Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

Name: Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
Prep time: PT-475951H14M1S
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 24 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 lb orzo pasta; 1 cucumber, chopped; 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese; 1/4 cup red onion, chopped; 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved; 1 19 oz can chickpeas; juice of 1 1/2 lemons; 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp olive oil; 4 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar; 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1 1/2 tsp oregano; salt & pepper

by Kayla Berman on Jul 25, 2021 (updated May 3, 2022) 0 comments

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It is truly the summer of pasta salads for me! I love everything about them … they’re easy, delicious, and the flavor combinations are endless. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is my latest and greatest. It is everything you need in a pasta salad and more!

Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is veggie packed, made with a homemade lemony & oregano flavored greek dressing, and is the perfect summer side dish. This recipe is made with healthy and flavorful ingredients like cucumber, red onion, grape tomatoes, real lemon juice, salty crumbled feta, and chickpeas! It is light, bright, and deliciously colorful. Sure to be a total crowd pleaser!

Check out my Avocado Corn Couscous Salad, Easy Italian Pasta Salad, and Tomato Bruschetta Pasta Salad for more delicious options.

Ingredients needed for Greek Pasta Salad…

This veggie packed pasta salad is loaded with healthy, wholesome ingredients! The result is a light, bright, and fresh dish.

Orzo: The base of this pasta salad is orzo pasta! I highly recommend you use orzo, but really any type of pasta will work. You will need 1 lb.
Fresh Vegetables: This healthy pasta salad is loaded with fresh vegetables! They add a delicious crunch and keep things super light. You will need 1 cup of halved grape tomatoes, 1 chopped cucumber, and 1/4 cup of diced red onion.
Chickpeas: I love love love chickpeas in this recipe. They are a delicious addition and add a little protein too! You will need 1 19 oz can of chickpeas.
Feta Cheese: You simply can’t have a greek inspired salad without some salty feta cheese. It adds that classic greek salad taste! Add 3/4 cup.
Dressing Ingredients: The homemade greek dressing calls for lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. It truly adds the perfect flavor to this easy pasta salad!

How to make Greek Orzo Pasta Salad from scratch…

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. Pasta salad is one of the easiest recipes you can make! And this Greek Pasta Salad is no different. You pretty much prepare your ingredients, toss, chill, and enjoy!

Here’s how to do it:

Start by cooking your orzo according to the package instructions. Set aside and let cool. (A tip is to toss with a bit of olive oil & place in the fridge to speed up the process.)
Next chop the red onion finely, halve the grape tomatoes, and chop the cucumber.
Then drain and rinse the canned chickpeas.
Add the cooled orzo to a large mixing bowl with the tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, feta cheese, chickpeas, and the homemade greek dressing. Toss to combine.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.
Enjoy!

You’ll be serving this delicious dish before you even know it!

How to make homemade Greek Pasta Salad Dressing…

The homemade greek dressing used in this recipe really brings the dish to a whole new level! It adds the perfect flavor and above all it is fresh. Meaning it has none of those nasty preservatives or unnecessary ingredients found in most store bought dressings. It is a healthier option and super easy too!

Simply combine the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper until mixed together well and evenly combined.

Tip! I love to make this dressing in an old jar. This way i can just screw the lid on, shake to combine all the ingredients, and even store in the same jar if any is leftover!

Can I add extra mix-ins to this easy pasta salad?

Yes, of course you can! I actually included this section to call myself out on one ingredient that I know some of you think I’m missing. Olives! I did not include olives, although I know they are often found in greek salad, simply because I don’t enjoy them and I wanted to be able to eat this dish. However, if olives are your favorite or you think greek salad is not greek salad without them … just throw them in!

The same goes for any other ingredients too! You can add in some extra veggies, some fresh herbs, or even a protein source like grilled chicken or shrimp. Feel free to make this pasta salad your own!

Can I prepare Greek Pasta Salad ahead of time?

Totally! Greek Pasta Salad honestly gets better with age. You can make a few hours before serving or even the day before … but no matter what make sure to chill before serving! This allows all the flavors to combine, marinate, and just really develop deliciously.

Actually the ability to prepare this recipe ahead of time makes it the perfect recipe for your next summer barbecue or potluck! You can totally make it, forget about it and then bring out when its time to serve. Its truly a no stress dish!

Storing this summer salad recipe…

This summer salad recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last in the fridge for about 1 week, although I doubt there will be any left by then.

This is actually a perfect meal prep recipe too, because it tastes better as it stores and the flavors get to develop. Then you can just serve for lunch or dinner with some grilled chicken or as a delicious side dish. Its the best!

Looking for more summer recipes? Check out the delicious ones below…

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If you make Greek Orzo Pasta Salad or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

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