Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is a fresh mix of tender orzo, juicy tomatoes, olives, sweet corn, herbs, and feta tossed in a simple lemon dressing. My sister’s absolute favorite salad!
author’s note
Livi’s All-Time Favorite Salad
When my sister was pregnant with her first, there was very little she could eat. Even after the nausea eased, most foods still didn’t sound good. So when I brought this salad to a family get-together, I expected her to pass on it.
That definitely did not happen. I’m pretty sure no one else even got a chance to try it.
From then on, my family knew this was the salad to bring anytime Livi was coming. She lived on it through the rest of her pregnancy, and years later, it’s still her favorite. I still get a picture every couple of months of a fresh batch in her fridge.
If that doesn’t convince you this Greek Orzo Pasta Salad deserves a spot on your roster, I don’t know what will, haha! It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for meal prep. I hope you love it!
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad Ingredients
| Ingredient | Let’s Chat About It |
|---|---|
| Orzo Pasta | Cook in well-salted water so the pasta has flavor. Rinse under cold water after draining to stop the cooking and keep it from sticking together. |
| Cherry & grape tomatoes | Use ripe, sweet tomatoes for the best flavor. I love using two colors, but one works great too. |
| Kalamata olives & feta cheese | These add the classic salty Mediterranean flavor. Buy block feta and crumble it yourself for the best possible flavor. |
| Fresh corn, red onion & parsley | Fresh corn adds sweetness and a really nice crunch. Use it raw or grill it for a smokier flavor. If the red onion is strong, soak it in ice cold water for 10 minutes. |
| Lemon, olive oil, garlic & Dijon | This simple dressing makes the salad bright and fresh. Fresh lemon zest adds a lot of flavor, so don’t skip it. |
How To Make Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
- 1. Make dressing: Shake dressing ingredients in a jar; refrigerate.
- 2. Cook orzo: Boil in salted water, then drain, rinse, and cool.
- 3. Prep salad: Chop the veggies and add to a large bowl with feta.
- 4. Add corn: Grill if desired, then cut kernels from the cob.
- 5. Toss & chill: Add orzo and dressing, toss well, chill, then serve!
Featured Comment
“Served this for dinner and it has instantly become a family favorite recipe in our home! Delicious!”
– Sara
Storage
Greek orzo pasta salad keeps for 3-5 days in the fridge. Store the dressing separately and add it to individual portions when serving for the best texture. The olives and red onion get stronger as it sits, so I like to store those separately if I’m meal prepping.
More Delicious Salad Recipes:
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups orzo pasta 12 ounces
- 1-1/2 cups cherry tomatoes 1 pint
- 1-1/2 cups yellow grape tomatoes or more cherry tomatoes, 1 pint
- 3/4 cup Kalamata olives halved
- 1-1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley and more for topping if desired
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion see note 1
- 2 ears fresh sweet corn
- 1 large lemon zest and juice
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Zest and juice the lemon to get about 2 tsp zest and 3 tbsp juice. Add both to a large mason jar. Add the olive oil, garlic, mustard, and sugar. Season to taste (I add 1/2 tsp salt & 1/4 tsp pepper). Seal and shake well to combine. Refrigerate while preparing the salad so the flavors can meld.
- Bring 12 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Once boiling, add 1 tablespoon salt and the orzo. Cook according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water for about 20 seconds, shake off excess water, and allow the pasta to cool completely.
- Halve the tomatoes and olives. Finely dice the red onion (see note 1). Chop the parsley. Add the tomatoes, olives, onion, parsley, and feta to a large bowl.
- Grill the corn if desired (see note 2). Cut the kernels from the cob and add to the bowl. The corn can also be added raw for extra crunch (this is how I like it).
- Add the cooled orzo to the bowl. Pour the dressing over everything and toss well to combine. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving. Toss again just before serving.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What a savory recipe, indeed! Served this for dinner and it has instantly become a family favorite recipe in our home! Delicious!
Love how colorful this pasta is! It has so many delicious flavors in it. Perfect side with any dish!
This would be SO good with some grilled chicken! Nom nom nom.
Yes!! That sounds awesome! 🙂
The perfect pasta for summer! So light and fresh
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks! 🙂
One of the best pasta recipe I ever did. Is not hard to make either.
Thank you Jessica! That’s definitely one of the best parts, how simple it is! I’m glad you enjoyed!!
Love ALL things orzo. I can’t wait to make this! I think it would be perfect served with fresh salmon. 🙂
This is delicious.
I LOVE Orzo, actually I love all pasta 😉
I am all about eating for warmer weather! And I love a good orzo pasta salad, especially when it looks THIS gorgeous! Awesome recipe, Chelsea!
I still check the weather app where we used to live too 🙂 It’s been really cold this winter so this colorful pasta dish is the perfect way to sneak in some sunshine. It looks incredible and I love all the fresh flavors!