Summer Glow Orzo Salad
This easy Summer Glow Orzo Salad is a nourishing, feel-good pasta salad with tender orzo, grilled corn, fresh vegetables, and a zesty lemon herb dressing. It's great for picnics, luncheons, and a light afternoon snack.
There's something about a cold pasta salad waiting in the fridge that just makes summer meals and snacking easier. My daughter especially loves scooping up a portion for quick lunches during the week.
This Summer Glow Orzo Salad is an easy one to have on hand. It's simple, colorful, and filled with fresh ingredients you can actually taste in every bite. Instead of being drenched in dressing, this pasta salad lets all the ingredients shine through.
The "glow" part of this salad comes from the bright mix of fresh vegetables, hearty beans, herbs, and zesty lemon dressing. It really is sunshine in a bowl.
I also love how flexible pasta salads like this can be. Use your favorite fresh vegetables and herbs, or add grilled chicken or shrimp to turn it into a complete meal. It's also a great salad for cleaning out the veggie drawer. 😉
Ingredients You Need
See full measurements of ingredients in the printable recipe card below.
- Hearty ingredients- Cooked orzo pasta and white beans
- Vegetables- Grilled corn, cucumbers, and red bell pepper
- Dressing- Avocado oil, lemon juice and zest, Dijon mustard, agave (or honey) salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like parsley, dill, basil, and chives
- Other ingredients- Green olives and tomatoes
How to Prepare Summer Orzo Salad
- Combine dressing ingredients in a mason jar or a small bowl with a whisk. Allow to sit while you prepare the rest of the salad.
- Grill corn using an indoor or outdoor grill until lightly charred and golden, then shave the kernels off the cob.
- Add the salad ingredients to a bowl - cooked orzo, beans, cooled corn, vegetables, olives and tomatoes, then pour on all the dressing.
- Toss salad well and taste for seasonings. Enjoy right away or place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Ang's Helpful Tips and Variations
- Allow the dressing to marinate while you grill the corn and prepare the salad. This will give the herbs time to infuse flavor into the lemon oil dressing.
- Don't overcook the corn. You want the corn crisp tender so it stays juicy and gives the salad a pleasant texture.
- Make sure pasta and corn are completely cooled before assembling the salad otherwise fresh ingredients like cucumbers and tomatoes could become mushy.
- Add cheese like crumbled feta, parmesan, or cheddar cheese cubes (our favorite).
- Grilled chicken or shrimp makes this salad more of a complete meal. Just make sure the meat is slightly cooled before tossing it in the salad.
This Salad is Meant to Be Light and Refreshing
Summer glow orzo salad was created to be light, healthy, and fresh, allowing each ingredient to stand out without being overly dressed. If you're looking for creamy based pasta salads, try my Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad , Cobb Pasta Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, or this simple Chicken Waldorf Pasta Salad.
More Fresh Summer Salads To Try
- Easy Kale Crunch Salad (Chick-Fil-A Copycat)
- Mediterranean Couscous Salad
- Best Creamy Coleslaw
- Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Grilled Panzanella Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Marinated Vegetable Salad
Summer Glow Orzo Salad
Equipment
- small bowl or mason jar with lid
- medium bowl
- indoor or outdoor grill
Ingredients
Dressing ingredients
- â…“ cup avocado or olive oil
- zest of ½ large lemon
- 1 large lemon, juiced, about 4 tablespoons
- 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon agave or honey
- â…“ cup chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, dill, basil, and chives
- salt and pepper to taste
Salad ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- ½ medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup cucumber, diced, about ½ English cucumber
- 1 cup tomatoes, diced
- 2 small ears of corn, husks removed
- ½ cup sliced green olives
- 1 cup canned northern white beans, drained and rinsed
Instructions
- Add all the dressing ingredients to a small bowl or mason jar with a lid and combine well. Taste for seasonings to make sure you don't need more salt or pepper. Set aside and allow the ingredients to marry while preparing the rest of the salad.
- Cook orzo according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and rinse well with cold water to help cool off the pasta. Set aside while you grill the corn.
- Place dry corn on the cob on a hot grill and turn often until charred in spots.
- Cool corn long enough to handle, then use a sharp knife to remove the kernels from the cob. Make sure corn kernels are completely cooled before you start assembling the salad.
- Add all the salad ingredients to a medium bowl and pour in all the dressing. Toss well and taste for seasonings. At this point I usually add a little more salt and pepper. Enjoy right away or place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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This was so delicious!! Easy and fresh, perfect for meal prep or a side for summer bbqs😋
I'm so glad you enjoyed this pasta salad! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!