Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
This orzo pasta salad delivers Mediterranean flavors in every bite, combining tender orzo with crisp vegetables, tangy feta, and fresh herbs. Ready in just 20 minutes from start to finish, this colorful dish works perfectly as a light lunch, potluck contribution, or refreshing side dish for summer entertaining.
The beauty of this Mediterranean orzo salad lies in its versatility and make-ahead convenience. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or need a crowd-pleasing dish for your next gathering, this recipe delivers fresh flavors that actually improve as they meld together in the refrigerator.
Looking for more pasta salad inspiration? This Easy Cold Italian Tortellini Salad brings Italian flavors to the table, while my Dill Pasta Salad offers a different herb profile. For more Mediterranean dishes, try my Easy Caprese Salad Recipe or explore my collection of easy summer pasta salad recipes.
Table of Contents
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Simple: This orzo pasta salad comes together in just 20 minutes with minimal cooking required, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute entertaining when you need something delicious fast.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The flavors actually improve with time, so you can prepare this Mediterranean orzo salad up to 4 days in advance, making it ideal for meal prep or party planning.
- Fresh and Healthy: Packed with colorful vegetables, fresh herbs, and Mediterranean ingredients, this salad provides a nutritious option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor for health benefits.
- Crowd-Pleasing: With familiar Mediterranean flavors and beautiful presentation, this orzo pasta salad appeals to both adults and kids, making it perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.
What is Orzo?
Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta that’s perfect for salads because it holds its shape well and absorbs flavors beautifully. This versatile pasta originated in Italy and gets its name from the Italian word for barley, which it resembles in size and shape. Unlike larger pasta shapes, orzo cooks quickly and provides the perfect base for cold salads where you want pasta that’s easy to eat with a fork.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad Ingredients
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Ingredient Notes:
- Orzo Pasta – Two cups of this small, rice-shaped pasta create the perfect base for this salad, as orzo holds its texture well when chilled and picks up all the Mediterranean flavors beautifully.
- Fresh Cucumber – One diced cucumber adds refreshing crunch and helps balance the richness of the cheese and olives while providing hydration and fresh garden flavor.
- Cherry Tomatoes – Two cups of halved cherry tomatoes bring bright acidity and beautiful color, plus they’re the perfect bite-sized addition that won’t overwhelm the delicate orzo.
- Red Onion – A small diced red onion provides a mild, sweet bite that complements the other Mediterranean ingredients without being too pungent when raw.
- Artichoke Hearts – A 12-ounce jar of drained and chopped artichoke hearts adds that classic Mediterranean flavor and meaty texture that makes this salad more substantial.
- Black Olives – Half a cup of pitted large black olives, halved, contributes briny Mediterranean flavor and rich texture that pairs perfectly with the feta cheese.
- Feta Cheese – Half a cup of crumbled feta cheese brings creamy, tangy richness that’s essential to authentic Mediterranean flavor profiles and adds protein to the dish.
- Fresh Herbs – Fresh parsley and mint, about ⅓ cup each, provide bright, aromatic notes that make this orzo pasta salad taste fresh and restaurant-quality.
- Greek Dressing – Quarter cup of Greek salad dressing or red wine vinaigrette coats everything perfectly and ties all the Mediterranean flavors together.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – Two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice brighten all the flavors and add that essential citrus note that makes Mediterranean dishes so refreshing.
Substitutions and Additions
- Pasta Alternatives – Substitute pearl couscous, ditalini, or small shell pasta if orzo isn’t available, keeping the cooking time similar for best results.
- Cheese Options – Try goat cheese crumbles for a creamier texture, or use mozzarella pearls for a milder flavor that still maintains the Mediterranean theme.
- Vegetable Additions – Add diced bell peppers for extra color and crunch, or include sun-dried tomatoes for more intense tomato flavor and chewy texture.
- Protein Boost – Fold in cooked chickpeas for a vegetarian protein option, or add grilled chicken or shrimp for a more substantial main dish.
- Herb Variations – Substitute fresh basil for mint, or add oregano and dill for different Mediterranean herb combinations that complement the other ingredients.
How to Make Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad (step-by-step directions)
STEP 1. Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orzo pasta and cook according to package directions, but extend the cooking time by 1-2 minutes past al dente since the pasta will firm up when chilled. (Photo 1)
STEP 2. Drain the cooked orzo thoroughly and immediately rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely. This step prevents the pasta from continuing to cook and ensures it won’t wilt your fresh vegetables. (Photo 2)
STEP 3. Transfer the cooled orzo to a large mixing bowl and add the diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, chopped artichoke hearts, halved black olives, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped fresh parsley and mint. (Photo 3)
STEP 4. Pour the Greek dressing and fresh lemon juice over the salad, then toss everything gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are well coated and evenly distributed throughout the mixture. (Photo 4)
Recipe Tips
- Pasta Texture – Cook the orzo slightly past al dente since it will firm up when chilled, ensuring the perfect texture in your finished salad.
