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Home » Recipes » Recipes » Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad

Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad

Published: Jun 5, 2021 · Modified: Mar 28, 2023 by Lynn Polito · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

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Ready in under 30 minutes, this Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad is satisfying and easy to make for your next barbecue! Creamy mozzarella, salty olives, and sweet tomatoes are all mixed with lemon and pesto for this Mediterranean inspired salad.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn small commission from qualifying purchases, however this is at no cost to you.

close up of the orzo pesto pasta salad

What's in this Salad?

Pesto- Use your favorite pesto here. Some pesto sauces are thicker than others, so you may need to add pesto to the pasta to coat the salad completely.

Kalamata olives- Kalamata olives are much more salty than regular black olives and they give a delicious Mediterranean inspired flavor.

Mozzarella- Normally in orzo salads you would add feta, but I think the mozzarella adds a bit of creaminess to the salad that you can't get from other cheeses. Use fresh mozzarella or a brick of mozzarella. I would avoid using shredded as it will just disappear into the salad.

Tomatoes- Cherry tomatoes add a sweet burst of flavor into this salad. If you did not have cherry tomatoes, you could cut up a plum tomato or a larger tomato into chunks.

Spinach- Spinach adds some extra nutrition to this salad. To add some spice, you could use arugula instead of spinach. Make sure to use fresh spinach since we are not cooking this salad. Frozen spinach would not work in this salad.

Ingredients for the Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad

Let's Make the Salad!

Orzo being dropped into a pot of boiling water
Step 1: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add salt. Cook the orzo according to package instructions. Once the orzo is cooked, drain it in a strainer, and run it under cold water.
The fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, olives, onions, and spinach in a bowl
Step 2: Chop the fresh spinach, mozzarella, tomatoes, olives, and red onion into small pieces. Add them to a large bowl.
Add the orzo and pesto to the bowl
Step 3: Add the cooled orzo to the bowl and top with the lemon, olive oil, and pesto.
Mix everything together
Step 4: Combine all the ingredients together and season with salt and pepper. Adjust the pesto at this point if you feel there is not enough.

Questions about this Recipe

What are other variations of this recipe?

There are so many different variations of this recipe that would be delicious!
Use sun dried tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes
Instead of mozzarella, use crumbled or chunked feta
Add chopped artichoke hearts to the salad
If you do not have orzo, use your favorite shape of pasta. These ingredients will work for any shape of pasta.
To make this gluten free, feel free to use your favorite gluten free pasta and pesto
Add garbanzo beans or grilled chicken to make this side dish a full, Summer dinner.
Use your favorite pesto sauce, which could be kale pesto, walnut pesto, or even a sun dried tomato pesto. You could even make your own pesto. Instant Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta has my favorite homemade recipe!
A simple dinner, pesto pasta is a dinner your family will love!

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! You can make this recipe a few hours before you need it and then leave it in the refrigerator. Serve it room temperature or cold straight from the refrigerator. It will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days in an air tight container. This salad also travels well because you do not need to keep it refrigerated at all times. It would be a great salad to bring to a picnic or a barbecue.

Can this recipe become vegan?

Yes! Do not add the cheese to the recipe, or add your favorite vegan cheese. Make sure the pesto does not have any dairy products in it, and this pasta salad becomes a delicious vegan salad!

orzo pesto pasta salad with a bowl of olives, parmesan, and red onions around it

Other Recipes to Try

Did you give this Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad a try? I’d love to hear from you! Give me a shout on Instagram or Facebook  and share this recipe on Pinterest! And don't forget to check out some other drool worthy recipes below! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!

  • 3 Ingredient Instant Pot Strawberry Jam
  • Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken
  • Chicken Burgers with Feta and Spinach
  • 3 Ingredient Pretzel Bites

📖 Recipe

Orzo Pesto Pasta salad on a wooden cutting board

Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad

Ready in less than 30 minutes, Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad is the perfect side dish for your next barbecue. Creamy mozzarella, salty olives, and herb filled pesto make this salad satisfying and delicious!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Lynn Polito

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Orzo Pasta
  • 2 cups Spinach Chopped
  • 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes Chopped
  • 1 cup Fresh Mozzarella Chopped
  • 1 ½ cups Kalamata Olives Chopped
  • 1 Red Onion Chopped
  • ½ cup Pesto
  • 1 Lemon
  • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper To Taste

Instructions

  • Cook orzo according to package instructions. Once the orzo is done cooking, drain, and run the strainer with the orzo under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set the pasta aside.
  • Chop the spinach, tomatoes, mozzarella, red onion, and olives. Place them in a large bowl.
  • Add the cooled orzo to the bowl.
  • Top with the pesto (see notes), lemon, and olive oil and mix everything together. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Each type of pesto has a different ratio of olive oil which makes some thicker than others.  Feel free to add more pesto if you feel the pesto is thicker than mine.  Add more a tablespoon at a time, mix, and add more if necessary.
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LynnsWayofLife or tag #lynnswayoflife!

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Comments

  1. Kathie Vidmar

    August 29, 2023 at 12:14 am

    5 stars
    WOW! So delicious! It made a lot.Which was good,because everyone kept coming back for more!!
    Next time I will try adding leftover rotisserie chicken.

    Reply

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Hey there! I'm Lynn and I'm based just outside of Boston. I'm a wife and mom of two with a passion for cooking and creating homemade food for my family.

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