Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

5 from 4 votes

Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad is a perfect warm weather salad combining orzo pasta, fresh veggies, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, and a light lemon dressing. This one makes a delicious side dish to any meal!

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword best pasta salad, lemon orzo pasta salad

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 15

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 517kcal

Author Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

For the salad:

4 cups lower-sodium chicken broth
16 oz. orzo pasta
6 oz. feta cheese
1/2 medium red bell pepper - chopped
1/2 medium yellow bell pepper - chopped
1/2 medium orange bell pepper - chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes - sliced in half
1/2 cup green onions - diced
15 oz. garbanzo beans - rinsed and strained

For the dressing:

1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 large lemons - freshly squeezed
1 Tablespoon honey
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste

Instructions

Cook orzo. In a medium stock pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat. Add orzo and turn heat down to a simmer and cook until pasta is al dente. Strain pasta, cool, and add to a mixing bowl.
16 oz. orzo pasta, 4 cups lower-sodium chicken broth
Chop veggies. Chop the bell peppers, tomatoes, and green onions. Set aside.
Combine salad ingredients. To the mixing bowl (with the orzo), add the chopped veggies, garbanzo beans, and feta cheese. Stir to combine.
1/2 medium red bell pepper, 1/2 medium yellow bell pepper, 1/2 medium orange bell pepper, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup green onions, 15 oz. garbanzo beans, 6 oz. feta cheese
Make dressing. In a mason jar, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously to combine.
1/2 cup olive oil, 1 1/2 large lemons, 1 Tablespoon honey, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Add dressing to pasta salad. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and stir to mix well. Test and add additional salt and pepper as needed.
Chill. I recommend chilling the salad for at least an hour before serving.
Serve. Serve pasta salad alongside your favorite main dish.

Notes

While this Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad can be eaten freshly made, chilling it for 30 minutes to an hour will allow the flavors to meld together.
If planning to chill the salad before serving, reserve a little of the dressing to add RIGHT BEFORE you serve. Add the last of the dressing and toss – THEN SERVE.
Add some strips of grilled chicken and/or steak over top for added protein and make this salad a full meal!
Store pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Nutrition