Greek Orzo Salad

This easy Greek orzo salad is bursting with flavor, thanks to tender orzo, fresh herbs, protein-rich chickpeas, creamy feta cheese, sweet tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and salty kalamata olives, all tossed with a tangy vinaigrette. 

This simple Mediterranean pasta salad recipe, loaded with flavorful ingredients and a tangy vinaigrette, is ready within 20 minutes. We all thought it was delicious, and it paired this tasty pasta salad with lemon chicken, steamed artichoke, and crusty bread.

Greek Orzo Salad

Vinaigrette:

• ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 clove of garlic, finely minced
• Pinch of sugar, to taste
• Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Orzo Salad:

• 1 cup dried orzo pasta, cooked per package instructions
• 1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained, rinsed, and skins discarded if possible
• 1 small English cucumber, halved lengthwise and quartered
• 1 cup of baby tomatoes
• ½ cup kalamata olives, halved
• ½ cup feta cheese
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

How to Make a Greek Orzo Salad

Make the vinaigrette by combining the oil, seasoned rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, garlic, sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste, in a glass jar. Seal with lid, shake well, and set aside to allow flavors time to mingle.  Side Note: We like a tangy vinaigrette; if you don’t, use less vinegar. 

Cook the orzo in a small pot of well-salted boiling water per package instructions, then drain and rinse with cold water.

Make the salad by placing the cooled orzo in a serving bowl. Add the garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cucumber, tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese, parsley, basil, sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.

Drizzle the well-shaken vinaigrette over the pasta salad to taste and toss to coat evenly. Taste and re-season if needed.

Serve and enjoy.