• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Peachy Plate
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Home
  • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Salads / Cold Orzo Broccoli Pasta Salad

    Cold Orzo Broccoli Pasta Salad

    Published: Jun 23, 2021 by Kaylie This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Bowl with orzo pasta and vegetables.
    closeup image orzo pasta and a bowl of orzo pasta with vegetables.

    This bright and flavorful cold orzo pasta salad is made with crunchy broccoli, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta crumbles and fresh mint, then dressed with a light and zesty lemon vinaigrette.  It’s easy to prepare and comes together quickly for a family gathering, picnic or a light meal.  

    Bowl of orzo pasta salad with broccoli, tomatoes, mint leaves, olives and feta cheese.

    I love all the seasonal ingredients in this summer orzo salad, with fresh and vibrant flavors in every bite. It’s a great pasta salad to make because it’s light and customizable, and still filling as a main course. I’ve added broccoli for some crunch and fresh mint leaves from my garden for a taste of summer. Best of all, the total stovetop cooking time is 10 minutes with very minimal prep time! Eat this as a side dish or pair it with some oven baked salmon for a main dish. 

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Orzo Salad
    • Ingredients for Lemon Vinaigrette
    • Instructions
    • Pro Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Salad Recipes You’ll Love
    • Cold Orzo Broccoli Pasta Salad

    Ingredients for Orzo Salad

    Ingredients for orzo broccoli pasta salad on a table.

    Orzo is a pasta that looks like rice, and can be found in the pasta aisle of your grocery store. 

    Kalamata olives are a must – they add a nice briney, saltiness to the salad. If you don’t have kalamata olives, you may substitute for Manzanilla olives.

    Feta Crumbles will give this salad a bit of a salty, nutty and tangy flavor. Mozzarella, goat or parmesan cheese can also go well with a cold orzo salad.

    Ingredients for Lemon Vinaigrette

    Ingredients for orzo salad vinaigrette.

    Extra Virgin Olive Oil – If you have a good bottle of olive oil, this is the time to use it. The orzo absorbs a lot of the flavors and you’ll definitely appreciate the huge difference a quality olive oil adds to the dish!

    Instructions

    Steps on how to make orzo pasta salad.
    1. Make the pasta, al dente style (firm but with a slight chew). The grains are so small, they cook in no time! About 6-8 minutes. Don’t forget to salt the water!

    2. Drain the pasta and do not rinse it. Rinsing the pasta will wash off the starch, which is needed to help absorb the dressing.

    3. Meanwhile, make the dressing. 

    4. Add the orzo, broccoli, tomatoes, and olives into a bowl. 

    Steps on how to make orzo pasta salad.

    5. Add the dressing and mix well.

    6. Garnish with feta and fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!

    Pro Tips

    • If you plan to serve the salad later, leave out the mint and feta cheese. Then add about 3 tablespoons of the dressing to the pasta and mix well. This prevents the orzo from clumping together. To serve the orzo cold, chill it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add the remaining dressing along with the mint leaves and feta crumbles. 
    • To store: Keep the pasta in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge. You will need to add more dressing or olive oil before serving as the pasta will dry out in the refrigerator. 
    • Add the vinaigrette to the pasta after it slightly cools and is still warm, this will help the orzo absorb the flavors better. 
    • Orzo is great by itself or you can pair it with grilled protein like chicken, lamb or shrimp. 
    Closeup image of fork with orzo salad.

    FAQs


    Should orzo be rinsed after cooking?

    Orzo should not be rinsed after cooking as this will wash away the starch, which helps the dressing stick on to the grains of pasta. 


    Is orzo a rice or pasta? 

    Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta. It’s made from white flour or sometimes whole grain. 


    Can orzo be cooked ahead of time? 

    Yes, make sure to add some dressing or a bit of oil to the cooked orzo to prevent it from clumping.

    More Salad Recipes You’ll Love

    • Summer Fresh Red Beet and Cucumber Salad
    • Din Tai Fung Inspired Cucumber Salad
    • Authentic Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga)

    Love a recipe you’ve tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card and a comment below! That’ll make my day!

    Let’s be friends! Follow me on social media @ Instagram, Pinterest. Give me a tag when you try out a recipe!

    Bowl of orzo pasta salad with broccoli, tomatoes, mint leaves, olives and feta cheese.

    Cold Orzo Broccoli Pasta Salad

    Kaylie
    This bright and flavorful cold orzo broccoli salad is made with orzo, mint leaves, crunchy broccoli, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta crumbles and mixed with a light and zesty vinaigrette. It’s easy to prepare and comes together quickly for a crowd gathering, picnic or a light summer meal. 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Mediterranean
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 242 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Orzo Pasta Salad

    • 1 ½ cups orzo
    • 3 cups broccoli florets
    • 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
    • ½ cup mint leaves
    • ½ cup kalamata olives
    • ½ cup feta crumbles
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

    Lemon Vinaigrette

    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of water with 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil. Add orzo and cook uncovered for about 7 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain well, reserve the pasta water to boil the broccoli.
    • Boil broccoli for 2 minutes and drain well.
    • While pasta is boiling, make the vinaigrette. Add lemon juice, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper in a bowl. Slowly drizzle and whisk the olive oil in.
    • In a large serving bowl, add the orzo, olives, tomatoes, and broccoli. Add the vinaigrette and mix well.
    • When pasta and broccoli are cooled to room temperature, add the feta crumbles and mint leaves. Mix well.

    Notes

    *Nutritional facts provided are only an estimate, accuracy is not guaranteed. 
    • If you plan to serve the salad later, leave out the mint and feta cheese. Then add about 3 tablespoons of the dressing to the pasta and mix well. This prevents the orzo from clumping together. To serve the orzo cold, chill it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add the remaining dressing along with the mint leaves and feta crumbles. 
    • To store: Keep the pasta in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge. You will need to add more dressing or olive oil before serving as the pasta will dry out in the refrigerator. 
    • Add the vinaigrette to the pasta after it slightly cools and is still warm, this will help the orzo absorb the flavors better. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4gCalories: 242kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 6gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 1199mgPotassium: 473mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1414IUVitamin C: 84mgCalcium: 171mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Tag @apeachyplate or hashtag #apeachyplate!
    « Japanese Onigiri Rice Triangles (Rice Wrapped with Seaweed)
    Bi Chay (Vietnamese Vegetarian Shredded Pork) »

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello, I’m Kaylie -a licensed registered nurse and mommy to two hungry little boys who oversee my taste-test kitchen. Here you’ll find tasty recipes made with real ingredients that I cook for my family – from healthy and nourishing, to savory and comforting. I hope you enjoy, from my family to yours!

    More about me →

    Easy Instant Pot Recipes

    • Easy Instant Pot Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
    • Instant Pot (Whole) Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Instant Pot St. Louis Ribs with Apple Juice
    • Instant Pot Bone-In Pulled Pork Shoulder
    • Instant Pot Oxtail Beef Pho (Pho Duoi Bo)
    • Easy Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos

    Easy Weeknight Recipes

    • Easy Rice Cooker Fried Rice with Eggs
    • Baked Chicken Skewers in the Oven
    • Baked Panko Parmesan Encrusted Cod
    • Stove Top Ground Turkey Burger
    • Easy Rice Cooker Turmeric (Yellow) Rice
    • Vietnamese Garlic Noodles with Shrimp

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
    • Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2021 APeachyPlate