Italian Orzo Pasta Salad

This twist on a traditional Italian pasta salad is a sport changer. The orzo pasta provides this salad the right chew and texture. Plus, it’s loaded with crisp veggies and a straightforward selfmade French dressing dressing.

Love orzo as a lot as we do? Then you definately’ll love our Lemon Chicken and Orzo.

Why My Recipe

Loaded with completely crisp and crunchy veggies and all of the scrumptious orzo.
Selfmade Italian dressing that’s fast and simple to make.
Straightforward to prep the evening earlier than and able to throw collectively if you want it!

Italian orzo Pasta salad scooped up onto a serving spoon.

What’s nice about this salad is the scale of every ingredient. The orzo pasta, mini pepperoni, and small items of mozzarella all match collectively on one spoon, providing you with the right chew. And the feel of this salad is just about excellent. Should you’re anxious a couple of soggy pasta salad, this isn’t that! Cooking the orzo pasta to al dente and mixing it with olives, peppers, and tomatoes makes this pasta salad mild with that excellent crunch. This pasta salad and my Mediterranean Chickpea Salad have change into my go-to for meal-prepping a fast and attractive lunch!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Italian orzo Pasta salad.

Orzo Pasta: This short-cut pasta resembles rice and is discovered within the pasta aisle at most grocery shops. Prepare dinner to al dente for a agency, chewy chew.
Olives: the sliced black olives in a can are an awesome choice, or you possibly can go inexperienced.
Mini Pepperonis: Simply swap for normal, sliced pepperoni or salami.
Inexperienced Bell Pepper: Substitute with yellow or purple bell peppers for a sweeter taste.
Pepperoncini: Offers an awesome crunch and tangy zip. You can additionally substitute with banana peppers.
Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes additionally work, and you need to use purple or yellow.
Contemporary Mozzarella: Cubed contemporary mozzarella provides a pleasant gentle texture to the salad. Nevertheless, you possibly can at all times use these little mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as a substitute.
Salad Dressing: You may make your dressing with contemporary herbs over dried. You’ll need to use one tablespoon of finely minced contemporary herbs for each teaspoon of dried herbs the recipe requires.

Elective Add-Ins

Meat: We love these mini pepperonis for a way properly they mix with the scale of the opposite components, however for those who’re not a fan, you possibly can simply swap with a special protein. We advocate grilled rooster, floor Italian sausage, or sliced salami as a substitute.

Veggies: We love a great crunch to our pasta salads. Should you’re trying to load up with extra veggies, you possibly can add one other bell pepper (yellow and purple are sweeter), some chopped purple onion and zucchini, or perhaps a diced jalapeño for somewhat kick of warmth

Beans: Add some extra substance to your salad! Beans are an effective way to make this pasta salad somewhat extra hearty and filling. Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) pair properly with this salad for his or her dimension and texture.

Cheese: Be happy to make use of your favourite cheese. You need to use mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as a substitute of chopped contemporary mozzarella to avoid wasting time. Parmesan can also be an awesome various that may pair completely with the Italian flavors.

Italian orzo Pasta salad in a small bowl with a spoon in it.

Make-Forward Directions

This pasta salad is tremendous straightforward to make forward. You may whip up the dressing 1 to 2 days early and stash it within the fridge. Then cook dinner the pasta the evening earlier than and retailer within the fridge to relax. If you’re able to eat, all you’ve obtained to do is chop the veggies and toss all of it collectively in a giant bowl. Accomplished and carried out!