This grilled vegetable orzo salad is jam-packed with a rainbow of smoky grilled summer vegetables, tender orzo, and tossed in an incredible garlic herb vinaigrette.
Just a good ‘ol veggie-packed salad to take your summer salad game to the next level! Featuring a literal rainbow of all the best veggies.
Plus orzo plus cheese. Really, there’s nothing standing between you making this goodness your new summer home.
And it is an absolute table stunner to boot.
The real beauty of this salad though is how all the veggies give it that unmistakable light and healthy feel, yet it’s totally filling at the same time!
The lunch salad everyone wants to be for sure.
This Orzo Salad features…
- Smoky grilled zucchini, sweet pepper, summer squash, mushrooms, and red onion
- Tender orzo pasta
- A garlic herb vinaigrette
- Fresh torn basil and lots of Parmesan cheese
Making the Grilled Vegetable Orzo Salad
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Sweet pepper
- Summer squash
- Zucchini
- Mushrooms
- Red onion
- Olive oil
- White wine vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Honey
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Orzo
- Basil
- Parmesan cheese
Serving Suggestions
This salad can be served hot or cold, totally your call! We love pairing it alongside grilled steak or chicken for a summery meal and it’s also always well-received as a side dish at any cookout.
Tips for Perfect Orzo Salad
- Cut vegetables in uniform size – this helps your vegetables cook at the same rate.
- Use aluminum foil or a grill basket – this keeps your veggies together and prevents them from falling through the grates.
- Toss cooked pasta in cold water – this cools the pasta fast and prevents it from sticking together.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on this orzo salad!
- Try different veggies – add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, etc.
- Use a different cheese – try feta, goat cheese, cubed cheddar, or mozzarella.
- Swap out dressings – for a time-saving hack, use about 1/2 cup bottled Greek dressing.
- Add meat – try adding crumbled bacon or shredded chicken.
Make Ahead Instructions
Follow these instructions for time-saving make ahead options.
- Make the dressing – mix up the dressing and store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
- Prep vegetables – cut all the vegetables and store in refrigerator up to 3 days prior to grilling.
- Cook the pasta – store cooked pasta in refrigerator up to 6 days.
- Storing salad – once the salad is assembled it stores well in refrigerator up to 4 days.
I promise, this is going to become your new go-to pasta salad of the summer! We love all the colorful smoky grilled veggie goodness and the garlicky herb vinaigrette just pulls everything together.
Diving in 3..2..1..
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
More colorful pasta salads to try next!
Grilled Veggie Orzo Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
Grilled Vegetables
- 1 medium sweet pepper, cored and cut into 1/2-in cubes
- 1 medium summer squash, diced into 1/2-in cubes
- 1 medium zucchini, diced into 1/2-in cubes
- 8 oz mushrooms, diced into 1/2-in cubes
- 1 small red onion, diced into 1/2-in cubes
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic Herb Dressing and Salad
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 lb orzo pasta
- 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Grilled Vegetables
- Preheat a grill over medium-high heat OR lightly grease a grill pan to use on the stovetop.
- In a large bowl, combine all vegetables, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste until evenly coated. Grill vegetables on a sheet of aluminum foil or in a grill basket over medium-high heat, tossing occasionally until vegetables are tender, about 8-10 minutes. Set vegetables aside.
Garlic Herb Dressing and Salad
- In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, lemon juice, honey, garlic, and parsley until smooth. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly until dressing is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook orzo according to package instructions then drain and rinse well in cold water until cooled.
- Combine cooked orzo, grilled vegetables, basil, Parmesan, and dressing in a large bowl and toss until combined. Season salad with salt and pepper to taste and refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 8/4/23.
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
This orzo salad looks amazing! Love the sound of the grilled veggies- so delicious.
Sarah says
Thanks, Jess! 🙂
Kelly @ The Pretty Bee: Cooking + Creating says
I LOVE ORZO! It is so versatile. I love that you topped it will grilled veggies – so healthy and flavorful!
Annie @Maebells says
I love your flavors here! I can’t get enough grilled veggies lately, this is such a fun spin on a summer salad! Love it!
Sarah says
Thank you, Annie! I can’t get enough grilled veggies this time of year either! 😉
Danielle says
I’ve never really made orzo, but I’ve had it before and loved it. I love the fresh veggies in this dish, perfect for summer!
Sarah says
I don’t make orzo as often as I’d like either. Working on changing that! 😉
Joanne says
One should never apologize for eating the rainbow massive salad consumption! This is a big bowl of healthy beauty and I can’t wait to incorporate it into my summer eats!
Sarah says
I hope you get around to making this salad this summer, Joanne! I know you’ll adore it! 😉
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
I looooove orzo! And anything that’s grilled automatically makes things feel like summer 🙂
Sarah says
Anything grilled ALWAYS has that same effect on me too. 😀
Allison says
Everyone would totally envy me if I ate this for lunch! I love orzo and find that I don’t eat enough of it/there are not enough orzo recipes out there. Such a fun pasta. Also, for me, nothing is better in the summer than grilled veggies!
Sarah says
Thanks Allison! There are TOTALLY not enough orzo-lovers in the world. Idk why! The stuff is amazing! 😉
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
I love grilled squash and zucchini! This orzo salad looks amazing. Perfect as a side or light dinner! I’ve never tried coconut sugar before. I’m intrigued!
Sarah says
Oh my gosh, you have GOT to get your hands on some coconut sugar, Christin. Love the ‘stuff! 😉
Danae @ Recipe Runner says
I am seriously on a salad binge lately and I’ll be adding this one to my list to try! I love grilled veggies and the lime vinaigrette with it sounds perfect!
Sarah says
Yay! Glad I’m not alone in the salad-binge department! 😉 LMK if you try this salad, Danae!
Isadora @ She Likes Food says
Girl, I can hardly keep up with all the recipes you post! Your family is so lucky to have to cook for them all the time!! Can you please come here and cook for me?! Please don’t ever stop posting salad recipes!! I love orzo and just saw some gluten free orzo at the store the other day and I will be going back tomorrow and buying it! This salad looks amazing!
Sarah says
Izzy, you are seriously so sweet—your comments ALWAYS make my day! And awesomeness that you got your hands on some gluten-free orzo! Now you have no excuse NOT to make this salad. LOL.
Kelly @ Trial and Eater says
I had orzo for the first time only recently, and I’m hooked! Yours looks delicious and super healthy!
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Kelly! Isn’t orzo the tastiest thing ever? 😉