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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Lemony Orzo Pasta Salad

    Published: Jun 22, 2011 · Modified: Feb 25, 2022 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This super easy lemon orzo pasta salad with fresh tomatoes comes together in just minutes and is the perfect summery side dish for grilled chicken or roasted shrimp.

    A plate of orzo pasta with fresh tomatoes sprinkled with fresh dill has roasted shrimp and lemon slices in the back.

    Our container garden is overflowing after just a few weeks of growing. I honestly am having trouble keeping up with the herbs I planted and am constantly on the look out for recipes to use them in.

    My dill is working out much better this year than last and I was super excited to toss it into one of my favorite summery side dishes.

    I got this recipe from my friend Jodie a few years ago and it has been part of my luncheon rotation every summer since.

    With my fresh harvest of dill to use, I decided to make this part of a dinner by adding roasted shrimp.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Make Ahead Tips
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    Take a peek at this ingredient list and tell me if that doesn't just scream "Summer" to you!

    • Orzo pasta
    • Lemon
    • Olive oil
    • Feta cheese
    • Fresh dill
    • Cherry tomatoes

    While the tomatoes are used raw in this pasta salad, the recipe would be just as delicious with a batch of my roasted cherry tomatoes stirred in, too.

    Serving Suggestions

    You can serve this orzo pasta salad either warm or cold, which makes it a great make-ahead dish.

    You can also serve it as a side dish or an entree if you add some protein.

    You could add my favorite roasted shrimp recipe here but this lemon garlic shrimp with roasted veggies would also be delicious with this pasta salad side dish.

    The shrimp complement the orzo salad perfectly. Even the Peanut devoured her dinner and requested a second helping of the fancy "chicken." Ha!

    If you're kids just aren't into shrimp, you could easily substitute this fantastic chicken tenderloin air fryer recipe or even this crispy air fryer salmon.

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    Make Ahead Tips

    If you'd like to make this orzo pasta salad ahead of time, you can assemble the recipe but store any protein additions separately until just before serving.

    If the pasta absorbs too much of the liquid, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice will help to brighten everything up.

    📖 Recipe

    A plate of orzo pasta with fresh tomatoes sprinkled with fresh dill has roasted shrimp and lemon slices in the back.

    Lemony Orzo & Tomato Salad

    5 from 1 vote
    This simple pasta salad made with fresh tomatoes and feta is bright and zesty from the fresh squeezed lemon juice. Serve it warm or chilled with shrimp or chicken.
    TOTAL TIME 20 minutes
    PREP TIME 10 minutes
    COOK TIME 10 minutes
    YIELD 4 servings
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ cup fresh dill chopped
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
    • Juice from ½ lemon
    • 1 cup orzo pasta
    • 1 ½ cups (6 oz) crumbled feta

    Instructions

    • Toss together the tomatoes, olive oil, dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a large serving bowl. Let the mixture stand ten minutes while you prepare the orzo.
    • Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook the orzo according to the instructions on the package.
    • Drain the orzo and toss with the prepared tomato mixture. Add the crumbled feta and gently toss again.
    • Can be served warm or chilled.

    Recipe Notes

    Serving Idea:
    This dish pairs well with sautéed or roasted shrimp or grilled chicken for a lovely summer dinner.
    The salad can be made ahead up to 24 hours in advance of serving and stored in the fridge.
    COURSEPasta
    CUISINEAmerican
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Mannys

      June 16, 2012 at 11:04 am

      I love orzo pasta. It has such a great shape and smooth terutxe that goes well with all kinds of add-in's. I've never tried umeboshi vinegar before but have seen it on the shelves. I am a vinegar pack rat and at this moment I have 5 types of vinegars in my cupboard: red wine, white wine, brown rice, balsamic and apple cider. One more won't hurt, right?

      Reply
    2. Moira Maggi

      June 24, 2011 at 2:30 am

      Oh, now I know what it is! And I confirm you that I love it! It has a very Italian name, but not common here. Usually it is called 'risoni', literally meaning 'big grains of rice'.

      Reply
    3. Tiffany

      June 22, 2011 at 12:49 pm

      lol! I think maybe this is another situation like our "fusilli" shaped pasta. Orzo is a pasta but refers to the shape--very similar to rice. For this recipe, it wouldn't be the same with any other shape pasta. Even funnier is that my package of orzo specifically said "Made in Italy!"

      Reply
    4. Moira Maggi

      June 22, 2011 at 8:28 am

      This is strange... 'orzo' is the Italian word for the English word 'barley'. What is 'orzo' for you: a special type of rice, barley or something else? Looking at your wonderful picture, your orzo does not look like barley.
      Anyway, congratulations! I would also like to taste this fancy "chicken"!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

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