Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette – A bright, light orzo pasta salad recipe full of refreshingly zesty Mediterranean flavors. You’ll love serving this easy make-ahead Greek orzo salad with tangy lemon vinaigrette at all of your summer picnics and potlucks!

Overhead shot of orzo pasta salad in a large serving bowl.

Why We Love This Orzo Pasta Salad

There is no better dish to enjoy on a hot summer day than a refreshingly cold and flavorful pasta salad.

Often quick and easy to make, they are perfect for preparing ahead and serving as a hearty lunch or dinner side dish, and sharing at barbecues and potlucks.

We have several simple and delicious pasta salads on the site that we all know and love, like our classic Best Macaroni Salad and Best Italian Pasta Salad recipes. They are comforting and satisfying while helping to beat the heat, and are always a welcome dish on any picnic table.

Likewise, this new Greek Orzo Pasta Salad recipe is sure to become a family favorite this season… It’s bright, colorful, and chunky, and tossed in a terrifically bright lemon-garlic vinaigrette.

Loaded with tangy olives, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh peppers, and herbs, this delightful pasta salad brings a taste of Greece to your kitchen. Using orzo adds more Mediterranean flair, and makes this dish really stand out from other summer salad recipes.

Because all the ingredients are chopped small, it also feels slightly more elegant than most pasta salads. It is sure to impress, even though it takes minimal effort and only minutes to make!

Orzo pasta salad in a bowl with a spoon scooping some up.

What Ingredients You Need

This Mediterranean-inspired pasta salad is dairy-free, vegan-friendly, and can easily be made gluten-free. Plus, is includes a homemade lemon vinaigrette recipe, too!

Here is what you need to make our Greek Orzo Pasta Salad:

  • Orzo pastaYou can use wheat or gluten-free options for a healthier pasta salad.
  • Bell pepperWe recommend red bell peppers, but use whatever color you like best.
  • Kalamata olives and green olivesOr any olives you prefer.
  • Sun-dried tomatoesFor smoky, zesty Mediterranean flavor.
  • Red onionAdds great crunch and a bit of sweetness.
  • Fresh herbs – Basil, dill, and parsley.

Ingredients for easy homemade Lemon Vinaigrette recipe:

  • Lemon juice
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Granulated sugar
  • Garlic
  • Salt and pepper
Greek orzo salad with lemon vinaigrette recipe served on a plate.

How to Make Orzo Pasta Salad

Start to finish it takes less than 30 minutes to make Greek Orzo Pasta Salad. However, while you can serve it right away at room temperature, for the most refreshing and tasty salad we recommend that you chill for at least an hour in the fridge before enjoying it. The flavors only get better as they sit together!

Here are the simple steps for making an amazingly fresh and fun Mediterranean pasta salad with lemon vinaigrette dressing:

First, make the orzo on the stovetop according to the package instructions, until al dente.

Meanwhile, set out a large salad bowl. Finely chop the bell pepper, onions, sun dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs.

Next, make the Lemon Vinaigrette! In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, sugar, and minced garlic. Set aside for now.

Once the orzo pasta is cooked and drained, place it in the salad bowl. Add in the chopped bell peppers, olives, sun dried tomatoes, onion, and all of the herbs.

Lastly, pour the lemon vinaigrette dressing over the pasta salad and gently toss well to thoroughly coat. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

We hope your family and friends enjoy this bold and bright summer salad as much as we do!

Olives, orzo, sun dried tomatoes, red peppers in a bowl.

Tips & Tricks

  • Serve this orzo pasta salad as a main dish with a side of chicken or your favorite protein! Or serve as a side dish at your next BBQ or get together. It is great to enjoy with a crowd!
  • Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette is delicious to eat right away after chilling, and it still tastes fabulous after 10 days in the fridge! That makes is a great make ahead recipe and enjoying for lunch or as a side dish throughout the week!
  • This pasta salad recipe is for 8-10 servings, but can easily be doubled to make a batch big enough to feed a crowd.
  • Dice everything up nice and small so that you can get a little bit of everything in each bite!
Fresh herbs on top of the other ingredients before being mixed into a bowl.

Recipe Variations

  • Protein: Add some protein! This salad would be delicious with chickpeas or white beans as a vegetarian protein. Or, you can serve it with simple grilled chicken, salmon or shrimp!
  • Vegetables: The veggies here can be switched out for others if you prefer! Try adding cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, cucumber or spinach to the mix.
  • Pasta: You can use any small pasta shape in this Mediterranean orzo salad, including cous cous, ditalini or even bowtie pasta!

Get the Complete (Printable) Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe with Lemon Vinaigrette Below. Enjoy!

Overhead shot of Greek orzo pasta salad in a serving bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orzo Pasta or Rice?

Orzo is actually a pasta! It is just shaped like rice, which is why it can be confused for rice. Treat it just like a pasta and cook it in salted water and drain it.

How Can I Make Gluten-Free Greek Orzo Pasta Salad?

Make a gluten-free version of this orzo pasta salad by swapping wheat orzo with gluten-free orzo or another small GF-friendly pasta shape.

However, it should be noted that gluten-free pasta does not hold up as long as wheat pasta. It turns mushy over time. Therefore, you should make and enjoy the gluten-free version on the same day.

What Other Ingredients Can I Include in this Pasta Salad Recipe?

If not adhering to a dairy-free or vegan diet, try adding a generous helping of crumbled feta cheese and/or cooked chicken to make an even heartier summer salad.

Make-ahead summer pasta salad with lemon vinaigrette served on a plate.

Looking for More Refreshing Summer Salads? Be Sure to Also Try:

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Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette – This bright, light orzo pasta salad recipe is full of refreshingly zesty Mediterranean flavors. You'll love serving this easy make-ahead Greek orzo salad with tangy lemon vinaigrette at all of your summer picnics and potlucks!
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

For the Lemon Vinaigrette

Instructions

  • Set a large pot of salted water over high heat. Bring to a boil. Then cook the orzo as directed on the package. Drain.
  • Meanwhile, set out a large salad bowl. Chop the bell pepper, onions, sun dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs.
  • In a small bowl (or measuring pitcher) whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, sugar, and garlic together. Set aside.
  • Once the orzo is cooked and drained, place it in the salad bowl. Add in the bell peppers, olives, sun dried tomatoes, onion, and all chopped herbs.
  • Pour the lemon dressing over the salad and toss well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Make a gluten-free version of the orzo pasta salad by swapping wheat orzo with gluten-free orzo or another small GF pasta shape.
This dish will keep well for up to 10 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 397kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 296mg, Potassium: 583mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 1039IU, Vitamin C: 35mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Appetizer, Main, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American, Greek, Mediterranean
Author: Sommer Collier
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