Orzo Pasta Salad

This classic orzo pasta salad is a colorful mix of fresh chopped veggies with tender orzo pasta and coated in a flavorful homemade lemon-dijon vinaigrette.

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About Orzo Pasta Salad

Pasta salads come in all sorts of varieties, but one of my absolute favorites is orzo pasta salad.

Because not only does it have tender orzo and a classic-style vinaigrette, but it’s ideal for preparing in advance and travels well, making it a great pick for potlucks or parties. It’s one of my favorite dishes to bring (or prepare for my own house parties) when we’re in need of a tasty side dish.

What is orzo salad?

I’ve seen this pasta salad mixed with tons of different dressing and flavors, but in the end, they all share three key components:

• Orzo pasta. This is a small-cut pasta, shaped like a large grain of rice.
• A light dressing. Typically this is a vinaigrette, but I’ve also seen creamy dressings used.
• Fresh cut veggies with a Greek or Italian flair (like artichoke hearts, olives, etc).

What’s the difference between orzo and rice?

While orzo and rice have a similar shape, size, and even some ingredients, they do still have their own characteristics. For example, rice tends to have a certain “firmness” even once cooked, while orzo is merely rice-shaped pasta and will be just like pasta once cooked (softer, bendable, etc).

So, basically, both orzo and rice are oval-shaped and mild-tasting, making them “similar enough” to be interchangeable – so long as you’re okay with both of those differences in your dish.

And if you’re making an ingredient swap, you’ll need to take into consideration cooking time, especially if the rice or orzo is cooked within the dish and not prepared separately to be mixed in later. Not all substitutions work, and depending on the type or brand of orzo or rice, the differences in cook time may be off enough that it would be better to stick with the intended ingredient.

Can you make orzo pasta salad in advance?

Yes, you totally can!

In fact, this pasta salad will taste better if given the chance to marinate for a few hours, especially overnight.

How long is this pasta salad good for?

Once prepared, orzo pasta salad can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Can you freeze orzo pasta salad?

Bad news here, guys. I personally can’t recommend freezing pasta salad. It can be done, but you might get wildly different results depending on when you freeze it, how it’s packaged, etc. And even if you do everything correctly, freezing and thawing will ultimately remove a bit of water from all ingredients, which could greatly impact the texture of the salad.

However, if you’re dead set on freezing a pasta salad for later, check out this article for a complete guide: Tips to Freezing Pasta Salads.

Notes & tips for this pasta salad

• If you don’t already have one, you’ll need an extra large bowl to mix all of the ingredients together.
• Red onions can pack a bit of a bite, so if you’re looking for a milder flavor, try soaking the onions first. To do this, submerge the red onion in a bowl of ice cold water and let it soak for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the onions, pat them dry, and then use in the recipe as directed. 

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How to make orzo pasta salad

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – In a small bowl, add the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk the ingredients together until incorporated, then set the bowl aside.

Step 2 – Prepare orzo per package instructions, rinse with cold water, then place in a large mixing bowl. 

Step 3 – Next, add the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, artichoke hearts, olives, and basil to the bowl with the pasta. Drizzle the prepared dressing on top, then use a spatula to gently toss to mix and coat all of the ingredients.

Step 4 – Serve and enjoy!