• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Easy Dinner Recipes
    • Delicious Dessert Recipes
    • Sweet Baked Goods
    • Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes
      • Instant Pot Recipes
      • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Homemade Syrups, Condiments, Sauces, etc.
  • Cocktails
    • Gin
    • Vodka
    • Tequila
    • Whiskey/Bourbon
    • Brandy/Pisco
  • Holiday Recipes
    • Christmas
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween Recipes
    • Patriotic Recipes
    • Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Easter Recipes
    • St. Patrick's Day Recipes
  • Easy recipes, cocktail inspiration, and a little bit of fun!
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index

EmilyFabulous

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes

    Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

    Published: Feb 6, 2022 · Modified: Sep 13, 2022 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 62 Comments

    A bright, fresh, and delicious Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad that makes the perfect side dish or light meal. This dish is packed with fresh vegetables, orzo pasta, and topped off with a homemade lemon-herb dressing for the perfect Greek-inspired salad.

    greek orzo salad in a bowl with greek dressing on the side
    Jump to Recipe

    When I was working in retail one of my go-to meals was a Greek pasta salad at the mall. I knew once I left that job I would have to try and recreate the salad at home, and I finally nailed it. I love to make this salad in the summer when I have fresh vegetables from my garden, but it's also easy to make any time of year with basic ingredients.

    The part of this recipe that took me a while to figure out was the dressing that pulls the whole thing together. I finally found a delicious combination of herbs, fresh lemon juice, and extra-virgin olive oil that not only works perfectly in this dish but is also just a great salad dressing to have in your arsenal. Check out my Lemon Herb Salad Dressing or find the link in the recipe card.

    ingredients for lemon orzo pasta salad

    Ingredients Needed to Make Lemon Orzo Salad

    Below is a photo of the salad ingredients as well as the Lemon Herb Salad Dressing ingredients. You really only need a handful of ingredients to make this orzo salad.

    • cherry tomatoes
    • red onion
    • green bell pepper
    • cucumber
    • greek olives
    • boxed orzo pasta
    • feta cheese
    • freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • dried oregano
    • garlic clove
    • kosher salt
    • freshly ground black pepper
    • extra-virgin olive oil
    a bowl of greek lemon orzo pasta salad

    How to Make This Greek Lemon Orzo Salad Recipe

    1. Cook the orzo pasta according to the box instructions. Give the pasta a quick rinse with cold water and set it aside.
    2. Clean and cut the cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, cucumber, and greek olives.
    3. If you haven't made or bought the dressing yet, make the lemon herb salad dressing.
    4. In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta and all of the prepared vegetables. Pour in ¼ cup of the dressing and stir to combine. Continue to add the dressing to taste.
    5. Pour in the crumbled feta cheese and stir to combine. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour. Overnight is best to allow all of the flavors to blend together.
    greek lemon salad dressing
    lemon herb salad dressing

    Substitutions and Variations to this Lemony Greek Pasta Salad

    • Although I highly recommend making your own dressing, you can use store-bought dressing and save yourself a step. And if you don't want the lemon flavor, you can use red wine or balsamic vinegar. Add to taste in place of the lemon juice.
    • If you don't have or like greek olives, you can use black olives.
    • Cherry tomatoes work so well in this salad because they are nice and sweet and the perfect size for slicing. But, you can also use any tomato and still have a delicious salad.
    • Orzo pasta works well in this dish because of its size. The small pasta makes it possible to get more of the other flavors in each bite. However, you can also make this with other types of pasta like bowtie or elbow to name a few.
    lemon orzo pasta salad recipe
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!
    greek orzo pasta with lemon dressing

    Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

    A bright, fresh, and delicious Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad that makes the perfect side dish or light meal.
    5 from 37 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Chilling Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 353kcal
    Author: EmilyFabulous

    Equipment

    • 1 large bowl
    • plastic wrap or cover for the bowl

    Ingredients

    • 1 16 ounce box orzo pasta, cooked
    • 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
    • 1 large red onion, diced
    • 1 large green bell pepper, diced
    • 1 medium cucumber, cut into bite-sized pieces
    • ⅓ pound greek olives, halved or quartered
    • 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
    • lemon herb salad dressing

    Instructions

    • Cook the orzo pasta according to the box instructions. Give the pasta a quick rinse with cold water and set it aside to continue to cool while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
    • Prepare the cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, cucumber, and greek olives. Depending on the size of the tomatoes and olives, you can cut them in half or quarter them. You want everything to be similar in size and small enough to be able to get all of the goodies in one bite.
    • If you haven't made or bought the dressing yet, make the lemon herb salad dressing.
    • In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta and all of the prepared vegetables. Pour in ¼ cup of the dressing and stir to combine. Continue to add the dressing to taste.
    • Pour in the crumbled feta cheese and stir to combine. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour. Overnight is best to allow all of the flavors to blend together.

