This easy orzo pesto pasta salad is full of fresh flavor from basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and tender vegetables. It comes together quickly and is perfect for lunch, meal prep, or a simple summer side.
Easy Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
This orzo pesto pasta salad is fresh, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. Tender orzo is tossed with pesto, vegetables, and sun-dried tomatoes for an easy orzo salad that comes together in under 30 minutes.
Perfect for lunch, meal prep, or a simple summer side, this pesto orzo pasta salad works for everything from picnics to weeknight dinners. Serve it warm or chilled, customize it with whatever vegetables you have on hand, and enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
- Bright and flavorful: Fresh basil pesto and lemon zest keep this orzo pasta salad with pesto light and flavorful.
- Quick and easy: Ready in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients.
- Versatile: Easily customize this pesto orzo salad with your favorite vegetables or proteins.
- Meal prep friendly: Keeps well for several days without losing texture.
- Delicious warm or cold: Serve this orzo pesto pasta salad either way.
What Is Orzo? And How to Cook It Perfectly
Orzo (sometimes called risoni) is a small, rice-shaped pasta made from durum wheat semolina. Despite its appearance, it’s a type of pasta (not a grain) and it cooks up tender and slightly chewy, making it perfect for dishes like this orzo pesto pasta salad.
While traditional orzo contains gluten, there are also great gluten-free orzo options available which is what I’m using here. They cook similarly and are a nice alternative if you're avoiding gluten, just check package instructions, as cooking times may vary slightly.
How to cook orzo:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the orzo and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until al dente.
- Drain and rinse under cold water if making a salad.
Ingredients for This Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
Pasta & Veggies
- Orzo pasta — Choose a gluten-free variety or use regular orzo if not gluten-free.
- Broccolini — Adds a tender crunch.
- Frozen peas — Easy and convenient.
- Sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil) — Adds chewy, bursts of flavor.
- Flat-leaf parsley — To brighten the salad.
- Hemp seeds (optional) — Nutty finish.
Basil Pesto (Dairy-Free) or Use Store-Bought
- Fresh basil — The star of the pesto.
- Garlic — For a mild kick.
- Sea salt — Enhances all the flavors.
- Lemon zest — Adds a stronger citrus flavor than lemon juice alone.
- Lemon juice — Brightens and balances the pesto.
- Almond flour — Adds body and richness. Used instead of Parmesan for a vegan/dairy-free pesto.
- Extra-virgin olive oil — Base for the pesto.
Vegetable Variations for Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
This orzo pesto pasta salad is easy to customize with whatever vegetables you have on hand. Fresh options like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, or spinach keep it light and crisp, while roasted vegetables like zucchini, broccoli, or asparagus add a deeper, more savory flavor.
For extra texture, try blanched vegetables like green beans or snap peas. A mix of fresh and cooked vegetables works especially well for a balanced pesto orzo pasta salad.
How to Make Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
- Make the pesto (or use store-bought): Combine basil, garlic, salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, almond flour, and olive oil in a food processor. Blend until smooth and fragrant. Set aside.
- Cook the orzo: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool and stop the cooking.
- Blanch the veggies: In boiling salted water, blanch peas for 1-2 minutes, then immediately plunge into ice water. Do the same with broccolini for 2 minutes. Drain and chop broccolini into bite-sized pieces.
- Assemble: In a large bowl, toss the cooked orzo with the pesto, blanched peas, broccolini, sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, and hemp seeds (if using). Mix gently to combine.
- Serve or chill: Enjoy immediately or refrigerate. This salad tastes great cold or at room temperature.
Tips and Variations for This Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad
- Add protein: Toss in chickpeas to turn this orzo pasta salad with pesto into a more filling meal.
- Switch up the herbs: Try basil or mint for a fresh twist.
- Customize veggies: Roasted, raw and blanched vegetables all work well (see above tip on vegetable variations).
- Meal prep friendly: This pesto orzo salad keeps for 3–4 days in the fridge.
- Short on time? Use a high-quality store-bought pesto.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make orzo pesto pasta salad ahead of time?
Yes, this salad is perfect for making ahead. For the best flavor, you can refresh it with a little extra pesto before serving.
Should orzo pasta salad be served cold or warm?
This orzo pesto pasta salad can be served slightly chilled, at room temperature, or warm.
How long does pesto orzo salad last in the fridge?
Stored in an airtight container, it will keep for up to 3–4 days.
Final Thoughts
Whether you need a simple lunch, a make-ahead side, or a crowd-pleasing dish for gatherings, this pesto orzo pasta salad is a reliable go-to. It’s easy to make, easy to customize, and delicious served either warm or cold.
Easy to make-ahead, this orzo pesto salad is picnic-perfect. Check out my gluten-free picnic recipes collection for more easy-to-prep dishes.
More Recipes with Pesto:
Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
This pesto orzo pasta salad is a quick, healthy recipe made with fresh ingredients.
An easy orzo pasta salad with pesto that’s perfect for meal prep or summer meals.
Ingredients
For the pesto (or use store-bought):
- ¾ oz/ 21g basil
- 1 clove of garlic
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon/7g almond flour
- 3 Tablespoons/45ml extra-virgin olive oil
For the pasta salad:
- 1 cup/224g gluten-free orzo/risoni (or use your favorite pasta)
- 1 bunch broccolini, stems trimmed
- ½ cup/85 frozen peas
- 2 Tablespoons, chopped sundried tomatoes (packed in oil)
- ¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- 2 Tablespoons/20g hemp seeds to top (optional)
Instructions
Make the pesto:
- Place pesto ingredients in the bowl of a small food processor and pulse until combined. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook orzo/risoni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under water until cool. Set aside.
Blanch the vegetables:
- Bring another large pot of salted water to a boil and blanch peas for 1-2 minutes. Transfer peas to a bowl of ice water, cool and drain.
- Bring water back up to a boil and blanch broccolini for 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, cool and drain.
Make the pasta salad:
- In a large bowl toss orzo/risoni with pesto, blanched vegetables, chopped sundried tomatoes and parsley. Top with hemp seeds, season with salt to taste and serve.
Notes
Notes
For the best flavor, toss the orzo with the pesto while it’s slightly warm so it absorbs more of the sauce.
If making ahead, reserve a little extra pesto to stir in just before serving to refresh the salad.
This orzo pesto pasta salad can be served warm, at room temperature, or chilled depending on your preference.
If the salad seems dry after chilling, add a drizzle of olive oil or a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
Dietary Info
Gluten-Free: Use certified gluten-free orzo
Dairy-Free: Yes (as written, using dairy-free pesto)
Vegan: Yes (as written, using dairy-free pesto)
Vegetarian: Yes
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 319Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 230mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 14gSugar: 13gProtein: 17g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Joanne says
So easy, and so delicious! Thank you for this recipe!