• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Shop

Planted in the Kitchen

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
×

Home » Pasta » Orzo Pesto Salad

Published: Apr 8, 2023 by Kelsey· This post may contain affiliate links ·

Orzo Pesto Salad

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This orzo pesto salad is made using just five ingredients including flavorful pesto sauce, fresh vegetables, and is an easy 25 minute recipe!

Pesto pasta in a white bowl garnished with fresh basil.

I love this flavor-packed pesto orzo recipe. It's perfect to enjoy as an entree, a side dish, and travels well making it a great option for a picnic or cookout.

You can serve it warm when it's freshly made or refrigerate it and enjoy it as a cold pasta salad.

Jump to:
  • Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Substitutions & Additions
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Expert Tips
  • How to Serve
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Vegan Side Dishes You'll Love
  • Orzo Pesto Salad

Reasons You'll Love This Recipe

  • Vegan/Plant-Based: This orzo pesto salad is made without meat, eggs, dairy, or any other animal products making it a great choice if you're vegan or vegetarian.
  • Easy to make Gluten-Free: Simply swap the orzo out for a gluten-free orzo or a different gluten-free pasta.
  • Perfect to Make in Advance: This recipe is perfect for meal prepping or preparing ahead of time and bringing to school or work.

If you're planning on making your own pesto for this recipe try my Creamy Pesto Sauce or my Fresh Basil Pesto.

Ingredient Notes

Labeled ingredients in small white bowls including: pesto, tomatoes, orzo, sun dried tomatoes, and basil.

Pesto: You can make your own pesto for this recipe or if you're short on time you can buy a pre-made pesto from the grocery store.

Pasta: I used orzo in this recipe as the pasta of choice.

Fresh Veggies & Herbs: This recipe calls for fresh tomatoes and fresh basil for the best possible flavors.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions & Additions

Swap out the Orzo: Though this recipe originally calls for orzo, you can swap the orzo out for any type of pasta that you like best.

Add extra Veggies: You can add any veggies that you like best but my top recommendations would be red onion or asparagus.

You can also add leafy greens or salad greens to make this more of a classic salad.

Make it Gluten-Free: Swap the orzo out for a gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.

Add Protein: You can add chickpeas, tofu, or any type of protein that you like best to this orzo pasta salad.

Top Tip: Cook the orzo al dente so it doesn't get too soft or mushy. It will absorb some of the pesto and the longer it sits the more opportunity it has to soften. Cooking it al dente will give you a much better texture!

Step by Step Instructions

A collage of four images labeled step 1-step 4. Step 1: a blender filled with pesto, step 2: ingredients in small white bowls, step 3: the ingredients mixed together in a bowl, step 4: the finished pasta garnished with fresh basil.

Image One: Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil. Once it has reached a boil pour in the orzo and cook it according to package instructions. The cook time is typically 7-10 minutes.

After the orzo has finished cooking, strain it then rinse it under cool water.

If you're making your own pesto for this recipe, use this time to make the pesto.

Image Two: While the pasta cooks, gather the remaining ingredients. Wash the tomatoes and basil under the sink.

Next, prep all ingredients according to package instructions.

Image Three: Combine all ingredients in a large serving bowl. Then toss until everything is well combined and the pesto has coated everything.

Image Four: Finally, adjust the amount of pesto to taste, add any extra ingredients or garnishes, and enjoy!

Expert Tips

  • Use fresh basil: The difference in using fresh vs. dried basil is enormous. Using fresh basil will give you the best possible flavor.
  • Make the pesto in advance: If you're planning on making your own pesto for this recipe I recommend making it the day before. This will allow time for the flavors to meld and will give you a more dynamic overall flavor.
  • Add a balsamic glaze drizzle: If you're really looking to elevate this recipe, add a drizzle of balsamic glaze on top just before serving.
A close up image of pesto orzo in a bowl.

How to Serve

This flavorful and creamy pesto orzo recipe is a great addition to any meal or spread.

You can always enjoy it as a main course but these are some delicious serving suggestions and tips on how you can pair this dish:

  • Sandwiches: Especially warm sandwiches or paninis.
  • Pizza: This is a great side dish for pizzas, the pesto is a great companion flavor.
  • Salads: Serve along side or toss in your favorite salad.
  • Grilled vegetables: The pesto is a great companion to a variety of grilled veggies like asparagus, red onions, mushrooms, and more!
  • Picnics or parties: This orzo pesto travels well and is great to bring along to your next gathering or outdoor adventure.
  • Meal prep: This recipe stays good in the fridge for up to four days which makes it a great meal prep food.
Creamy pesto orzo in a bowl garnished with basil leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is orzo salad made of?

Orzo salad is typically made up of orzo pasta, fresh tomatoes, basil, and some type of dressing or sauce.

Is orzo a rice or pasta?

Orzo is a type of pasta that is shaped like rice.

What goes with pesto pasta?

Pesto pasta is full of flavor and a great compliment to many other dishes such as salad, sandwiches, pizzas, grilled vegetables, and more!