    Notes

    • Store any leftovers covered in the fridge for 4-5 days. 
    • Although I highly recommend making your own dressing, you can use store-bought dressing and save yourself a step. And if you don't want the lemon flavor, you can use red wine or balsamic vinegar. Add to taste in place of the lemon juice.
    • If you don't have or like greek olives, you can use black olives.
    • Cherry tomatoes work so well in this salad because they are nice and sweet and the perfect size for slicing. But, you can also use any tomato and still have a delicious salad.
    • Orzo pasta works well in this dish because of its size. The small pasta makes it possible to get more of the other flavors in each bite. However, you can also make this with other types of pasta like bowtie or elbow to name a few.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.8g | Protein: 10.6g | Fat: 17.4g | Saturated Fat: 4.3g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 633mg | Potassium: 367mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 4.6g | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 2mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    Did You Make this Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

    If you get a chance to make this Greek Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad recipe, don’t forget to leave a comment below. You can also tag me on Instagram. or Facebook.

    If you want even more fun and delicious recipes, sign up for my email list and follow me on Pinterest so you never miss a recipe!

    More Recipes

    • Hibiscus Cupcakes
    • Li Hing Mui Air Fryer Donuts
    • Cranberry Walnut Feta Salad
    • Spiced Maple Walnuts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Grace says

      July 27, 2022 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight. So good! I omitted the olives (not a fan), and added some homemade pesto. Thanks so much!!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        July 27, 2022 at 7:47 pm

        Grace, that sounds delicious, adding pesto is so smart! Thanks for trying the recipe and letting me know how it turned out!

        Reply
    2. Rosalind Davis says

      July 09, 2022 at 3:12 am

      5 stars
      Very easy and delicious also l added Broccoli it's my favorite salad thank you

      Reply
      • Emily says

        July 10, 2022 at 9:03 am

        Oooh, love the addition of broccoli, great idea!

        Reply
    3. Rosalind Davis says

      July 09, 2022 at 3:01 am

      5 stars
      Very easy and delicious

      Reply
      • Emily says

        July 10, 2022 at 9:03 am

        Thanks, Rosalind, I'm glad you liked it!

        Reply
    4. Bianca says

      May 29, 2022 at 2:55 pm

      5 stars
      This orzo pasta salad was the perfect addition to our BBQ today. Will definitely be making this again

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 30, 2022 at 7:32 pm

        So glad to hear it, it's perfect for BBQ's!

        Reply
    5. Dave says

      May 29, 2022 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      Beautiful and easy recipe for summer !

      Reply
    6. Katie says

      May 29, 2022 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is absolutely fantastic! Will be making again for sure.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 30, 2022 at 7:32 pm

        Thanks for trying it out!

        Reply
    7. Gina Abernathy says

      May 29, 2022 at 4:35 am

      5 stars
      The best dish of the summer is a big pasta salad! All of those veggies and delicious dressing in my mouth in one bite!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 30, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        I totally agree! Love those summer veggies!

        Reply
    8. Jeannie says

      May 28, 2022 at 5:56 pm

      5 stars
      love a pasta salad, making them in advance and enjoy as my meal

      Reply
    9. Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says

      May 28, 2022 at 1:49 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow, I need to make this at work! I bet the clients would love this option for a quick cold lunch on a hot day!

      Reply
    10. Shelby says

      May 28, 2022 at 11:11 am

      5 stars
      Loved the refreshing but light flavor on this! Such a great summer meal.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 30, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        Thanks, Shelby!

        Reply
    11. Crystal says

      May 28, 2022 at 9:02 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect light lunch for summertime. And that lemon herb dressing is fantastic!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 30, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        Thanks, Crystal. I put that herb dressing on so many things. Thanks for trying it.

        Reply
    12. Michelle says

      May 28, 2022 at 8:43 am

      5 stars
      I made this with vegan feta (there are several brands now) and it was amazing!!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 30, 2022 at 7:34 pm

        So smart, thanks for sharing, Michelle.

        Reply
    13. Sue says

      May 28, 2022 at 7:48 am

      5 stars
      I'm going to a cookout this weekend and this salad will be going with me! It's a new favorite!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 30, 2022 at 7:34 pm

        I hope it's the hit of the party.😎

        Reply
    14. Judith says

      May 28, 2022 at 7:18 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious salad! A wonderful combination of flavours 🙂

      Reply
    15. Brianna May says

      February 09, 2022 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      Love this!

