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Mediterranean Grape Orzo Salad

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This fun pasta salad combines a hint of sweet grapes with bright lemon juice, savory feta cheese and more.  It is the perfect side dish for grilled meats or seafood.

grilled chicken on plate with orzo pasta salad.

This super simple pasta salad is the perfect summer side dish.  It comes together quickly, can be made ahead of time and the leftovers keep great. 

It is a surprising mix of ingredients that work really well together to form a bright and fresh balance on your plate. We love serving it alongside grilled meat.

It is always nice to have some cool fresh and easy recipes for summer.  That is especially true when you can do all of the prep work ahead of time.

Whether you have guests over or are just feeding you family, it is nice to be able to grab the sides out and serve them without any effort. You get to enjoy everyone’s company and still feed them delicious food.

big serving bowl of grape mint and orzo salad.

Pasta salad is always great for that. You can prepare them in the morning when it is cooler and quieter.

When it is time to eat you just give them a quick toss and dig in. It’s low effort and big flavor.

This orzo salad is an especially fresh and easy twist on macaroni salad.  The lemon juice and olive oil dressing is extra light and bright.

The grapes add an unexpected sweet and fresh burst. The feta adds that salty savory and creamy balance.

The fresh mint adds that herbiness without being overtly minty. Together it all just works.

My aunt Donna originally made this recipe for a family cookout in 2015.  It was so different than anything we were used to but super tasty.

close up of sweet and savory pasta salad on plate with grilled chicken legs.

I shared the recipe then, but I figured it was worth sharing with you all again.  So I whipped up a batch to go with some grilled chicken.

It was every bit as good as I remembered.  It is a large batch, so I happily divided the leftovers into small containers and added a little shredded chicken on top.

Those leftovers made great lunches throughout the week. The texture held up well and the flavors were still fabulous.

Little Dude loved the addition of the grapes, of course! This salad is definitely worth a try at your next potluck, or make it to go with lemon yogurt marinated chicken or spinach and feta stuffed chicken breasts.

It can be served warm, room temperature or cold.  We had it cold which was especially nice on a warm evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is orzo pasta or rice?

Orzo is actually pasta with a small rice-like shape. It is great for adding to soup and is wonderful in this salad.

What does this orzo salad go with?

This orzo salad is a refreshing side to go with grilled meats. We love it with yogurt marinated chicken, but it would also be wonderful with pork chops or lamb. It would make a great unexpected side dish for potlucks, carry-ins and BBQs.

More fun salad ideas:

For another fun and fruity options, try making peach pasta salad. It has spinach, mozzarella, and more to make a lovely side dish.

Sandra’s Spinach Salad is a classic with bacon, eggs and an easy homemade salad dressing.  It is a yummy combination!

Chopped Salad for a Crowd is a Portillo’s copycat recipe.  It has greens, meat, cheese and even a little pasta for good measure.  I like making a huge batch for parties.

MiMi’s Frito Salad can be made with taco meat as a main course or without as a side dish.  It is loaded with flavors, textures and has a homemade Catalina salad dressing recipe too!

grilled chicken on plate with orzo pasta salad.

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Carlee
This fun pasta salad combines a hint of sweet grapes with bright lemon juice, savory feta cheese and more.  It is the perfect side dish for grilled meats or seafood.
4.94 from 15 ratings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 185 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 12 ounces orzo
  • 6 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 4 cups seedless grapes halved
  • cup crumbled feta cheese
  • ½ cup fresh mint chopped
  • 4 Tablespoons red onion finely chopped

Instructions
 

  • Cook orzo to al dente according to package directions, drain and rinse with cold water.
    12 ounces orzo
  • In a large bowl, stir together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir in grapes, feta, mint, onion and orzo. Toss to combine.
    6 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 6 Tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • Add grapes, feta, mint, onion and orzo. Toss to combine.
    4 cups seedless grapes, ⅔ cup crumbled feta cheese, ½ cup fresh mint, 4 Tablespoons red onion
  • You can serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 4gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 258mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9g
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Recipe Rating




NewMrsAdventures

Tuesday 21st of July 2015

Love the grapes in this, so fresh!!

Carlee

Tuesday 21st of July 2015

It was a delicious change of pace, that is for sure!

Erlene

Sunday 19th of July 2015

Family potlucks are always fun and it's nice to get to sample everyone's food. I've used orzo in soups, but never in a salad. Will give this a try. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday.

Carlee

Monday 20th of July 2015

It was a fun way to have it! I need to get orzo more often and try more variations!

Unknown

Sunday 19th of July 2015

Yum, I love orzo pasta salads, this sounds wonderful with the feta and mint! Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend?!

Carlee

Sunday 19th of July 2015

It was really refreshing and fun!

Jessica Cross

Monday 13th of July 2015

I love orzo! I don't have many recipes that actually use it, but I am always looking for new ones. I love the addition of feta cheese and mint. YUM :)

Carlee

Monday 13th of July 2015

It is definitely a bright and fun twist on pasta salad. It is exciting to have a new use for orzo!

Unknown

Sunday 12th of July 2015

It's wonderful that your family has fun get togethers! I've never had Orzo salad before, and I actually have some on hand. Hope you are having a fun weekend!

Carlee

Sunday 12th of July 2015

We have a good time together, that is for sure. My sisters and I are on a little sisters' trip this weekend, so we are having a blast! I hope your weekend is great as well!