Orzo Pasta Salad

Barbecue season is rapidly approaching, and I don't know about you, but the first thing I make sure I get on my plate while the meat is finishing up on the grill is a nice hearty helping of pasta salad! This Summer Orzo Pasta Salad combines some of my favorite ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, salami, and more - all tossed with Italian dressing. I love the texture of the orzo. Although small, it's quite the mighty pasta, packed with fiber to keep you feeling satisfied and full.

I love the taste of cold pasta tossed with dressing, fresh vegetables, and other yummy add-ins with a smokey protein. Plus, pasta salads are a great way to combine many food groups without even noticing! Carbohydrates, vegetables, healthy fats, and protein all make an appearance in this recipe.

Pack this summer orzo salad with your favorite flavors and make it in just 30 minutes. Your friends and family will eat it right up and ask when you're making more!

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Summer Orzo Pasta Salad Ingredients

Orzo: So quick to cook! A great pasta choice for getting lunch or dinner on the table fast. 

English Cucumber: Adds a wonderful crunch to any kind of salad.

Salami: One of my favorite deli meats. So salty and flavorful!

Feta Cheese: A great source of healthy fat for our pasta salad. Will also add some creaminess.

Spinach: It's so easy to sneak this healthy green into lunches and dinner.

Cherry Tomatoes: Another great vegetable to give our bodies the nutrients they need.

Red Onion: Adds a nice bite.

Italian Dressing: I love the vinegary taste this dressing adds. The orzo pasta soaks it right up! But, feel free to use your favorite. I use store bought dressing for convenience. 

Equipment needed

To make this orzo pasta salad, you'll need a sauce pot, strainer, cutting board, knife, mixing bowl, and measuring cups.

How to make this Orzo Salad

1. In a sauce pot, boil 5 qts of water. 

2. Cook 1 ½ cups dry orzo according to package instructions.

3. While pasta is cooking, chop and dice spinach, tomatoes, onions, and salami in small pieces. I like to chop the ingredients in different shapes to add variety to the salad. For example, cut the salami in long strips, quarter the tomatoes, and finely chop the spinach so it’s easy to get in each bite.

4. Strain and rinse cooked orzo with cold water until chilled. 

5. In a large mixing bowl, fold all the ingredients together and top with dressing. Feel free to manipulate any ingredient or omit depending on preferred taste 🙂  

Note: I made my Best Grilled Chicken recipe along with this recipe for a well rounded meal!

What does this Orzo Pasta Salad pair well with?

Pasta salads are great for family barbeques, dinner parties, or lunch out on the deck or patio with friends! It pairs well with proteins like chicken, burgers, and steaks. 

Choose YOUR favorite vegetables and add-ons for this orzo pasta salad. Bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, avocado, shredded cheese, corkscrew, elbows, or penne pasta, pine nuts...there are so many options! Toss your ingredients in mayo, caesar dressing, or oil and vinegar. 

Try this dish with my Roasted Vegetable and Sausage Kebabs or Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers!

If you love this orzo pasta salad, you'll love these summer salad recipes too!

Strawberry Quinoa Salad

Southwest Couscous Salad

Lemon Arugula Couscous Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad

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Orzo Pasta Salad

5 from 7 votes

Prep10 mins

Cook20 mins

Total30 mins

Servings6

1x2x3x

This Orzo Pasta Salad is great for barbeques, dinner parties, or lunch outside with friends! It pairs well with proteins like chicken, burgers, and steak.

Author: Courtney Paige

Equipment

• Sauce pot
• strainer
• Cutting Board
• Mixing Bowl
• Knife
• Measuring Cups

Ingredients

• 3 cups orzo, cooked
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• 1 english cucumber, diced
• ½ cup salami, diced
• ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
• ⅓ - ½ cup Italian dressing
• ¼ - ⅓ cup red onion, diced
• ¼ cup olives, optional

Instructions

• In a sauce pot, boil 5 qts of water. 
• Cook 1 ½ cups dry orzo according to package instructions.
• While pasta is cooking, chop and dice spinach, tomatoes, onions, and salami in small pieces. I like to chop the ingredients in different shapes to add variety to the salad. For example, cut the salami in long strips, quarter the tomatoes, and finely chop the spinach so it’s easy to get in each bite.
• Strain and rinse cooked orzo with cold water until chilled. 
• In a large mixing bowl, fold all the ingredients together and top with dressing. Feel free to manipulate any ingredient or omit depending on preferred taste.

Notes

I like to chop the vegetables, protein, and other ingredients in different shapes to add variety to the salad. For example, cut the salami in long strips, quarter the tomatoes, and finely chop the spinach so it’s easy to get in each bite.

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved, something that you think it might need, or just say hi!

Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?

If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find Orzo Pasta Salad

1 serving: 27 grams Carbs | 12 grams Fat | 8 grams Protein

**Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.

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