Simple Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe Everyone Will Love

This simple Orzo Pasta Salad bursts with the fresh flavors of juicy cherry tomatoes and crunchy cucumbers, all tossed in a light and herby vinaigrette. Each forkful offers a delightful harmony of tender orzo pasta with tangy feta cheese adding a creamy contrast. This dish is a colorful, refreshing side that’s just as suited for a casual picnic as it is for an elegant dinner party.

❤️ Why you'll love Greek Orzo Salad

This salad is not only beautiful but also very versatile, making it a perfect side dish for any meal, regardless of the occasion.

• Effortless to Prepare: With prep time that amounts to just chopping and tossing, you can have this salad ready in a snap. Make chopping even easier with a veggie chopper. 
• Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with vegetables and wholesome feta, it’s a dish that nourishes as much as it delights. Fresh herbs give this a real flavor punch.
• Dietary Friendly: Easily adaptable to be gluten-free with gluten free orzo pasta, making it suitable for various dietary preferences.
• Make-Ahead: The flavors meld beautifully over time, making it an ideal choice for meal prep or make-ahead events. It is perfect for a family gathering because it tastes great at room temperature. 
• Seasonally Flexible: Works with a variety of seasonal vegetables, ensuring it remains a year-round staple.

🥘 Equipment Needed

• Medium-sized pot for cooking the pasta 
• Large mixing bowl for tossing the salad in the dressing 
• Sharp knife and cutting board or veggie chopper.

🧾 Ingredients in Orzo Pasta Salad

Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.

• Orzo pasta
• Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
• Persian cucumbers (mini cucumbers)
• Red onion
• Kalamata olives
• Feta cheese
• Fresh parsley
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Fresh lemon juice
• Garlic clove
• Salt and pepper

🍳 How to Make Orzo Pasta Salad

Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.

Cook the orzo pasta al dente. Rinse under cold water and drain well.

In a large bowl, mix the cooked orzo with cherry tomatoes, diced Persian cucumbers, red onion, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.

Put the chopped parsley in the bowl.

In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper together to make the dressing.

Drizzle the dressing onto the salad and gently mix to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.

If needed, add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to adjust the seasoning according to your taste.

Cool the salad in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors mix together.

Hint:  For added protein, you can also add grilled chicken or shrimp to this salad. You can also use other types of pasta such as penne or rotini for a twist on the classic orzo salad.

🥄 Variations to This Greek Salad

• Add fresh basil or fresh mint in addition or instead of the fresh parsley.
• In a delicious Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe, you can add artichoke hearts, garbanzo beans and red bell peppers.
• Add avocado for a creamy texture and added healthy fats.
• Use different types of cheese such as goat cheese or blue cheese instead of feta.
• Swap out the kalamata olives for black olives or green olives for a different flavor profile.
• Try using balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar for a sweeter dressing. Use a premade salad dressing like a red wine vinaigrette or even a homemade Italian dressing. 
• Add in some grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers for added flavor and nutrients.

🍽️ What to Serve With The Ultimate Pasta Salad

This orzo salad pairs well with grilled meats such as chicken, steak, or pork. You can also serve it alongside some crusty bread and a glass of wine for a light lunch or dinner. It's also great for picnics and potlucks as it can be made ahead of time and served cold. 

🍶 Storing

This orzo salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. If needed, you can add a little bit of extra dressing before serving to refresh the flavors. It's best served cold, so it does not need to be reheated. 

💭Top Tips for Making Orzo Pasta Salad

• Make sure to rinse the orzo under cold water after cooking to prevent it from sticking together.
• You can substitute different types of vinegar for the dressing such as apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
• If you're not a fan of raw red onions, you can sauté them in a little bit of olive oil before adding them to the salad. 
• Don't add the dressing until right before serving to prevent the salad from becoming soggy. 

❔FAQs

How Many WW Points in Orzo Pasta Salad

While this recipe is a little higher in points, at 10 points per serving, it makes a great side dish with zero point or low point proteins. I love to serve this with rotisserie chicken breast, either on the side or added in. 

This is a direct link to the recipe in the WW recipe builder app. You can see the recipe as well as add it to your daily food tracker. This only works for WW members in the US. If you are outside of the US, you will need to enter it manually.

Have you joined our Weight Watchers Facebook Group? Free recipes and support. Perfect for everyone!

Need to change the number of servings? You can click on the number of servings and change the number. This will adjust the ingredient measurements to what you need. 

If you love this recipe, come back and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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