• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
hellofrozenbananas.com
  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch & Dinner
    • Appetizers
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Cookies
    • Sauces, Spreads & Dressings
    • Smoothies
    • Food/Drink Blog Posts
    • Salads
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
    • Brand Partnerships
    • Social Media & Food Blogging Mentorship Program
  • Life & Biz
    • Social Media Growth
    • Travel
    • Lifestyle
    • Recipe Development
  • Shop
    • Sponsorship E-Book
    • Shop Amazon
    • Discount Codes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Shop
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Shop
×

Home » Salads

Orzo Pesto Salad 

May 10, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

Orzo Pesto Salad is super easy to make and delicious! This salad is filled with orzo, tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil and pesto.

Orzo Pesto Salad in a bowl.

Why you'll love orzo salad with pesto:

Orzo Pesto Salad will be your new favorite pasta salad!

This is basically a take on caprese salad with the addition of orzo and pesto. The flavors are so yummy together!

We're making this recipe even easier by using store bought pesto.

Bring this to any summer BBQ! The recipe serves 6. On the recipe card, you will see an option to double and triple the recipe. The measurements will change for you automatically once you select "2x" or "3x".

Ingredients in orzo pesto salad.

Ingredients:

  • dried orzo
  • cherry tomatoes, cut into fourths
  • mozzarella balls, cut into fourths
  • fresh basil, chiffonade cut
  • pesto - I used store bought pesto, but you can also make your own. Try this recipe out!
  • fresh lemon juice
  • garlic powder
  • salt and pepper

A complete list of ingredients, amounts and instructions is located on the recipe card below.

How to make Orzo Pesto Salad:

This is an overview of the recipe with photos. Complete instructions are located on the recipe card below.

Cooked orzo in a colander.

Cook the orzo according to the package's instructions until al dente.

Drain the orzo in a colander and rinse it with cold water.

Pesto in a liquid measuring cup.

Combine the pesto, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Orzo salad with pesto on top.

Add the rinsed orzo to a bowl with all of the other ingredients.

Pour the pesto mixture over the top, combine and enjoy!

Recipe pro-tips:

Cook the pasta until al dente. Make sure not to overcook the orzo or it will be mushy in the salad.

Store bought pesto is typically darker in color compared to freshly made pesto. The color will be more vibrant if you use fresh pesto.

As the salad sits in the fridge, the orzo will soak up the pesto mixture. Add a little extra pesto and mix before serving.

Orzo Pesto Salad in a bowl.

Recipe FAQs:

Is orzo a rice or pasta?

Orzo is a small shaped pasta that resembles rice. It is not rice.

Storage Instructions:

Store this salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

After you make this pasta salad, try my Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad (No Mayo) and Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad!

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE? LET ME KNOW BELOW WITH A COMMENT AND RATING! 🙂

YOUR 5 STAR RATINGS AND WONDERFUL COMMENTS REALLY SUPPORT MY BUSINESS AND HELP OTHER READERS AS WELL.

I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOUR RE-CREATIONS ON IG!

DON’T FORGET TO TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN REPOST YOU ON MY STORY!

Orzo Pesto Salad in a bowl with salad tongs.

Orzo Pesto Salad

Orzo Pesto Salad is super easy to make and delicious! This salad is filled with orzo, tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil and pesto.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 6 minutes mins
Cook Time 8 minutes mins
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 209 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dried orzo
  • ¾ cup cherry tomatoes , cut into fourths
  • ¾ cup mozzarella balls , cut into fourths
  • ⅓ cup fresh basil , chiffonade cut
  • ½ cup pesto 
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cook the orzo according to the package's instructions until al dente. Drain the orzo in a colander and rinse it with cold water.
  • Combine the pesto, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
  • Add the rinsed orzo to a bowl with all of the other ingredients. Pour the pesto mixture over the top, combine and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Orzo Pesto Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 209 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.05g
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 212mg9%
Potassium 107mg3%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 578IU12%
Vitamin C 6mg7%
Calcium 88mg9%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This nutrition information is an estimate and should not be taken as fact. The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation.

Tried this recipe?Tell me how it was!

More Salad Recipes

  • Egg salad with greek yogurt on toast.
    Egg Salad with Greek Yogurt
  • Burger sauce being poured over a cheeseburger bowl.
    Cheeseburger Bowl
  • Chicken pesto pasta salad in a bowl.
    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
  • Kale salad with Tahini Salad Dressing.
    Tahini Kale Salad

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

girl with blue shirt

Hello and thanks for visiting my page! My name is Krista. I make healthy eating fun, approachable and delicious! I quit my corporate job in 2019 to pursue this dream. I love to share this story and show others that they can accomplish the same if they have the passion.

Learn more about me →

Work With Me

Brand Partnerships

Trending Recipes

  • Hand dipping cracker in cottage cheese dip.
    Cottage Cheese Dip
  • Chocolate vegan truffles in a white bowl.
    Vegan Chocolate Truffles
  • Sliced gluten free lemon loaf.
    Gluten Free Lemon Loaf
  • stuffed peppers on parchment paper
    No Rice Stuffed Peppers (with Ground Chicken)

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Work with Me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Photos, videos or written content on hellofrozenbananas.com may not be used or reproduced without prior consent.

COPYRIGHT © 2021 HELLOFROZENBANANAS.COM ON THE FOODIE PRO THEME