Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

This easy Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad is light, refreshing and perfect for summer. It is ready in minutes making it easy to whip together for picnics, potlucks or barbeques. Packed with veggies and ready to be topped with your favorite protein this Lemon Orzo Salad is extremely versatile. Keep it dairy free or add feta for added fat and flavor. 
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Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Easy and ready in minutes. Once you get the orzo cooked it’s quickly thrown together.
  • Light and refreshing making for the perfect summer side dish.
  • Is it customizable with different toppings.
  • This recipe is vegetarian and diary free and with the swap of one ingredient is can be gluten free as well.
  • Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad is macro friendly and can be a main meal by adding your favorite protein. 

Is this recipe gluten free?

Swap out your orzo with your favorite gluten free orzo for a gluten free side dish. Jovial has a great gluten free option. 

What to serve with Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

This salad can be a side dish at your summer cookout or a main dish. By adding your favorite protein like grilled chicken you have yourself a perfectly macro friendly meal. 

lemon orzo pasta salad

Ingredients and Substitutes:

Pasta:

Orzo is one of my favorite types of pasta. It is a thin, oval shaped “rice-like” pasta and in Italy it is known as the little pasta. You can substitute with your favorite gluten free option or a different style pasta if desired. 

Image of food on a tray

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Veggies:

Using chopped tomatoes, steamed peas and fresh spinach this dish is packed with veggies. Swap out with your favorite or in season vegetables. 

Dressing:

Mix this pasta with Lite Italian Dressing or homemade version, balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon and a little salt and pepper. The perfect amount of sweet and tangy.

Add ons:

Cheese: fresh cubed mozzarella or feta

Veggies: asparagus or broccoli 

Olives or nuts: kalamata olives or pine nuts 

Protein: Chopped chicken, cubed ham or summer sausage. Note if you add in protein to the salad you should increase the amount of Italian Dressing used to keep the salad well dressed. 

The flavor combination of Italian Dressing, lemon and balsamic create a sweet and tangy salad. It is super macro friendly too with only 2 grams of fat per serving and a great way to add carbs to any meal. 

lemon orzo pasta salad

How to make this easy Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

Step 1:

Measure and cook Orzo pasta according to package directions. 

Step 2:

While the pasta cooks, steam peas, chop tomatoes and add to a bowl with spinach. 

Step 3:

When the pasta is done cooking, drain and add to the bowl of vegetables while still hot. This will wilt the spinach. 

Step 4:

Add Italian dressing, balsamic vinegar, lemon, salt and pepper and mix well to coat. 

Step 5:

Serve immediately or store in the fridge. As it sits in the fridge the flavors will increase. 

If you like this wrap be sure to check out some of our other easy sides!

Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

This easy Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad is light, refreshing and perfect for summer. It is ready in minutes making it easy to whip together for picnics, potlucks or barbeques. Packed with veggies and ready to be topped with your favorite protein this Lemon Orzo Salad is extremely versatile. Keep it dairy free or add feta for added fat and flavor. 
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Servings 4 servings
Calories 202 kcal

📱 MyFitnessPal & MacrosFirst App Users

You can find this recipe and many others on MyFitnessPal and MacrosFirst by searching: Ohsnapmacros – Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

Ingredients
  

  • 6 oz. Orzo Pasta (measured uncooked)
  • 89 g cooked peas
  • 3/4 cup chopped cherry tomatoes 100g
  • 2 handfuls fresh spinach 30g
  • 5 tbsp. Lite Italian Dressing
  • 1.5 tbsp. balsamic vinegar 20g
  • juice of one lemon wedge – 1/2 a lemon (to your taste)
  • salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • Measure and cook Orzo pasta according to package directions.
  • While the pasta cooks, steam peas, chop tomatoes and add to a bowl with spinach.
  • When the pasta is done cooking, drain and add to the bowl of vegetables while still hot. This will wilt the spinach.
  • Add Italian dressing, balsamic vinegar, lemon, salt and pepper and mix well to coat.
  • Serve immediately or store in the fridge. As it sits in the fridge the flavors will increase.
    Add ons: protein of choice, feta or fresh cubed mozzarella, nuts or olives.

Nutrition

Serving: 190gCalories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 7gFat: 2g
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