• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Effortless Foodie
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipes
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Ebooks
  • Resources
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Ebooks
    • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Salad

    Best Greek Orzo Salad with Feta

    Published: May 17, 2022 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Greek orzo salad pin.

    An easy Greek orzo salad recipe made with orzo pasta, ripe cherry tomatoes, black and green olives, crispy cucumber, red onion, and crumbled feta cheese.

    It's the perfect make-ahead summer BBQ side dish, and it's great for picnics and al-fresco lunches too!

    Classic Greek salad with the addition of orzo pasta is one of my go-to BBQ side dishes. I usually serve the pasta salad with my easy Greek-style lamb burgers for a tasty Greek-inspired BBQ!

    The Greek orzo salad is super quick and easy to make, and best of all it keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days! This is fuss-free, family-friendly food at its best!

    👩‍🍳 Love pasta salad? Try my chicken and bacon ranch pasta salad too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Expert tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More salad recipes to try
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    Here's why this is the best orzo salad recipe!

    • Easy summer pasta salad recipe.
    • Serve as a BBQ side dish or for lunch.
    • Ready in under 20 minutes.
    • Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • Easily doubled to feed a crowd.
    • Eat with burgers, kebabs, and grilled chicken.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients to make Greek orzo salad.
    • Orzo Pasta - or use another pasta shape such as macaroni or penne.
    • Feta - Greek feta in a block, crumbled into large chunks.
    • Olives - pitted kalamata olives if you can find them.
    • Tomatoes - I use a combination of cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes for maximum flavour.
    • Cucumber - for crunch and texture.
    • Red Onion - you'll only need half of the onion, but make sure you chop it finely.
    • Dressing - extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic clove, dijon mustard, juice of half a lemon, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and sugar.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Cook the orzo according to packet instructions, drain and run under cold water to cool. Pat dry and set aside.

    💡 Pro Tip - let the pasta cool completely before mixing it with the veggies.

    Two: Whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, finely chopped garlic clove, dijon mustard, juice of half a lemon, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and sugar in a small bowl.

    Three: Put the cooked orzo in a large mixing bowl and add the olives, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta. Pour over the dressing and mix everything together. Chill until you are ready to serve.

    Greek Pasta Salad on a white serving plate.

    💭 Expert tips

    • Make the salad the day before you need it for the best flavour!
    • For extra crunchy cucumber, remove the middle seeds by running a teaspoon down each half of the cucumber.
    • Reduce the sharpness of the red onion by squeezing lemon juice over it and leaving it to steep for 20 minutes before adding it to the salad.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the Greek orzo salad at summer BBQs with other side salads such as spicy potato salad and 5 bean salad.

    Air fryer corn on the cob goes well with it too, as does homemade pesto focaccia.

    Greek pasta salad with lemon wedges.

    📖 Variations

    • Add a can of drained chickpeas for extra protein.
    • Add more vegetables such as chopped peppers, baby spinach and sweetcorn.
    • Swap the red wine vinegar for white wine vinegar or cider vinegar.
    • Garnish with chopped fresh herbs for extra colour.
    • Use a store-bought Greek vinaigrette dressing instead of making one from scratch.
    • Add leftover chicken or shredded lamb to make it more hearty.

    🥡 Storage

    Make-Ahead: Make the Greek pasta salad up to 24 hours ahead. Store it in the fridge until needed.

    Leftovers: Place leftover salad in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    Is Orzo rice?

    No, orzo is a thin, oval, rice-shaped pasta that is typically used in soups in Italian cuisine, but you can use it in any number of pasta dishes.

    Can I substitite rice for orzo?

    Yes, feel free to use long grain rice instead of orzo in this salad. Cook the rice according to packet instructions.

    Can I freeze it?

    Unfortunately due to the high water content of the tomatoes, and cucumber, this salad is not suitable for freezing.

    😋 More salad recipes to try

    • Prawn, Avocado and Mango Salad
    • Coronation Chicken Pasta Salad
    • Beetroot and Goats Cheese Salad
    • Courgette and Feta Salad
    • Chicken and Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
    • Halloumi Couscous Salad
    Greek orzo salad with feta.

    Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with what's cooking in the Effortless Foodie kitchen! You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too!