- Temperature Control – Always rinse cooked pasta with cold water and let it cool completely before adding fresh vegetables to prevent wilting.
- Flavor Development – This orzo pasta salad tastes even better after chilling for at least an hour, as the pasta absorbs the dressing and flavors meld together.
- Fresh Herb Handling – Add delicate herbs like mint and parsley just before serving if you want them to stay bright green and fresh-looking.
Storing Tips
- Storage: Store your Mediterranean orzo salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent the herbs from wilting.
- Refrigerator: Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, though the texture and flavor are best within the first 2-3 days after making.
- Freezing: This pasta salad should not be frozen as the fresh vegetables and cheese will lose their texture and become watery when thawed.
- Reheating: This orzo pasta salad is meant to be served cold, so no reheating is necessary – just remove from the refrigerator and serve chilled.
Serving Suggestions
This Mediterranean orzo pasta salad works beautifully as a light lunch on its own or as a side dish with grilled proteins. Pair it with Lemon-Garlic Jumbo Shrimp for a complete Mediterranean meal, or serve alongside Bacon Wrapped Salmon for an elegant dinner.
For casual gatherings, this orzo salad complements Easy Cheeseburger Sliders perfectly, or add it to a spread with Watermelon Bites With Whipped Feta and other easy summer appetizers. If you’re hosting a Mediterranean-themed party, serve it with Homemade Spiced Pear Sauce and Simple Green Salad Recipes.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this Mediterranean orzo salad actually improves with time! Make it up to 4 days in advance and store covered in the refrigerator. The flavors will meld beautifully, and the pasta will absorb the dressing for even better taste.
Pearl couscous, ditalini, or small shell pasta work well as substitutes for orzo. Choose small pasta shapes that will hold the dressing well and provide similar bite-sized pieces that are easy to eat.
Cook the orzo 1-2 minutes past al dente, then immediately rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Make sure the pasta is completely cool before adding vegetables, and store properly covered in the refrigerator.
Absolutely! Grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas work wonderfully in this Mediterranean orzo pasta salad. Add about 1-2 cups of cooked protein to make it a complete meal.
Greek salad dressing or red wine vinaigrette work perfectly, but you can also use Italian dressing or make your own with olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, and seasonings for a custom flavor profile.
Need More Salad Recipes? Try These:
Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Stockpot Large
- Mixing Bowl Large
Ingredients
- 2 cups (300 g) dried orzo pasta
- 1 cucumber diced
- 2 cups (298 g) cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 small red onion diced
- 12 ounce (340 ⅕ g) jar artichoke hearts drained and chopped
- ½ cup (67 ½ g) pitted large black olives halved
- ½ cup (75 g) crumbled feta cheese
- ⅓ cup (20 g) fresh parsley or more, chopped
- ⅓ cup (15 g) fresh mint or more, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup (59 ⅐ ml) greek salad dressing OR red wine vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or to taste
Instructions
- Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orzo pasta and cook according to package directions, but extend the cooking time by 1-2 minutes past al dente since the pasta will firm up when chilled.2 cups dried orzo pasta
- Drain the cooked orzo thoroughly and immediately rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely. This step prevents the pasta from continuing to cook and ensures it won’t wilt your fresh vegetables.
- Transfer the cooled orzo to a large mixing bowl and add the diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, chopped artichoke hearts, halved black olives, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped fresh parsley and mint.1 cucumber,2 cups cherry tomatoes,1 small red onion,12 ounce jar artichoke hearts,½ cup pitted large black olives,½ cup crumbled feta cheese,⅓ cup fresh parsley,⅓ cup fresh mint
- Pour the Greek dressing and fresh lemon juice over the salad, then toss everything gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are well coated and evenly distributed throughout the mixture.¼ cup greek salad dressing OR red wine vinaigrette,2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice,Salt and pepper
Notes
- Pasta Texture – Cook the orzo slightly past al dente since it will firm up when chilled, ensuring the perfect texture in your finished salad.
- Temperature Control – Always rinse cooked pasta with cold water and let it cool completely before adding fresh vegetables to prevent wilting.
- Flavor Development – This orzo pasta salad tastes even better after chilling for at least an hour, as the pasta absorbs the dressing and flavors meld together.
- Fresh Herb Handling – Add delicate herbs like mint and parsley just before serving if you want them to stay bright green and fresh-looking.
Nutrition Information
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