Italian Orzo Salad

This Orzo Salad recipe is simple, yet packed with flavor thanks to fresh veggies, hearty salami, tender orzo pasta, and a combination of one of my favorite dressings and seasonings. An easy pasta salad to serve this spring and summer!

The Best Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe

My mom used to make this simple salad for me when I was a kid, and I’m so excited to share it with you all! It’s my go-to summer pasta salad that I bring to cookouts, family gatherings, or when I’m craving those bold Italian flavors.

What You Will Need

orzo – A little pasta that disperses itself into every bite.
black and green olives – Briny olives add a punch of flavor ranging from salty to mild to slightly sweet.
english cucumber – Crisp cucumbers add a light and refreshing flavor throughout.
cherry tomatoes – Juicy tomatoes add just the right amount of moisture and brightness. Grape tomatoes will work, but tend to have a thicker skin and are a bit less sweet than cherry tomatoes.
pepperoncini – These provide just the right amount of spice and tang.
salami – Pick your favorite variety.
Zesty Italian Salad Dressing & McCormick Perfect Pinch – You can find these two ingredients at your local grocery store.

What Is Orzo Salad

There are so many orzo salad recipes out there, all made unique with different veggies, dressings, and flavor combinations. One of our other favorites is our Greek orzo salad which has slightly different flavors thanks to feta cheese, red onion, and homemade Greek vinaigrette. Orzo is also a main ingredient in a lot of our skillet meals like our blog favorites, parmesan chicken orzo or our sausage zucchini skillet + orzo recipe.

How To Make Orzo Pasta Salad

Start by cooking your orzo al dente according to the package instructions. You can also find a full tutorial on how to cook orzo for pasta salad here.

Next, add the cooked orzo, olives, cucumber, tomatoes, pepperoncini and salami to a large bowl.

Cooked orzo, sliced cherry tomatoes, black and green olives, cucumbers, salami, and pepperochini in a large mixing bowl.

Then add the salad dressing and 2 tablespoons of the seasoning and toss to combine.

A small cup of salad dressing being poured over the ingredients and then two spoons tossing the salad.

Now give it a taste and adjust the seasoning to fit your flavor preference.

Lastly, place this great side dish in a large serving bowl, garnish with some fresh parsley, and dig in!

Recipe FAQs

How should I store leftover pasta salad?

Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in your refrigerator for up to five days. This is one of those recipes that might even taste better the next day once all those flavors have a chance to soak into the orzo.

Ingredient amounts

Feel free to play around with the ingredient amounts to fit your personal preferences.

Pinterest image showing the orzo salad with the title, "italian orzo pasta salad. the perfect dish for any cookout!"

Made this great recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!

Don’t forget to check out my Instagram and TikTok account for some behind-the-scenes action! Or give me a follow on Facebook or see what I am pinning on Pinterest!

Other Recipes You Might Like