More Vegan Side Dishes You'll Love

  • A bowl filled with grains, vegetables, and olives.
    Ancient Grains Salad
  • Crispy, cooked potatoes in a white bowl.
    Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
  • A white bowl sitting on top of a blue and white dish cloth. Inside the bowl is a Mediterranean Orzo Salad with orzo, chickpeas, tomato, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, and fresh herbs.
    Greek Orzo Salad
  • A bowl filled with rainbow rice paper rolls and peanut dipping sauce.
    Vegan Summer Rolls

If you loved this recipe or any recipe on my website, please consider leaving a star rating or a comment below. I love hearing your feedback!

A bowl of orzo with pesto sauce, tomatoes, and fresh basil.

Orzo Pesto Salad

Kelsey Riley
This flavorful orzo pesto salad is made with hearty pasta, fresh vegetables and herbs, and is tossed in a basil pesto. It's perfect to enjoy as a side dish or a main dish!
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 318 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup orzo uncooked
  • ½ cup basil pesto
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • ½ cup basil chopped
  • ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes chopped

Instructions
 

  • Start by boiling a pot of water and cooking the orzo according to package instructions. Once the orzo has finished cooking strain it and rinse it under cool water.
  • While the orzo cooks, wash the tomatoes and basil then prep them according to the ingredient list.
  • Combine all ingredients in a large serving bowl and toss until well combined and coated in the pesto. Add more pesto as desired for more flavor.

Notes

This serving size is written for this dish as a side dish. If you plan to enjoy this as a main dish I recommend doubling the recipe.
You can store this pasta in the fridge in a covered container for up to four days. Make sure it has come to room temperature before covering and storing.
For extra protein you can add ½ cup of chickpeas if desired.
Adjust the amount of pesto according to taste and preference.

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 37.3gProtein: 9.1gFat: 14.9gSodium: 211mgPotassium: 223mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5.5gCalcium: 113mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Tag @plantedinthekitchen or tag #plantedinthekitchen!

More Vegan & Plant-Based Pasta

  • A bowl filled with bright pink pasta.
    Beet Pasta Sauce
  • A white bowl filled with creamy bowtie pasta with broccoli in it.
    Cashew Pasta Sauce
  • Bowtie pasta tossed in a thick red sauce in a white bowl.
    Creamy Chipotle Pasta
  • A small white bowl filled with creamy green sauce.
    Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce

About Kelsey

Planted in the Kitchen is a plant based food blog. Here you will find healthy and delicious vegan recipes!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lori Force says

    April 21, 2023 at 10:43 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe. I doubled it and added grilled chicken for protein. So easy to make.

    Reply
    • Kelsey says

      April 24, 2023 at 10:36 am

      Thanks for your feedback Lori! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Picture of Kelsey Riley, author of Planted in the Kitchen.

Hi, I'm Kelsey!

Welcome to Planted in the Kitchen

Here you'll find delicious, healthy, and easy vegan recipes. I'm a registered nurse turned blogger with a passion for plant based food.

More about me

As Seen In

Pictures of logos that Planted in the Kitchen has been featured in, Allrecipes Homemade Podcast, Thrive, Yahoo News, Plant Based News, Better Homes and Gardens, Plant Based, Vegan Food and Living, Fox News, Vegan Life.

Sign up for my email list!

Summer Recipes

  • An overhead picture of yellow/orange mango popsicles. They are covered in crushed ice
    Mango Popsicles
  • A bowl filled with fresh broccoli, apple slices, dried cranberries, and red onion.
    Broccoli Crunch Salad
  • An overhead picture of a bowl of fresh pasta salad filled with fresh vegetables and with a bunch of basil leaves on top.
    Orzo Lemon Salad
  • A hand holding up a wooden stick with one piece of strawberry, melon, pineapple, grape, blueberry, and blackberry
    Rainbow Fruit Skewers
  • Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
  • A light blue bowl filled with parsley, quinoa, tomatoes, onion, and cucumbers
    Tabouli (Tabbouleh)

Popular Posts

  • A mason jar filled with overnight oatmeal and topped with blueberries and fresh mint
    Chia Seed Overnight Oats
  • A white bowl filled with creamy peanut butter noodles. They are garnished with green onions and white sesame seeds.
    Spicy Peanut Noodles
  • A sandwich with a sauce covered vegan patty, pickles, and coleslaw between two buns.
    Spicy Vegan Chicken Sandwich
  • A creamy orange salad dressing in a white bowl. There are supporting ingredients around the bowl including: cilantro, cashews, red pepper flakes, a sliced lime, and salt
    Spicy Cashew Dressing
  • A fruit platter with fresh berries, melon, and dragon fruit with a homemade fruit dip in the center.
    Vegan Fruit Dip Recipe
  • Pink raspberry oatmeal in a white bowl, garnished with fresh raspberries and strawberries. There is a bowl of strawberries and orange juice in the background.
    Raspberry Oatmeal

Footer

Back to top

© 2022 Planted in the Kitchen • Privacy Policy • Disclosure Policy • Terms & Conditions