Greek Pasta Salad with Orzo

Name: Greek Pasta Salad with Orzo
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 cup orzo (dry); 600g cherry tomatoes, sliced in half; 1 red onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 2 cucumbers, peeled and cut into small dice; 1/2 block feta (around 100g); Salt and pepper; 1 small bunch fresh dill, chopped; 1 small bunch parsley, chopped; 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; Zest of 1 lemon; 1 tsp Dijon mustard; 1 tbsp red wine vinegar; 1/2 cup pitted black olives, cut in half

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Easy Greek Pasta Salad with Orzo is a recipe you need on rotation. It’s a perfect lunch to prep ahead of time and it’s not a boring, bland pasta salad at all. It even gets better as it sits, I find.

greek pasta salad in white bowl with blue flowers

The secret to making this the most delicious pasta salad you've had is that it's all about the dressing. The olive oil you would normally add to the dressing gets drizzled on cherry tomatoes, chopped onion and garlic and these get roasted in the oven until soft and jammy. Once they're cooked, you add the rest of the salad dressing ingredients to this mixture and it makes the most incredible dressing for this salad. I don't love raw onion in salads, and this way you still get a hint of onion but it's softer and less sharp.

Why you'll love this easy Greek Orzo Salad

It gets better as it sits. The vegetables don't wilt, the orzo absorbs the delicious dressing and stays so delicious
Chopping the vegetables nice and small means you get everything in one bite, it's so delicious.
The freshness from the herbs and the roasted tomatoes makes a dressing in itself, so it's maximum flavour for minimum effort.

You will need the following ingredients:

Orzo - you could use another pasta shape but I love orzo here as it goes with the bite sized veg and makes it so you get everything in one bite.

Cucumber - this adds a bit of a crunch and a lovely refreshing flavour to this salad.

Cherry tomatoes - sweet and delicious, these are roasted to turn into the dressing. Since they are being roasted, you don't need to use on the vine tomatoes although I would recommend them.

Red onion - this has a more subtle flavour than white onions and so I wouldn't use white onions here. You could use shallots.

Feta - a Greek cheese that adds a salty, creamy element to the salad. It melts slightly when the orzo is warm and coats the salad nicely.

Salt and pepper

Fresh dill - a bright herb that goes nicely with the salty olives and feta. It's warm and sharp at the same time. If you really don't like dill, just bump up the parsley.

Fresh parsley - this adds a subtle peppery flavour to the delicious sauce.

Extra virgin olive oil - this helps to roast the tomatoes and onions. You could use a flavoured rapeseed oil too - Borderfields have some lovely flavours.

Garlic clove - I find 1 garlic clove is perfect for me in this recipe, but you can adjust according to taste. You can also swap for garlic paste or garlic granules, if you prefer.

Lemon - this adds a wonderfully refreshing zing that really brings this salad to life.

Dijon mustard - This mixes with the vinegar and olive oil to make a dressing. It's also a little sharp too so balances the sweet tomatoes nicely.

Red wine vinegar - this has a delicate, mild, and slightly sweet flavour than other vinegars which makes it ideal in the dressing for this Greek Pasta Salad with Orzo.

Black olives - they add a salty briny element to the salad and it wouldn't be a Greek salad without! I like black olives but you could use green.

See recipe card for the exact recipe with a full list of ingredients and measurements

Substitutions and Variations

Adding protein: Sometimes to bump up the protein in this Greek pasta salad with orzo, I toss in some good quality chickpeas or even some shredded chicken but it is really great as it is.

Parsley/Dill: Swap for basil, chives, or just more of the parsley or more of the dill if you don't like one of these herbs.

Cucumber: I have used chopped peppers before instead of cucumber. I prefer cucumber but they do add the refreshing, crunchy aspect that you need.

Orzo: I wrote this recipe for orzo as then you get a bite of everything in one mouthful since it's so small. I also find orzo is an ingredient that keeps well over time in the fridge but you could use other pasta shapes too, just probably not long pasta like spaghetti.

Olives: Sub for capers if you have them and prefer them. They are a bit more salty/briny so perhaps start with less than ½ cup, taste and see.

Here's how to make easy Greek Pasta Salad with Orzo

Here's a step by step guide for what you need to do, but you can find the full recipe below for detailed instructions.

ONE: Place the tomatoes, onion and garlic in a baking tray. Pour over the oil and season well with Maldon salt and pepper. Add the lemon zest. Cook for 20 minutes at 200c until everything is soft.

TWO: Once the tomatoes are softened, tip into a bowl and add the Dijon mustard and red wine vinegar.

THREE: Stir lots of chopped herbs into the roasted soft tomatoes that will act as your dressing.

FOUR: Pour this mixture over the veg, feta and pasta. (Ideally, the pasta is still warm so it soaks up all the dressing)

Cooking Tips

How to serve: The orzo really absorbs the dressing, especially if you toss it together when it's warm and it's so good. If you're not going to eat it straight away, it will sit happily in the fridge for a few days, but take it out 30 minutes before serving. Everything tastes better at room temperature and not straight from the fridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will this Greek Pasta Salad with Orzo last?

In an airtight container, this will happily sit in the fridge for 3-4 days. Just let it come to room temp before eating/serving, everything tastes better that way.

What is orzo?

Orzo is just pasta in a very small shape that almost resembles rice. Orzo has a firm texture that holds its shape well, even when mixed with other ingredients, which is why it works so well here. If you like orzo, you may want to try my Creamy Tomato Orzo or this Chicken, Halloumi, Spinach Orzo dish. Both weeknight staples.

greek pasta salad in white bowl with blue flowers with a fork in the plate

More Recipes You Might Like

Salads don't have to be bland and boring. I love doing so many different things with salads and trying all different combinations. This Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad with a mustard vinaigrette is so good, and perhaps not something you would have thought of to use raw brussel sprouts. This salad with beetroot, lentils and feta has a base of rocket and it's a perfectly balanced salad. Otherwise, you might also love this Quinoa, Cucumber and Chickpea Salad that was apparently Jennifer Aniston's lunch every day for years and years.

I like to also do salads with fish, like my Spicy Salmon Bowls which is another one of my go-tos when I want a quick and easy supper that packs a punch in the flavour department (you can also make it vegan-friendly by using tofu instead of salmon and using vegan mayonnaise and maple syrup in the drizzle). If you want to stick with just salmon, my Salmon Crudo is so light and refreshing - and looks seriously impressive. I warn you, it is so good.

Made this recipe and loved it?

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