Summer Orzo Salad

Name: Summer Orzo Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups dry orzo; 15 oz baby tomatoes; 1 medium zucchini squash; 1 medium white onion; 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen); 2 tbsp olive oil (divided); 1 tbsp Italian seasoning; 4 oz goat cheese; 2 cups spinach

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Fresh and juicy baby tomatoes, sweet white onion and fresh summer zucchini oven roasted and mixed into al dente orzo with creamy, smooth goat cheese to finish it off. This Summer Orzo Salad with caramelized veggies is sure to be on repeat in your summer recipe rotation.

prepared summer orzo salad in white baking dish surrounded by additional recipe ingredients on white background.

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About this Salad
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make This Recipe
Recipe FAQs
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Recipe

About this Salad

Pasta salad is a classic favorite. Hearty noodles with plenty of mix-ins and a tasty dressing to coat it all. Pasta Salad makes for a great side at a barbecue, a tasty lunch with some protein on top, or even as a snack all on its own.

But don’t feel restricted to penne, fusilli, or macaroni noodles in a pasta salad. Switch it up with orzo, which is a very short grain that looks similar to rice, but is actually pasta. Orzo has a lovely, soft texture and is super easy to cook as compared to risotto, which it is often mistaken for.

The orzo alone, however, isn’t the star of this Summer Orzo Salad. We’ve got oven roasted, caramelized tomatoes, quite literally bursting with juices and flavor, which are baked alongside sweet white onion and fresh garden zucchinis and mixed together with creamy, smooth goat cheese for a perfect balance of flavors.

And if you love pasta salad, also check out this Pesto Pasta Salad, Bruschetta Pasta Salad, or this Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad!

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for summer orzo on white baking tray in individual white bowls.

Orzo - Orzo is a rice shaped pasta with a fun texture. Its small size works great for pasta salad because it mixes well with all of the other ingredients.
Summer Veggies - I included spinach, baby tomatoes (actually a fruit!), zucchini, white onion and corn which all get soft and carmalezied after roasting in a healthy dose of olive oil.
Goat Cheese - Goat cheese has a creamy, buttery flavor that pairs great with roasted tomatoes in this pasta salad. The cheese becomes melty when mixed with the warm ingredients, almost like a cheese sauce.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to Make This Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Orzo. First heat a pot of water on medium heat and bring to a boil. Add orzo to boiling water and cook 1-2 minutes less than recommended box instructions. We want it al dente. Once the orzo is finished cooking, strain and rinse with cold water.

uncooked chopped zucchini, onion, corn, and baby tomatoes in white baking dish on white background. — Step 2

Step 2: Prep Veggies. Preheat the oven to 350°. Wash and dice sweet onion, summer zucchini, and halve tomatoes. Add one tablespoon of olive oil to a pyrex baking dish. Add onions, zucchini, tomatoes, and corn to the dish. Mix vegetables so they’re evenly coated in oil. Sprinkle Italian seasoning and toss again.

roasted tomatoes and veggies for summer orzo salad in white baking dish on white cloth. — Step 3

Step 3: Roast Veggies. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until veggies have caramelized and some of the tomatoes have burst.

white baking dish filled with cooked orzo and goat cheese crumbled over top before mixing into roasted veggies for orzo salad. — Step 4

Step 4: Add orzo and cheese. Then add the cooked orzo to the baking dish on top of the veggies as well as the goat cheese crumbles.

Step 5: Add spinach. Lastly add another tablespoon of olive oil and fresh spinach to the dish. Toss everything together (the goat cheese will melt in with the hot vegetables and pasta) and serve fresh warm or cold.

Recipe FAQs

How do we store Orzo Salad?

Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Note: The orzo will absorb a lot of the flavors and goat cheese when left to sit. Simply toss with your favorite dressing prior to serving to ensure the flavor is all there.

Any tips for success?

Don’t overcook your orzo. You want it al dente. Overcooked orzo will be mushy and stick together, which is not ideal for this Summer Orzo Salad.

Use good olive oil! The drizzle of oil at the end enhances this dish and a nice olive oil really makes a difference.

Should I serve this pasta salad hot or cold?

Traditional pasta salad is served cold like a lettuce salad would be, and this orzo is fabulous chilled. That said, I’ve also had it warm and with the charred tomato and goat cheese that becomes so creamy when heated, I can assure you it works deliciously as a hot dish as well.

What protein should I serve with this Summer Orzo Salad?

This dish goes great with grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, or if you're vegetarian, mix in some chickpeas or white beans.

Could I use another pasta variety?

Absolutely. Penne, fusilli, or macaroni noodles would all work great. If you’re gluten free, use a chickpea noodle (I love Banza) rice noodle. I also think using Right Rice would be tasty and mimic the shape of orzo.

one serving of summer orzo salad in white ramekin.

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