      Reply
    16. Sabrina says

      February 08, 2022 at 4:36 pm

      5 stars
      My favourite flavours all together. Love that lemon 🙂

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 08, 2022 at 6:28 pm

        Perfect! Thanks for checking this one out.

        Reply
    17. Elizabeth says

      February 08, 2022 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious! We loved it!

      Reply
    18. nancy says

      February 08, 2022 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      such a lovely and refreshing meal! i can eat this all week long!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 08, 2022 at 6:22 pm

        That's exactly it! You can eat this one for several meals! Thanks, Nancy.

        Reply
    19. Stine Mari says

      February 08, 2022 at 9:14 am

      5 stars
      This is so fresh and so comforting at the same time - brilliant!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 08, 2022 at 6:23 pm

        Thank you!!🥰

        Reply
    20. Natalie says

      February 08, 2022 at 8:27 am

      5 stars
      That was delicious. Perfect lunch!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 08, 2022 at 6:22 pm

        Awesome to hear!

        Reply
    21. Shilpa says

      February 07, 2022 at 9:22 pm

      5 stars
      Love this refreshing pasta salad. It was perfect for our lunch.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 08, 2022 at 7:36 am

        So glad to hear it. Thanks for the review!

        Reply
    22. Giangi Townsend says

      February 07, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      5 stars
      Super easy and super delicious! Thank you for all the tips. My family love it

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:03 pm

        So happy to hear it. Thanks for the review!

        Reply
    23. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      February 07, 2022 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      Love all the ingredients, can’t wait to try this! It looks so delicious and easy!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:05 pm

        I hope you love it!

        Reply
    24. Kyleigh says

      February 07, 2022 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      This orzo salad was so easy to make! Such a great lunch meal!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:09 pm

        It's a go-to lunch for me too! Thanks for trying it.

        Reply
    25. Angela says

      February 07, 2022 at 9:32 am

      5 stars
      Love this light and refreshing salad. The lemon herb dressing is wonderful.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:09 pm

        I'm glad you liked it. The lemon herb dressing is good on so many dishes.

        Reply
    26. Jessica says

      February 07, 2022 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      This is my kind of salad! I love how bright and fresh it is.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:08 pm

        Thanks, Jessica. Enjoy!

        Reply
    27. Claudia Lamascolo says

      February 07, 2022 at 8:26 am

      5 stars
      I just love easy side dishes like this one and everyone loved it!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:05 pm

        Thanks, Claudia. I'm glad it was a hit!

        Reply
    28. Suja md says

      February 07, 2022 at 8:08 am

      5 stars
      One of my favorites! These looks absolutely great! can't wait to try!

      Reply
    29. Natalie says

      February 07, 2022 at 7:57 am

      5 stars
      Beautiful salad. Flavours are great and I love how easy this recipe is. I'm going to make this for sure. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:07 pm

        Natalie, I hope you love it. Thanks for checking it out!

        Reply
    30. Audrey says

      February 07, 2022 at 7:55 am

      5 stars
      This is a wonderful side dish for so many meals!!

      Reply
    31. Angela says

      February 07, 2022 at 7:47 am

      5 stars
      What a delicious recipe! Such a great idea to use orzo in your pasta salad. The flavors were spot on perfection!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:06 pm

        Thank you, Angela!

        Reply
    32. rebecca says

      February 07, 2022 at 7:42 am

      5 stars
      I love all these flavors in orzo salad! the tangy lemon and feta are such refreshing flavors in this salad

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 9:07 pm

        I agree! I love that combo too. Thanks for the review 😊

        Reply
    33. Christina's Bread Bakes says

      February 07, 2022 at 7:11 am

      5 stars
      Very refreshing with the lemon dressing, definitely will make again.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 8:16 pm

        Awesome, thanks Christina.😁

        Reply
    34. Kayla DiMaggio says

      February 07, 2022 at 7:04 am

      5 stars
      This orzo pasta salad was so delicious! I loved how easy it was! It makes the perfect lunch!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 8:16 pm

        Easy and delicious is the name of the game. Thanks for giving it a try!

        Reply
    35. Beth Sachs says

      February 07, 2022 at 6:55 am

      5 stars
      I love using orzo and this Greek-inspired pasta salad sounds delicious!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        February 07, 2022 at 8:15 pm

        Thanks, Beth!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Emily! I'm excited to share my passions, experiments, and fun with you. I love to cook, bake, create recipes, mix cocktails and try new things!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Poolish Pizza Dough
    • Apple Cider Martini
    • Crumbl Cookie Copycat Recipe
    • Vanilla Vodka Recipe
    Get $150 Off Cookware and Bakeware Sets at Carawayhome.com!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About

    COPYRIGHT © 2023 EMILY FABULOUS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT