• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Low Carb Recipes
  • Travel
  • About Us

Have Butter Will Travel

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Low Carb Recipes
  • Travel
  • About Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Low Carb Recipes
    • Travel
    • About Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Salads

    Published: Mar 17, 2023 by Erika Burt & Danielle Coonerty

    Lemon Orzo Salad

    Lemon orzo salad is a light and flavour-packed side dish for your favourite grilled meat or seafood. It is great of picnics, pot lucks or entertaining.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This lemon orzo salad is the perfect side dish for any meal, whether you’re entertaining outside with friends or enjoying a family dinner at home. It’s light and refreshing, with just the right amount of tangy lemon and salty feta cheese. The artichoke hearts add a nice touch of texture, and the garlic and parsley provide a burst of flavour. Plus, it’s easy to make in just a few simple steps, so you can have a delicious salad on the table in no time. So next time you’re looking for a tasty and refreshing salad that’s easy to make, try out this lemon orzo salad recipe. Your taste buds will thank you!

    This lemon orzo salad is the perfect side dish for any meal, whether you're entertaining outside with friends or enjoying a family dinner at home.

    What is Orzo?

    Orzo is a type of pasta that is shaped like grains of rice or barley. It is a popular ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine and is often used in salads, soups, and casseroles. Despite its rice-like appearance, orzo is made from durum wheat flour and is therefore a type of pasta.

    Risoni, as we call it in Australia, is a similar pasta that is commonly used in Italian cuisine. While orzo is shaped like rice, risoni is shaped like short tubes or rice grains. Like orzo, risoni is also made from durum wheat flour and is a type of pasta. The main difference between the two is their shape and size, with orzo being longer and thinner than risoni. In most recipes (including this one) orzo or risoni can be used interchangeably.

    You can find orzo or risoni in the pasta section of the supermarket.

    Orzo in a green bowl on a white background

    What ingredients do you need for Lemon Orzo Salad?

    This salad combines the light and citrusy flavor of lemon with the rich and salty taste of feta cheese, creating a perfect balance of flavors. The orzo pasta provides a satisfying texture that is complemented by the texture of the artichoke hearts and the freshness of the parsley.

    These are the ingredients you need to make lemon orzo salad;

    • orzo or risoni
    • extra virgin olive oil
    • lemon juice and zest
    • red wine vinegar
    • garlic
    • artichoke hearts (canned)
    • parsley leaves
    • feta cheese
    • salt and pepper
    Lemon orzo salad ingredients

    What to serve with lemon orzo salad?

    Lemon orzo salad is a delicious and refreshing dish that can be served as a side dish or a light main course. It’s a versatile dish that can be paired with a variety of different foods, depending on your preferences. Some great options to serve with lemon orzo salad include grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, or a simple green salad. For a complete meal, consider pairing the salad with some grilled shrimp, steak, chicken or salmon for a satisfying option.

    Here are some of our favourite chicken recipes to serve with this salad;

    • Lemon marinated chicken
    • Panko chicken
    • Kombucha chicken
    Lemon marinated chicken
    Lemon marinated chicken
    Panko chicken
    Panko chicken
    Kombucha chicken
    Kombucha chicken

    Steps for making lemon orzo salad

    Orzo in a boiling pot of water
    Cook the pasta
    Lemon dressing in a glass jar on a white background
    Make the lemon dressing
    Lemon orzo salad in a white bowl wirh a spatula
    Combine everything

    Tips & Suggestions

    • Using fresh ingredients will make a big difference in the flavour of your salad. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice, fresh parsley, and fresh garlic for the best results.
    • Overcooking the orzo or risoni pasta can make it mushy and unappetising, so be sure to cook it al dente, or until it’s tender but still has a slight bite to it.
    • We like to use a microplane to easily grate the garlic and zest the lemon.
    • If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding different ingredients to the salad. Roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives are all great options that will add even more flavor and texture to the salad.
    • Add some protein: While this salad is delicious on its own, you can add some protein to make it more filling. Grilled chicken, shrimp, canned tuna or even chickpeas are all great options.

    Make it Low Carb

    • This lemon dressing works really well in a roasted cauliflower salad, rather than the orzo if you are looking for a low carb option. Roast cauliflower florets in the oven until they are cooked through and then toss in the lemon dressing with some leafy greens, feta and pine nuts.
    Roasted cauliflower salad

    Equipment

    Disclosure: The above post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you. Everything we recommend on our website are products we use and love. Thank you for supporting Have Butter will Travel and allowing us to share our low carb experiences with you.

