Mediterranean-inspired Orzo Pasta Salad with fresh cherry tomatoes, olives, red onion, sweet corn, parsley, feta cheese, and a delicious lemon dressing.

Serve this as a main dish salad or with grilled chicken or grilled steak on the side!

Delicious and healthy orzo pasta salad in a bowl with spoons, ready to be served.

3 Reasons We Love Orzo Pasta Salad

  1. Fresh and Light: Combines fresh vegetables and light orzo for a refreshing, palate-cleansing meal.
  2. Cool and Easy to Make: Ideal for hot days as it doesn’t require extensive cooking, keeping the kitchen cool.
  3. Healthy and Satisfying: Features nutritious vegetables and a tangy lemon vinaigrette, leaving you feeling good post-meal.

All ingredients in a bowl ready to be mixed together, creating a dish with perfectly complimentary flavors.

Ingredients

  • Orzo Pasta: Serves as the base, adding a hearty texture to your orzo pasta salad.
  • Cherry and Yellow Grape Tomatoes: Provide juicy sweetness and vibrant color.
  • Kalamata Olives and Feta Cheese: Offer salty, tangy flavors and creamy texture.
  • Fresh Parsley and Red Onion: Contribute fresh, herby notes and a crunchy bite.
  • Sweet Corn: Adds a mild sweetness and crispness; grilling enhances flavor.
  • Salt and Black Pepper: Season the salad to enhance overall taste.

For the dressing:

  • Lemon (Zest and Juice): Adds bright, citrusy flavor to your orzo pasta salad.
  • Olive Oil: Gives richness and binds the dressing.
  • Garlic, Dijon Mustard, and Sugar: Provide a balance of pungent, tangy, and sweet flavors, creating a well-rounded dressing.

Delicious homemade lemon dressing prepared for the recipe.

How To Make Orzo Pasta Salad

  1. Make Dressing: Shake lemon zest and juice, olive oil, garlic, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper in a jar; refrigerate.
  2. Cook Orzo: Boil in salted water, rinse, and cool.
  3. Prepare Veggies: Halve tomatoes and olives, dice onion, chop parsley, and slice corn kernels.
  4. Assemble: Mix orzo, veggies, feta, and corn in a bowl.
  5. Add Dressing: Toss with the dressing.
  6. Chill & Serve: Refrigerate briefly, then serve your orzo pasta salad.

Lemon dressing being poured over the ingredients of the greek orzo pasta salad with feta, enhancing the flavors.

Storage

Storage Tips

Orzo pasta salad lasts 3-5 days in the fridge. For optimal freshness, store the salad and dressing separately and only dress the portions you’re eating immediately. The flavors, especially from olives and red onions, intensify over time; it’s best enjoyed on the first day.

More Delicious Salads:

4.86 from 14 votes

Orzo Pasta Salad

Mediterranean-inspired Orzo Pasta Salad with fresh cherry tomatoes, olives, red onion, sweet corn, parsley, feta cheese, and a delicious lemon dressing.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 29 minutes
Servings: 6 servings, as a side

Ingredients 
 

Salad

  • 12 ounces orzo pasta
  • 1 and 1/2 cups (1 pint) cherry tomatoes
  • 1 and 1/2 cups (1 pint) yellow grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 3/4 cups Kalamata olives, halved
  • 1 and 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (and more for topping if desired)
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red onion (Note 1)
  • 2 ears fresh sweet corn
  • Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Dressing

  • 1 large lemon (zest and juice)
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon good quality olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar

Instructions 

  • DRESSING: Start with the dressing so the flavors have time to meld and intensify. Zest a lemon to get 2 teaspoons zest. Juice the lemon to get 3 tablespoons juice. Place zest and juice in a large Mason jar. Add the olive oil, garlic, Dijon mustard, and sugar. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper). Put the lid on the jar, shake to combine and refrigerate while preparing the salad.
  • SALAD: Bring a pot of water to a boil, generously salt the water, and cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water and allow to cool thoroughly.
  • VEGGIES: Meanwhile, prep the veggies. Halve the tomatoes and olives, finely dice the red onion (See Note 1), and the parsley. Add all the veggies to a large bowl. Add in the feta cheese. If desired, grill corn (See Note 2). Cut the kernels from the cob (you don't have to cook the corn; you can add it in raw too for a nice crunch!). Pour dressing over salad and toss. Taste and season as needed with additional salt and/or pepper. Store in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour before serving. Toss right before serving. This salad is best enjoyed the same day it is made.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1:ย To take away the "bite" of the red onion, soak the diced onions in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain thoroughly before adding.
Note 2: Preheat a grill to medium-high, around 400 degrees F. Once hot, clean the grill grates. Remove the husks and silk from the corn. Pour about 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil on each corn cob and rub the oil into all the sides. Very lightly sprinkle all sides with salt and pepper. Place corn on grill grates (nothing needs to go down first/don't wrap in foil) and close grill. Cook (temps remaining at 400F) for about 3 minutes per side undisturbed. Using tongs, rotate and continue cooking, for about 12 minutes total. When all sides are browned, remove from the grill onto a plate.

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 716mg | Potassium: 494mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 682IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 229mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

 

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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4.86 from 14 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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32 Comments

  1. Sara Welch says:

    5 stars
    What a savory recipe, indeed! Served this for dinner and it has instantly become a family favorite recipe in our home! Delicious!

  2. Kristyn says:

    5 stars
    Love how colorful this pasta is! It has so many delicious flavors in it. Perfect side with any dish!

  3. April says:

    5 stars
    This would be SO good with some grilled chicken! Nom nom nom.

    1. Chelsea says:

      Yes!! That sounds awesome! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Rachael Yerkes says:

    5 stars
    The perfect pasta for summer! So light and fresh

    1. Chelsea says:

      I couldn’t agree more! Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Jessica says:

    5 stars
    One of the best pasta recipe I ever did. Is not hard to make either.

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thank you Jessica! That’s definitely one of the best parts, how simple it is! I’m glad you enjoyed!!

  6. Jordan Lynn // Life Between Lattes says:

    Love ALL things orzo. I can’t wait to make this! I think it would be perfect served with fresh salmon. ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Melanie says:

    This is delicious.

  8. Michele says:

    I LOVE Orzo, actually I love all pasta ๐Ÿ˜‰

  9. The Blonde Chef says:

    5 stars
    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!

  10. Kelly says:

    I still check the weather app where we used to live too ๐Ÿ™‚ 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!