Mediterranean Orzo Salad is a simple vegetarian side dish recipe that's packed with fresh and zesty flavors.
“I have made this recipe a thousand times and I will make it a thousand more. Delicious!”
While I tend to make pasta salad more often in the warmer months, it truly rounds out a dinner plate no matter the season.
Simple, satisfying, and fun to eat, my Mediterranean Orzo Salad is packed with zesty flavor. Pair with any grilled, baked, or sauted protein, and dinner’s done!
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 zippy flavors from tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese, capers, and fresh parsley that comes together with a zingy Lemon Dressing.
It’s great warm or cold and perfect for serving with a dinner, or taking to a cookout, party, or potluck.
Simple yet incredible. Let’s do this!
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Pin ItHow 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 love Dellalo and Jovial brands of gluten free orzo.
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 incredibly 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!
More Summery Side Dish Recipes
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- Fruit Salad Recipe for a Crowd
- The Best Pasta Salad
- Green Beans with Bacon
- Best Baked Beans EVER
- Sesame Noodle Salad
- Napa Sweet Corn 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.
Love Mediterranean inspired salads! This looks so yummy
Your anniversary is on my birthday!!! What a good day.
Looks delicious, I’ll try it one night next week.
Did you see the chance for snow Monday???? :)
I’m ignoring it since I won’t be here! ;)
:-P
This looks perfect for spring! I live in Iowa City and I cannot wait for the wamer weather they are promising!!
Holy yum! I love all Mediterranean flavors and this is making my mouth water. A jar of kalamata olives would not last long in my house :)
This is also delicious with shrimp. I make a variety of it quite a bit during the summer and is good hot or cold!
I don’t know why I have such an easy time creating orzo entrees but struggle with most other noodles! Just so versatile!
I have not made an orzo salad in forever! This looks like the perfect side dish for spring, thanks for sharing : )
This recipe looks great! I love capers so much flavour in such a small thing :)
Looks like a perfect picnic dish! When it reaches 60 degrees, I’ll make it. :)
This looks lovely! I grew up with mediterranean style meals due to my family background so I always love finding new ways to incorporate those flavours into my meals.
Ah man, that sounds absolutely amazing. It’s kind of similar to a pasta-ish salad I had tonight that I love:
http://www.marthastewart.com/317072/mediterranean-grain-salad
It’s Martha Stewart, so it has to be good, right? ;)
This looks delicious and very similar to a salad I make for lunch. Just add some garbanzo beans and some tuna. . . . . .
As soon as I saw this, I knew I had most of the ingredients necessary and I made it right away. Delish! Based on what was in my pantry, I substituted black olives, parmesan, and dried herbs. I know, I know, dried herbs are inexcusable, but they actually rehydrated quite nicely in the dressing. Considering I was just going to make myself eggs for dinner, this was a wonderful surprise.