I love pesto and am always looking for new ways to use it in cooking. Some of our favorites I have shared are Gnocchi with Basil Pesto, Instant Pot Spaghetti in Pesto, or even using it as a substitute for chutney in my favorite Avocado Chutney Sandwich recipe. We love to use homemade pesto. However, sometimes I get lazy or cannot find fresh basil leaves, so the one from Costco is just as good! The light texture of the orzo, combined with the fresh flavors from the basil and tomatoes, make this recipe perfect for summer time, similar to my Caprese Orzo Salad. You can add other veggies to add more nutrition to an already healthy recipe! Since the salad is so easy to prepare and can be served warm or cold, it is great to pack for picnics and even bring to cookouts throughout the summer. If you love orzo, don’t forget to check out our favorite Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup recipe.
Ingredients for Pesto Pasta Salad
Orzo Pasta- I love the texture of orzo in this salad, but you can also use macaroni, fusilli, farfalle, or any other pasta you have on hand. Although it can be cooked on the stovetop, I like to use my instant pot to get a perfect al dente finish; check out this recipe for a quick how-to! Pesto Sauce– Store-bought or homemade pesto, this delicious green basil sauce is central to a tasty salad. You can also use spinach pistachio pesto. Red Onion, Fresh Basil, Grape Tomatoes, & Sun-Dried Tomato- You can add other veggies, like arugula or spinach. What’s great about the ones used in this recipe is that they are usually found nice and fresh throughout the summer. Fresh Mozzarella- I used small fresh mozzarella pearls, but if you cannot find these, take regular mozzarella and dice it into bite-sized pieces. You can also use feta cheese in place of mozzarella. Lemon juice– Lemon juice adds the perfect tangy fresh flavor to this orzo salad.
How to make Orzo Pesto Salad?
Cook the orzo according to package directions until al dente. Drain the orzo, mix it with some extra virgin olive oil, and let it cool. You can also cook the orzo in the instant pot. Mix the orzo, chopped cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, sundried tomato, pesto, and lemon juice in a bowl. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste, then garnish with basil leaves. Enjoy right away, or refrigerate for about 30 minutes until chilled. This pesto pasta salad is so refreshing and has all the wonderful things about summer in your bowl! Enjoy this easy Pesto Orzo Salad for a refreshing light lunch, or take it to your next get-together!
How to Serve?
This Pesto Orzo Salad is perfect as a lunch or light dinner on its own. It is great for meal prep or bring to a summer BBQ or picnic. Make it gluten-free: You can substitute the orzo with a gluten-free pasta of your choice. Additions: You can add a can of chickpeas or cannellini beans for added protein to this pasta salad. You can also add toasted nuts such as pine nuts or almonds, or pumpkin seeds to this pasta salad. Add more veggies: Adding greens such as kale, spinach or arugula to this pasta salad is great. You can also add chopped cucumbers, sliced olives or red bell peppers. Storing: This orzo salad will store in the refrigerator for up to four days in an airtight container.
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