Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad

When it comes to pasta salad, we are huge fans! Our pesto orzo pasta salad is one of our family’s favorite side dish recipes during the summer months. It’s vibrant in flavor thanks to using basil pesto as the dressing, and filled with delicious ingredients like red onion, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and mozzarella.

When developing this recipe, we wanted to make sure it was foolproof and simple to make. It’s quick to serve on a busy weeknight, and also gourmet in taste to bring to a potluck or barbecue. Plus, the leftovers are even better! It’s truly one of our favorite side dishes, and we can’t wait for you to try it too. Be sure to also give our Greek pasta salad and Caesar pasta salad, they’re two other fan favorites.

Side angle of pesto orzo pasta salad in a white bowl.

Why you’ll love this recipe

10-ingredient pasta salad. It’s as simple as that, we use easy to find ingredients that are quick to prep and toss together in about 20 minutes.
Full of vibrant flavors to pair with any main course. We love to serve this orzo pasta salad with steak, chicken, salmon, and shrimp. It’s so versatile.
Delicious for the whole family. Both my husband and kids give this salad a 10/10 for flavor and taste. It’s a recipe that’s definitely a winner.

Tips for Busy Cooks

The best part about pasta salad is that it’s ideal to make it in advance so the pasta has enough time to marinate with all of the other flavors. You can assemble our pesto orzo pesto salad a day in advance, just be sure to add the arugula and fresh basil right before serving.

Ingredients for pesto orzo pasta salad in individual bowls.

Key Ingredient Notes

Orzo pasta – You will find this in the pasta aisle.
Cherry tomatoes – We love them for their sweetness and bright flavor all year long.
Red onion adds crunch and bright flavor to every bite.
Chickpeas – A great hearty bean that adds some protein to the salad.
Mini mozzarella balls gives that creamy, mild cheese flavor. You can also buy a large ball of mozzarella and dice it into small cubes.
Fresh arugula adds great peppery flavor.
Pesto – Use your favorite store-bought brand to save on time, or make a homemade pesto with our favorite recipe.
Lemon juice adds brightness to every bite.
Pine nuts – We love to add pine nuts for a bit of texture and their rich, almost buttery flavor.
Basil leaves – Fresh basil at the end is the perfect finishing touch.

How to make pesto orzo pasta salad

Step 1: Cook the orzo al dente according to package directions. Drain.

A glass bowl with orzo, cherry tomatoes, red onion, chickpeas, and mozzarella pearls.

Step 2: Combine orzo, tomatoes, red onion, chickpeas, and mozzarella in a large bowl.

A glass bowl with orzo salad and pesto on top.

Step 3: Add pesto sauce and lemon juice and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

A glass bowl with orzo pasta salad with arugula added on top and a large black spoon inside the bowl.

Step 4: Add the arugula and toss to combine. Garnish with toasted pine nuts and basil leaves.

A glass bowl with a large black serving spoon in the center of the mixed pesto orzo pasta salad.

Expert Tips:

Toss the orzo pasta with the other ingredients while it’s still slightly warm or room temperature. This is a pro tip for pasta salad. If you toss everything together while the pasta is still slightly warm, then it will absorb the pesto and other flavors better making for an even more flavorful recipe.
Buy your favorite store-bought pesto or make a homemade pesto recipe. We’ve made this recipe both ways; if you are looking to save on time, then store-bought pesto is best!
Add a protein to the orzo pasta salad. We’ve added shredded rotisserie chicken or served it alongside steak.
Be sure to toast the pine nuts lightly before adding them into the salad. All you need to do is heat them in a small dry skillet over low heat for 5 to 6 minutes until they’re golden brown. This helps the flavor shine even more and makes them buttery delicious. You can also omit these for a nut-free, seed-free salad if desired.

Storage

Store this pesto orzo pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Whenever you are ready to serve, just toss with a fresh drizzle of olive oil and taste for seasoning again.

This pasta salad will not freeze well, but it is the ideal side dish to make in advance. We recommend combining everything except for the arugula and basil. Stir those two greens in right before serving to keep them as fresh as possible.

What to serve with orzo salad with pesto

This delicious side dish can really be paired with almost any protein. It can even be served as a main course if you desire. Some of our favorite recipes to pair it with are:

FAQs

How do I know when orzo is done cooking?

Cook the orzo according to package instructions; it’ll take much less time than a typical pasta noodle.

Why is my pasta salad watery?

Be sure you drain the pasta thoroughly before adding the dressing and other ingredients. You probably have residual pasta cooking water in the salad.

Is pasta salad something that’s good to make in advance?

Yes! It’s actually better in our opinion, this way the noodles have more time to absorb the delicious flavors of the dressing.