to BBQs and to pack up and take to the park.

Perfect Summer Pasta Salad

Alright, this is the perfect summer pasta salad but I also make it all year long. Whenever I have a luncheon, bridal shower, baby shower or anything like that I always make this orzo pasta salad.  And of course I always get asked about the recipe after so I am finally getting around to posting it! It’s such a good recipe because it’s easy and quick to pull together. I’m also always a big fan of recipes I can make the night before.  Plus, this doubles as a great lunch the next day!  Parker loves pasta salad so you can bet when he goes back to school in the fall I’ll be packing this for his lunch!  This really is the Best Orzo Pasta Salad. The dressing for this orzo salad is so perfect thanks to the fresh lemon juice! Is you want a little more of a zing you can add in some kalamata olives. It gives this pasta salad a bit of a greek flair! And if you need some protein, add grilled chicken (or rotisserie chicken from Costco) or steak slices! I like to make it vegetarian a lot because I serve it with a meat on the side or I take it to parties where there are meatless guests.

10 Minute Dinner Recipe

Now that I’m a mom, I’m always looking for ways to get a lot of things done during Stella’s quick naps. I need quick dishes!  So I have a few tricks to speed up this dinner.  Make this dinner in 10 minutes in the middle of the day so that dinner is ready when you need it! Boil your water and get the pasta cooking, while it cooks prepare all your veggies/herbs by chopping them up and then place in a bowl and put into the fridge. Whisk together your dressing.  When the pasta is done cooking (around 7-9 minutes later) drain it and place in a large bowl.  If you add the veggies now you’ll end up with hot veggies… no thanks, so that’s why the veggies are in the fridge.  Add the dressing to the pasta, stir and then place in the fridge to chill.  DONE!  When dinner rolls around everything will be chilled and ready to go, just add the veggies and herbs to the pasta and crumble in the feta and stir!

Easy Dinner Recipe the Whole Family will Love: Orzo Pasta Salad

This really is one of my favorite go-to dinner/ lunch recipes! Whenever I have extra tomatoes or cucumbers laying around I always end up making this pasta salad and munching on it over the next few days.  It’s fresh and light and the perfect summer meal! Also, it’s perfect for potlucks because it doesn’t have any ingredient that will easily spoil in the heat.  I hope you love my favorite Pasta Salad recipe! Sprinkle some fresh herbs on top and it will be the prettiest dish at the party.

5 from 5 votes

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The Best Orzo Pasta Salad

My all time favorite orzo pasta salad, it has a greek twist to it and it's perfect for any occasion!  

Ingredients

• 8 ounces orzo pasta cooked according to package
• 1 english cucumber diced
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
• 1/2 small red onion chopped {about 2/3 cup}
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, optional chopped

Dressing

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 lemon juiced
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. Cook orzo according to box instructions and let cool. 

2. Add orzo, diced cucumber, feta cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, chopped basil and parsley together.  

3. In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients together and then pour over orzo and veggies.  Stir to combine.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  

Recipe Notes

If you want to serve the next day, make according to directions BUT reserve the feta cheese and add this just before serving.