Lemon orzo salad is a refreshing and vibrant dish perfect for any time of year. This Mediterranean-inspired salad combines tender orzo pasta with crisp vegetables and a zesty lemon vinaigrette.
The lemon's citrusy flavors brighten up the dish, while the orzo adds a satisfying chewiness.
Lemon Orzo Salad
Whether served as a light lunch, a side dish for a barbecue, or as a potluck contribution, lemon orzo pasta salad is sure to impress with its colorful presentation and delightful combination of flavors.
Don't miss other colorful summer salads like Taco Salad, Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad, or this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad.
Jump To
- Lemon Orzo Salad
- ❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🛒 Orzo Salad Recipe Ingredients
- 🥘 How To Make The Best Lemon Orzo Salad
- What is Orzo?
- 📋 Orzo Salad Recipe Tips
- 🍱 Storage Instructions
- Orzo Salad Serving Suggestions
- Substitutes / Variations
- More Favorite Pasta Salad Recipes
- Did You Try This Recipe?
- 📖Recipe
- 🤷 Frequently Asked Questions
- More You'll Like
- 💬 Comments
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Lemon Orzo Salad is a perfect blend of flavors and textures.
✅ It’s colorful, refreshing, and packed with healthy veggies.
✅ The tangy lemon dressing combines everything, making it a great side dish or a light lunch.
✅ Plus, it’s super easy to make and can be ready quickly!
🛒 Orzo Salad Recipe Ingredients
- Orzo - This small, rice-shaped pasta is the base of our salad, providing a light and chewy texture. I use this orzo pasta.
- Red onion - Adds a sharp and slightly sweet flavor, as well as a bit of crunch.
- Bell peppers (in different colors) - These vibrant peppers bring sweetness, color, and a satisfying crispness to the salad.
- Corn kernels - Adds a touch of sweetness and a pop of color, enhancing the overall taste and texture.
- Garlic - Infuses the salad with a savory and aromatic depth.
- Olive oil - Forms the base of the dressing, adding a rich and smooth texture.
- Fresh basil - Adds a fragrant and fresh herbal note to the salad.
- Mustard - Provides a tangy kick that complements the lemon juice in the dressing.
- English cucumber - Adds a refreshing crunch and mild flavor, balancing the other ingredients.
🥘 How To Make The Best Lemon Orzo Salad
- Cook the Orzo: Follow the package instructions to cook the orzo. Once done, drain and rinse it with cold water until it's cool.
- Mix the Ingredients: In a big bowl, mix the cooked orzo, chopped red onion, bell pepper, corn, chopped English cucumber, and garlic.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, basil, mustard, and lemon juice.
- Combine Everything: Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss everything together.
- Chill the Salad: Put the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let it chill.
- Serve and Enjoy: Enjoy this colorful and tasty lemon orzo salad as a side dish or a light lunc
What is Orzo?
Orzo is a type of pasta shaped like rice grains. It’s great for salads, soups, and side dishes. I personally love and use this Orzo.
📋 Orzo Salad Recipe Tips
- Cook the orzo al dente so it doesn’t get mushy.
- For gluten free orzo, there are some great options. I've tried this one and it is delicious.
- Make sure to rinse the orzo with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
🍋 Don't miss these Iced Lemon Pound Cake for dessert!
🍱 Storage Instructions
Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
Give it a good stir before serving again to mix the dressing evenly.
Orzo Salad Serving Suggestions
Serve this Lemon Orzo Salad as a side dish with grilled chicken or fish.
It also pairs nicely with a sandwich for a light lunch. For a more filling meal, add some chickpeas or grilled shrimp.
Substitutes / Variations
➡️ Feel free to get creative with this salad!
➡️ You can use quinoa or couscous instead of orzo.
➡️ Swap out the red onion for green onions if you prefer a milder taste.
➡️ Add some feta cheese or olives for extra flavor.
➡️ If you don’t have fresh basil, parsley or cilantro work well too.
More Favorite Pasta Salad Recipes
📖Recipe
Lemon Orzo Salad (With the Best Lemon Dressing!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- 2 bell peppers, in different colours, diced
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- handful of fresh basil leave, chopped
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Cook the Orzo: Follow the package instructions to cook the orzo. Once done, drain and rinse it with cold water until it's cool.1 cup orzo
- Mix the Ingredients: In a big bowl, mix the cooked orzo, chopped red onion, bell pepper, corn, chopped English cucumber, and garlic.½ red onion, 2 bell peppers, 1 cup corn kernels, 1 English cucumber, 2 cloves garlic
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, basil, mustard, and lemon juice.handful of fresh basil leave, 1 tablespoon mustard, Juice of 1 lemon, ¼ cup olive oil
- Combine Everything: Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss everything together.
- Chill the Salad: Put the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let it chill.
- Serve and Enjoy: Enjoy this colorful and tasty lemon orzo salad as a side dish or a light lunch.
Notes
- Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
- Give it a good stir before serving again to mix the dressing evenly.
- Orzo is a type of pasta shaped like rice grains. It’s great for salads, soups, and side dishes. I personally love and use this Orzo.
Nutrition
🤷 Frequently Asked Questions
You can use lime juice or a splash of vinegar as a substitute for lemon juice.
Yes, simply use a gluten-free pasta instead of orzo.
Orzo can be served both hot and cold. For this salad, it’s best served cold.
Yes, you can freeze cooked orzo, but it’s best to enjoy this salad fresh.
Yes, this recipe is naturally nut-free. Just make sure any additional ingredients you add are also nut-free.
Orzo salad stays good for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Sara Linn
Rita, could you suggest any gluten-free alternatives to orzo for the salad? I’m aiming to recreate this dish but need to accommodate a friend with dietary restrictions. Appreciate your insight!
T. Freemont
Just tried making this Lemon Orzo Salad. Absolute hit at my dinner party. Thanks for a killer recipe, Rita!
KarenP
made this for lunch today. so good and easy to make. will definitely be making it again. thanks rita!
Alex_j1989
Looks great but is there a way to bump up the protein in this salad? Maybe chickpeas or grilled chicken? What do you all think?
Leon Gray
Actually, orzo isn’t technically a grain as suggested in your description, Rita. It’s a form of short-cut pasta, shaped like a large grain of rice. Always glad to see it featured in recipes, though!
MimiChan
i love how simple and tasty this sounds 😊 gonna try it this weekend, hope it turns out as good as it looks!
Jamie_R
Heard a lot of good things about lemon orzo salad but never tried it. Might give this recipe a go. Any tips on making it special?
Becca F.
Jamie, try adding some roasted pine nuts or fresh basil! It really elevates the whole dish.
Mary Adams
I just made this salad (half recipe), love the ingredients but the dressing very bland that you cannot taste it. I would make this again but use a different dressing. Thanks for posting it.
Rita
Sorry to hear that Mary! Maybe add more salt or use seasoned salt? The flavor should not be strong or overpowering. I do not use too much salt in my recipes.