    You may need –

    • Microplane
    Microplane wirh grated lemon zest

    lemon orzo salad

    Looking for a light and refreshing salad that is perfect for any season? Look no further than this lemon orzo salad! This easy-to-make salad is packed with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavour, making it the perfect addition to any meal. This salad is easy to make and can be served as a main course or a side dish. It’s a great option for a summer picnic or a potluck, and it’s a lighter alternative to heavier pasta dishes. This lemon orzo salad with feta is not only flavourful and satisfying but also a visually appealing dish that will impress your guests.

    Lemon orzo salad with a wooden spoon in a white speckled bowl

    If you like this recipe, please give it a 5 star rating.

    If you like this recipe you may also like…

    • Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl
    • Mexican Chicken Salad
    • Mexican tuna salad
    • Tuna Salad without Mayo
    • Panko Chicken
    • Cream Cheese Pasta
    • Lemon Chicken Marinade
    • Mexican chicken marinade
    • Smoked Chicken Salad
    • Tandoori Chicken Salad

    Lemon Orzo Salad

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Lemon orzo salad is a light and flavour-packed side dish for your favourite grilled meat or seafood. It is great of picnics, pot lucks or entertaining.
    Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Cooling Time: 2 hours hours
    Have Butter will Travel Erika Burt & Danielle Coonerty
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 254kcal
    Author: Erika Burt & Danielle Coonerty

    Ingredients

    Lemon dressing

    • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 tbsp lemon juice
    • zest one lemon, finely grated
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp pepper

    Orzo salad

    • 250 g orzo/risoni (8oz)
    • 1 can artichoke hearts, drained & chopped (400g/16oz)
    • ½ cup parsley leaves, finely chopped
    • 100 g creamy feta cheese, crumbled (3oz)

    Instructions

    Lemon dressing

    • While the orzo is cooking, add all the lemon dressing ingredients to a jar. Seal with a lid and then shake well to combine.

    Orzo salad

    • Cook the orzo or risoni to tender/al dente as per the package directions.
    • Once the orzo or risoni is cooked, drain well and add it to a large bowl.
    • Add the chopped artichoke hearts and dressing to the hot orzo and toss well to combine.
    • Allow to cool and then cover and place in the fridge until it is completely cooled.
    • Once the salad is cooled, stir to break up any clumps of pasta and add in the parsley and crumbled feta. Toss again to combine and it is ready to serve.

    Notes

    This serves 4-6 as a side salad, depending in your serving size.

    Tips & Suggestions

      • Using fresh ingredients will make a big difference in the flavour of your salad. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice, fresh parsley, and fresh garlic for the best results.
      • Overcooking the orzo or risoni pasta can make it mushy and unappetising, so be sure to cook it al dente, or until it’s tender but still has a slight bite to it.
      • We like to use a microplane to easily grate the garlic and zest the lemon.
      • If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding different ingredients to the salad. Roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives are all great options that will add even more flavor and texture to the salad.
      • Add some protein: While this salad is delicious on its own, you can add some protein to make it more filling. Grilled chicken, shrimp, canned tuna or even chickpeas are all great options.
    THIS IS BASED ON THE INGREDIENTS WE USED, NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE INGREDIENTS USED.

    Nutrition Per Serve

    Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 9g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Net Carbs: 32g
    Want more free recipes like this?Check out Have butter will travel for 5 keto family favourites dinners

    More Salads

    • Mexican Chicken Salad
    • Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes
    • Smoked Chicken Salad
    • Roast Pumpkin Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kelly says

      March 26, 2023 at 7:15 pm

      Made this using konjac rice (slendier brand) and it was so good! Had to add a bit more salt and pepper as the konjac doesn’t have any flavour, but it was so yum! Thanks for another awesome side!

      Reply
    2. Kelly F says

      March 21, 2023 at 5:41 pm

      I know it says to cool completely but… Do you think it would be edible warm? As a warm salad/side dish?

      Reply
      • havebutterwilltravel says

        March 22, 2023 at 2:26 pm

        Oh yes, it could be eaten warm or cold for sure. I will add this into the post.
        We prefer it cold and add the parsley once it is cold so it stays green, but warm would be yummy too.
        Thanks Kelly!

        Reply
    3. Odetta says

      March 17, 2023 at 7:54 am

      Yum, really tasty

      Reply
      • havebutterwilltravel says

        March 17, 2023 at 3:14 pm

        Thanks Odetta!

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! We are Dan and Erika the creators of Have Butter will Travel!
    Erika loves creating quick and simple recipes and Dan loves being the chief taste tester.

    Join our Community!


    Subscribe on Youtube


    MOST POPULAR RECIPES

    • Granola in a jar spilling out on to the bench.
      Keto Granola Recipe
    • Overhead photo of tuna mornay in a baking dish.
      Keto Tuna Casserole (Mornay)
    • Keto Cheese Sauce
    • Satay sauce with grilled chicken
      Keto Satay Sauce

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility

    Copyright © 2023 Have Butter Will Travel

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.