    Recipe

    Greek pasta salad on a white plate.
    Email
    Print Pin
    5 from 6 votes

    Best Greek Orzo Salad

    An easy Greek orzo salad recipe made with orzo pasta, ripe cherry tomatoes, black and green olives, crispy cucumber, red onion, and crumbled feta cheese.
    Course Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine British, Greek
    Keyword greek orzo salad, greek pasta salad
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 318kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Measuring Spoons
    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Mixing Bowl
    • Wooden Spoon

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 200 g Orzo
    • ½ Cucumber halved, deseeded and chopped into chunks
    • 100 g Cherry Tomatoes halved
    • 100 g Kalamata Olives
    • 200 g Feta Cheese crumbled into large chunks
    • ½ Red Onion finely chopped
    • 5 Sun-Dried Tomatoes chopped

    For the Greek Dressing

    • 3 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
    • 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
    • 1 Garlic Clove finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
    • ½ Lemon juice only
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • ½ teaspoon White Sugar

    Instructions

    • Cook the orzo according to packet instructions, drain and run under cold water to cool. Pat dry and set aside.
      Pro Tip - let the pasta cool completely before mixing it with the veggies.
      200 g Orzo
    • Whisk together the dressing ingredients (extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, finely chopped garlic clove, dijon mustard, juice of half a lemon, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and sugar) in a small bowl.
      3 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar, 1 Garlic Clove, 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard, ½ Lemon, 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano, ¼ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper, ½ teaspoon White Sugar
    • Put the cooked and cooled orzo into a large mixing bowl and add the olives, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta. Pour over the dressing and mix everything together. Chill until you are ready to serve.
      ½ Cucumber, 100 g Cherry Tomatoes, 100 g Kalamata Olives, 200 g Feta Cheese, ½ Red Onion

    Notes

    Expert Tips:
    • Make the salad the day before you need it for the best flavour!
    • For extra crunchy cucumber, remove the middle seeds by running a teaspoon down each half of the cucumber.
    • Reduce the sharpness of the red onion by squeezing lemon juice over it and leaving it to steep for 20 minutes before adding it to the salad.
     
    Variations:
    • Add a can of drained chickpeas for extra protein.
    • Add more vegetables such as chopped peppers, baby spinach and sweetcorn.
    • Swap the red wine vinegar for white wine vinegar or cider vinegar.
    • Garnish with chopped fresh herbs for extra colour.
    • Use a store-bought Greek vinaigrette dressing instead of making one from scratch.
    • Add leftover chicken or shredded lamb to make it more hearty.
     
    Storage:
    Make-Ahead: Make the Greek pasta salad up to 24 hours ahead. Store it in the fridge until needed.
    Leftovers: Place leftover salad in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Best Greek Orzo Salad
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    318
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    17
    g
    26
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    38
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    9
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    30
    mg
    10
    %
    Sodium
     
    753
    mg
    33
    %
    Potassium
     
    261
    mg
    7
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    31
    g
    10
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    3
    g
    3
    %
    Protein
     
    10
    g
    20
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    323
    IU
    6
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    11
    mg
    13
    %
    Calcium
     
    194
    mg
    19
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

    More Easy Salad Recipes

    • Easy Rocket Salad with Parmesan
    • Easy Coronation Chicken Pasta Salad
    • Easy Courgette & Feta Salad
    • Easy 5 Bean Salad Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah James

      May 17, 2022 at 3:27 pm

      5 stars
      We loved this summer pasta salad recipe. It was so easy to make and delicious, we particularly enjoyed the saltiness of the Feta with the olives and cucumber. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    2. Kate

      May 17, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, so many gorgeous things packed into this salad - definitely on the menu for this weekend's BBQ, thanks so much! X

      Reply
    3. Tayler Ross

      May 17, 2022 at 3:47 pm

      5 stars
      I'm always looking for new salads to make during summer, and this orzo salad is definitely calling my name. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Cara

      May 17, 2022 at 4:07 pm

      5 stars
      Combining Greek salad with pasta salad? Yes please! It's the perfect summer side dish, and I will definitely be making it again!

      Reply
    5. Liane Walker

      August 24, 2022 at 4:06 am

      5 stars
      This is a great orzo summer salad. I made it super quick, and it was a great side with veggie burgers. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    More about me →

    Easy Air Fryer Snacks

    • Best Air Fryer Cheese on Toast Recipe
    • Cheesy Air Fryer Crumpets
    • Best Ever Air Fryer Cheese Toastie
    • Easy Air Fryer Scones Recipe

    See more air fryer recipes →

    Trending Recipes

    • Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry Recipe
    • Simple Savoury Mince Recipe
    • Easy Leftover Roast Beef Stroganoff
    • Pan Fried Pheasant Breasts in a Creamy White Wine Sauce

    My Web Stories

    Footer

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Effortless Foodie