Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
This Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad is the ultimate summer side dish, and it’s perfect for barbecues and picnics! It’s packed with summer vegetables, creamy feta cheese and fresh basil, and it’s tossed in a bright, refreshing lemon vinaigrette!
When it comes to summer side dishes, you can’t beat pasta salad. It’s so easy to customize with whatever type of pasta and ingredients that you have on hand, and it always pleases a crowd.
Orzo happens to be my favorite pasta to use. It’s light and tender and doesn’t weigh me down the way a lot of pasta can.
My Greek orzo salad is a family favorite, but this Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad just screams summer. It’s packed with juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, zucchini, fresh basil and feta cheese.
It’s tossed in my zippy lemon salad dressing for a side dish that everyone will love. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- This orzo pasta salad recipe is packed with the best summer veggies, creamy feta cheese, fresh basil and a tangy, bright lemon dressing that brings it all together.
- It’s an easy summer side dish that’s guaranteed to please a crowd.
- It may be made a few hours in advance, so it’s perfect for barbecues and picnics.
- This recipe may be customized with your favorite veggies, herbs and dressing.
- The feta cheese may be omitted to make this recipe vegan.
Recipe ingredients
This orzo pasta salad recipe is easy to customize using your favorite vegetables. Fresh, frozen, canned or leftover cooked vegetables all work.
Pasta salad is one of the best pantry recipes, so feel free to rummage through your pantry if you don’t have any of these specific ingredients on hand. Any type of pasta will do, as well as shelf stable ingredients like salad dressing, olives, artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers, sun dried tomatoes, beans and so much more!
Ingredient notes
- Orzo. Orzo is small rice-shaped pasta. With a little searching you can find whole wheat and gluten-free varieties if your interested. If you don’t have orzo on hand, any type of pasta will do.
- Cherry tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes may be substituted with chopped, seeded regular tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes in a pinch.
- Corn. Any type of cooked corn works in this recipe. You can use grilled corn on the cob, air fryer corn on the cob, boiled corn or frozen cooked corn.
- Zucchini. Chopped raw zucchini may be used, or toss in roasted zucchini or check out my post on grilled vegetables to find out how to grill zucchini. Zucchini may also be substituted with cucumber.
- Fresh basil. The fresh basil adds plenty of summer flair. If you don’t have any on hand, substitute with chopped parsley or your favorite herbs. For best results, chop the basil just before serving as it will turn black.
- Feta cheese. The feta cheese adds a creamy, salty element to the orzo pasta salad. It may be substituted with mozzarella balls, goat cheese, parmesan or omitted altogether to make this recipe vegan.
- Lemon vinaigrette. My lemon vinaigrette is fresh and tangy, and brightens all of the flavors of this pasta salad. Use your favorite store bought variety, or try my homemade Italian dressing or balsamic vinaigrette dressing if you prefer.
How to make this recipe
This lemon orzo salad is extremely easy to make, and easily customized with your favorite pasta, veggies, cheese and dressing.
Pro tip: Prepare the veggies and dressing in advance to make prep even quicker! If you’re using cooked corn and zucchini, they can be prepped up to 2 days in advance.
- Cook the orzo according to package instructions, then place in a colander. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, and drain well and place in a large bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients and toss with enough dressing to coat.
FAQs
The veggies and dressing for this orzo pasta salad may be prepared in advance to make prep even quicker. For best results, don’t prepare pasta salad more than a few hours in advance as the pasta will absorb the dressing and the veggies can become mushy depending on what you use.
Yes, orzo pasta comes in traditional, whole wheat and even gluten-free varieties.
Like all pasta, orzo may be eaten hot or cold. It can be served as a main dish or side dish and is great in pasta salads.
Always rinse pasta for pasta salad. Cook the pasta according to package instructions, then place it in a colander and rinse with cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta down. Drain well and toss with the other ingredients and dressing.
Pasta salad will keep for up to 3 days in an air tight container in the refrigerator, however it will dry out a bit as the pasta will absorb the dressing. Simply toss with a bit more dressing before serving.
What to serve with this recipe
Orzo pasta salad makes a great lunch, or is the perfect accompaniment for any meal. It’s great for picnics, cookouts and pot lucks!
I love serving this recipe with the following summer dishes:
- Grilled chicken souvlaki
- Grilled bbq chicken
- Grilled hamburgers
- Grilled shrimp skewers
- Grilled tomahawk steak
For more recipe inspiration, check out all of my summer recipes.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Prepare the veggies and dressing in advance to make prep even quicker! If you’re using cooked corn and zucchini, they can be prepped up to 2 days in advance.
- Frozen corn may be used as a time saver.
- This recipe may be customized using your favorite veggies, cheese and herbs!
- Leftover orzo pasta salad will keep in the refrigerator in an air tight container for 3-5 days. The pasta will absorb the dressing, so feel free to toss in a bit more before serving.
More summer recipes you’ll love:
- Broccoli slaw
- Horiatiki
- Grilled potato salad
- Italian pasta salad
- Macaroni salad by Food Network
- Mexican corn salad
- Summer salad recipes
- Zucchini fritters
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces orzo pasta
- 1 large zucchini grilled*
- 1 ear grilled corn cut from the cob
- 8 ounces cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
- Lemon vinaigrette
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Place in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Once drained, place in a large serving bowl.
- Add the grilled zucchini, corn, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and basil to the orzo pasta. Toss with the desired amount of lemon vinaigrette and toss well to combine. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: Prepare the veggies and dressing in advance to make prep even quicker! If you’re using cooked corn and zucchini, they can be prepped up to 2 days in advance.
- Frozen corn may be used as a time saver.
- This recipe may be customized using your favorite veggies, cheese and herbs!
- Leftover orzo pasta salad will keep in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 3 days. The pasta will absorb the dressing, so feel free to toss in a bit more before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This recipe was originally published in July 2015. I’ve modified the recipe, added additional text to make this post more informative, and updated the photos.
42 Comments on “Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad”
This pasta is seriously beyond amazing!!!!!
Thanks so much, Jocelyn! 🙂
Love pasta salads and the use of orzo is just perfect! Lovely photos!
Orzo makes pasta salad seem so much lighter — thanks, Mira! 🙂
What a pretty salad, Marcie! I love how light this is! I love using orzo for pasta salads but always forget to do so. This sounds delicious with the fresh veggies in here!
Thanks so much, Gayle! The orzo really does lighten this up — it’s my favorite pasta for pasta salad!
I’m all for keeping things simple in the summertime! When the produce is so fresh, it really needs very little adornment. This salad is so pretty Marcie!
Thanks so much, Allie, and you’re so right! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
This looks awesome! I love orzo! 🙂
Thanks, Medha, and you and me both! 🙂
What a beautiful Summer salad! I love the looks of this!
Thank you, Annie! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Love how light and simple you kept this pasta salad! You can’t beat all those flavorful summer veggies! It looks so fresh and delicious – the perfect summer side!
Thanks, Kelly! You can’t ask for more than delicious produce! 🙂
Dear Marcie, both salads looks delicious. I am the same way too; I usually make orzo when I am in the mood for pasta salad…great minds think alike because tonight I’m making orzo and lamb souvlaki. This looks bright and wonderful dear. xo, Catherine
Can I come over for dinner, Catherine?? I love souvlaki! Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
I love pasta salads and this one is simply stunning!!
Thank you, Ami! 🙂
Sometimes simple is best, especially when you’re swimming in fresh summer produce! Looks delicious, Marcie!
That’s the truth, isn’t it? Thanks, Denise! 🙂
I LOVE salads like these in the summer! So gorgeous, light and refreshing! Hope you have a great weekend Marcie 🙂
What a great looking summer salad Marcie!
I definitely forget about pasta salads too! I love how many summer veggies you crammed in here – my kind of dish! And I totally lol’d at the over-complicating things – I have a tendency to do the same thing 🙂 Have a great weekend!!
It was almost more veggies than pasta but there’s nothing wrong with that! haha Here’s to keeping things under-complicated, too. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Ashley! 🙂
I’m going to get Orzo, this salad look delectable!
Thank you, Ilona — orzo is the best! 🙂
I love orzo for summer pasta salads!!! light and not too heavy!!! this summer veggie one looks delicious!!!
Thanks, Alice! Nobody wants heavy food in the summer, right? 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!
Oh this salad did have plenty of corn — I can’t seem to leave it out of anything right now! Thanks, Mary Frances, and have a great weekend!
I love orzo, and this pasta salad looks divine! so vibrant and refreshing!
Thank you, Anu! Gotta love that summer produce. 🙂
I always forget about pasta salad too. And orzo. It’s so good. I got to start making it more often. And it’s such an awesome way to use fresh summer veggies!
I’ve been making up for lost time! haha Thanks, Liz! 🙂
When is orzo not delicious?! This pasta salad looks too good and I love how seasonal it is.
Thank you, Thalia! I’ve never met an orzo dish I didn’t like. 🙂
You’re so welcome, and thank you for stopping by! 🙂
This is totally my kind of pasta salad! Packed with delicious summer veggies, light, and simple! Perfection!
Thank you, Cathy! 🙂
Yum, yum, yum! My favorite kind of salad! Orzo pasta is the best!
It is the best! I’m glad you agree, Deb. 🙂
I almost never make pasta salads or think to remember to make them either! But they are so easy and refreshing when it is hot outside!
They’re the perfect summer side! I need to remember that. haha