Mediterranean Orzo Salad is a simple vegetarian side dish recipe that's packed with fresh and zesty flavors.
The kids and I have been watching Luca on repeat and I’m letting the movie’s Italian Riveria setting take me AWAY! Is it weird that a plate of animated pasta can make me drool?
Don’t answer that question.
Anyway, the seaside village where the story takes place reminds me so much of the town Ben and I stayed in during our Amalfi Coast adventure exactly 14 lifetimes ago, with ancient stone steps, crashing coast lines, and fig, lemon, and olive trees dripping with ripe fruit. Literally Ben almost got nailed in the head by a lemon dropping off a tree in the courtyard of our hotel.
The memory (of Italy, not the head injury) inspired me to share this gorgeous side dish recipe that’s filled with the flavors of the Mediterranean – Mediterranean Orzo Salad!
Watch How to Make It
Fresh and Easy Orzo Pasta Salad
This simple yet memorable orzo-based side dish recipe is packed with fresh and zesty flavors from tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese, capers, and fresh parsley, dressed in a zingy Lemon Dressing. It’s great warm or cold and perfect for serving with a grilled dinner, or taking to a cookout, party, or potluck.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItHonestly I would just plan on doubling the recipe because you’ll eat half of it out of the mixing bowl – it is so, so good. Simple yet incredible. Let’s do this!
How to Make Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Start by cooking gluten free orzo (or regular orzo if you don’t need to eat GF) in salted, boiling water until al dente then drain and cool slightly.
Orzo is pasta that looks like rice and is so much fun to use in soups and side dishes like this one. I’ve actually never found gluten free orzo in the grocery store, so I order mine online.
While the pasta is cooking, add all the Mediterranean-inspired toppings into a mixing bowl. We’ve got:
- Grape or cherry tomatoes
- Kalamata Olives (Mezzetta brand is GF)
- Capers (Mezzetta brand is GF)
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Chopped parsley
Next, shake up the bright and tangy Lemon Dressing that will dress the orzo salad. To a mason jar with a tight fitting lid, add fresh lemon juice, garlic, honey, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper then shake to combine.
Lastly, add the slightly cooled orzo to the mixing bowl then drizzle with enough dressing to coat and stir to combine. You can absolutely eat this orzo salad warm – it’s actually reeeeally delicious this way! – but I usually stick it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to give all the flavors a chance to meld.
That’s all she wrote! This easy pasta salad recipe is not only absolutely gorgeous but absolutely DELICIOUS! I know you’ll just gobble it up. Enjoy, enjoy!
More Summery Side Dish Recipes
- Fruit Salad Recipe for a Crowd
- The Best Pasta Salad
- Green Beans with Bacon
- Best Baked Beans EVER
- Peach Caprese Salad
- Sesame Noodle Salad
- Napa Sweet Corn Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- Marinated Vegetable Salad
Ingredients
- 6 oz dry gluten free orzo pasta
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 2 Tablespoons gluten free capers, drained
For the Lemon Dressing:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 clove garlic, microplaned or finely minced
- salt and pepper
Directions
- Cook orzo according to package directions then drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Add slightly cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl with tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, parsley, and capers. Drizzle on enough Lemon Dressing to coat then toss to combine. Chill for 10-15 minutes before serving then add additional dressing if desired.
For the Lemon Dressing:
- Combine ingredients in a mason jar with a tight fitting lid then shake to combine. Alternatively, you can add lemon juice, salt, pepper, honey and garlic to a food processor then process while slowly drizzling in olive oil. Can be made up to 5 days ahead of time.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
This was such a good side dish for our baked shrimp! Definitely will be making again…sitting down eating the leftovers for lunch! I was surprised how great the dressing went in the orzo….still had some left in case it needed some today but it is still wonderful!! Thanks for the recipe
Oh I’m thrilled to hear that, Cheryl — shrimp is a perfect pairing with this pasta salad! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating. :)
I have made this recipe a thousand times and I will make it a thousand more. Delicious!
Oh my goodness, music to my ears, Leah!! Thank you so much for your feedback!!
I would appreciate you include nutritional facts in your recieps: Protein, Carbs, Fat ect.
Great salad! We always love it. Tonight I added some roasted pistachios. Yum!!
Ooo, that sounds wonderful, Susan! So glad this is a repeat dish for you!
Simple and delicious! I love the lemon vinaigrette flavor! I did add some extra tomatoes and sliced shallots to bump up flavors that I like.
Love it, Cheryl! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
This looks amazing. I make something similar with quinoa, and it is nice to try something a little different and use orzo. Love the tomato and kalamata olive combination.
It’s so, so good and refreshing. I hope you get a chance to try it, Marysa!
Thank you for this great recipe. I do double it, half disappears before dinner!
Relatable!
Love this recipe! Great for a hot summer day with grilled chicken or baked salmon. Only thing I added was a bit of finely chopped red onion.
Love that addition, Patti! So glad this dish was a hit. :)
Love your recipes. This looks A-mazzing.,lol
Thank you so much, Joyce! I so appreciate that!!
Thank you Kirstin! My whole family loves this one! Super tasty and easy for summer! Great pot luck dish!
Aww! Couldn’t have said it better myself! So glad you enjoyed, and thank you so much for your star rating!
Cooking gf for my bil and want to make this ahead of time. Is gf orzo finicky like gf pasta or will it be ok to make a day ahead of time?
That’s a great question – I would say that GF orzo is less finicky than GF spaghetti or rotini, for example, and so it should be fine to make a day ahead of time. I might let it sit at room temperature for a bit beforehand, and reserve some dressing to add just before serving.