Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad
By: Merritt Allen
Pesto orzo pasta salad is an elevated pasta salad that gets better and better the more I eat it. Served hot or cold, this recipe for easy orzo salad with creamy pesto dressing is served with fresh basil, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes. It makes a great meal preparation option as the flavors meld together and get better after a day or two! I pair my pesto orzo pasta salad with fresh basil because the fresh herb brings in so much extra flavor that elevates the whole dish.
Another great flavor in this orzo salad is the creamy pesto dressing. A simple aoli that combines mayonnaise and fresh basil pesto for a great dressing that you will want to put on literally everything. The artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes add both texture (my favorite thing) and flavor that makes this orzo salad almost addictive! I hope you give this recipe a try and love it as much as I do.
Notes and Tips for Creamy Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad:
I use fresh Basil Pesto for this recipe that I make at home. It uses fresh basil and roasted walnuts, but store bought pesto works really well too. I love Costco Pesto, Buitoni brand Pesto, or any pesto brand that is on the creamier side. Let me know what is your favorite brand of pesto in the comments below!
This pesto orzo pasta salad comes together super quickly. The longest part is boiling the orzo and you can do that the day before if you wish.
I recommend using sundried tomatoes that come in oil. Dried sundried tomatoes can be a bit hard, but both work in this recipe. For the oil packed sundried tomatoes, remove and dab with a paper towel to drain the excess oil that can make it hard to cut.
I prefer water packed artichoke hearts. The ones packed in oil usually have seasoning on them which can change the flavor of your orzo salad. The water packed ones will easily take on the flavor the basil pesto sauce but use whichever type you prefer!
What is Orzo Salad Made Of?
Orzo salad can really be made of whatever you wish. I use orzo as the base and then you can add in vegetables, sauce, and protein if you want. Orzo salad is great since orzo is a pasta and goes with so many different flavors. You can make orzo salad anything you wish by adding in fresh veggies, a basic oil based dressing, and extra yummy toppings like cheese.
Is Orzo A Rice Or Pasta?
Orzo is a wheat based pasta. It is often confused for rice since it has a shape similar to long grain rice. You can find gluten free varieties of orzo at most grocery stores, and these can be used in place of regular orzo if you wish.
Does Orzo Have To Be Rinsed?
Orzo does not have to be rinsed. Similar to other pastas, the starch that comes with the orzo when boiled can help combine with your sauce and make it extra creamier. If you plan on serving this orzo salad cold, you can rinse the pasta to stop the cooking with the process. The starch does not add as much to a cold pasta salad, and I often do not add pasta water to cold orzo salad.
Should You Put Olive Oil On Pasta After Cooking?
You do not have to add olive oil to pasta after cooking but it can help when mixing the orzo to other ingredients. If I make the orzo the day before, I will add 2 tsp oil for 1/2 pound of cooked pasta and toss it around to coat the noodles. This step is optional as the dressing has oil in it.
Why Run Cold Water Over Pasta?
You can run cold water over pasta to stop the cooking process. This can be a useful step if you plan on serving the orzo salad hot and do not want it to overcook when you heat it up or reheat it as leftovers. If you are like me, then you may have 2-10 things cooking at once and forget that you have orzo boiling on the stove. Sometimes I let my orzo go 1-2 minutes too long and running cold water over it can really save the pasta from becoming overcooked!
What Does Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad Go With?
Orzo salad goes great with shredded chicken, or steak. They compliment the flavors of basil pesto well, but you can also add in hearty vegetables like broccoli, broccolini, or cauliflower. I have listed some good recipes below that would go well with orzo salad.
Flank steak in Soy marinade is a steak I often pair with fried rice but would great in this salad.
Feel free to use My Pasta Salad recipe and switch out the pasta with the orzo! It will change the texture and taste great.
As mentioned above, I make my own Basil Pesto for this recipe, if you give this homemade pesto a try, let me know!
What Can I Do With Leftover Orzo Salad?
Leftover orzo salad lasts for up to a week in your fridge. Place any leftovers in a sealed container and enjoy for days to come! I do not recommend freezing any leftovers as the artichoke hearts, and fresh basil doe not freeze well.
Leftover orzo salad can be heated on the skillet over medium heat until warmed through.
Recipe for Creamy Orzo Salad with Basil Pesto Dressing
- 1/2 pound orzo, cooked (225 g).
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise I prefer avocado oil mayo but any brand will do.
- 1/4 cup basil pesto, homemade or store-bought. Homemade can be a little more effort but is definitely worth the effort! Any brand of storebought pesto will do!
- 1 garlic clove, minced. Fresh garlic adds a little spice to your orzo salad.
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, lightly torn
- 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
- 2/3 cup artichike hearts, quartered. Look for jarred artichoke hearts that come unflavored. You can use artichoke hearts in oil or water.
- salt and pepper to taste
How To Make Easy Orzo Salad with Creamy Basil Dressing
Cook the Orzo
Cook 1/2 pound of orzo according to package instructions, set aside to cool.
Prepare the Salad Toppings
Mince 1 garlic clove, set aside
Chop the sundried tomatoes, set aside
Quarter the artichoke hearts, set aside
Light tear or chop the fresh basil, set aside.
Make the Orzo Salad
To a large bowl, add the cooled orzo, garlic, sundried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts.
Top with the mayonnaise, basil pesto, and shredded basil. Mix until everything is coated and combined.
Serve with salt and pepper!
Easy Orzo Salad with Creamy Pesto Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound orzo, cooked (225 g)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup basil pesto, homemade or store-bought
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, lightly torn
- 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
- 2/3 cup artichike hearts, quartered
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Nutrition Facts
Calories
326Sugar
6 gProtein
13 gCarbs
27 gFat
19 gNote: Nutritional information is an estimate. Exact counts will vary with ingredients used.
Why I Love This Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad:
This orzo salad is simply one of those really easy recipes that is great for any occasion. I have served this as a party appetizer, made it as a meal prep dish for the week, or even served it hot as a dinner! I love the creamy pesto sauce made with mayo. This sauce is something I make for so many dishes other than orzo! You will love how creamy and flavorful this dish is. It is easy to construct and super hard to mess up!