This simple, flavorful orzo chickpea salad is packed with flavor and just 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper). With a combination of chickpeas, tomatoes, red onion, and a tangy red wine vinegar dressing, this versatile Mediterranean orzo salad is a refreshing, summery appetizer or side salad – perfect for any potluck, BBQ, picnic, or garden party!
While summer is creeping to a close, we’re not quite there yet, and it looks like there may still be some grilling days left – meaning yummy vegan burgers, grilled potatoes and veggies, and dishes like this flavorful orzo chickpea salad!
Like any pasta salad, this Mediterranean orzo pasta salad is quick to prepare (in under 15 minutes!), requires just a few simple ingredients, and packs in a ton of flavor. Better yet, it’s light, vibrant, and healthy – making it a perfect summer side (or main). However, you can also easily swap out the veggies based on the season or even use frozen veggies (like peas and corn) for a year-round, budget-friendly main or side that won’t weigh you down.
While it may look like rice, orzo is a type of pasta with a slightly nutty flavor and firm, slightly chewy texture. However, unlike ‘regular’ pasta, orzo is often made with semolina flour (which contains more protein and fiber than regular white flour). There are gluten-free versions, too.
We’ve actually only used orzo for ‘a warming mushroom orzo soup on PBOAB previously; however, it also makes for a great addition to summer dishes; it’s light, flavorful, and relatively low-budget. When combined with fresh veggies, protein-dense chickpeas, and fresh herbs (garden-grown to save even more money!), you have a crowd-pleasing dish that vegans and non-vegans alike will enjoy.
Best of all, this Mediterranean orzo salad recipe can be prepared in advance, travels well, and is super versatile. And, if you’re looking for more summer pasta salad recipes, you might enjoy this perfect pasta salad, arugula pesto couscous, pearl couscous salad, summer garden pasta, or any of these other pasta salad recipes!
We’ve kept the vegetables above at a minimum for this orzo chickpea salad to keep the recipe low-budget (while still delicious). However, depending on what you have available, you could add:
Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions.
Optionally, allow it to rest and ‘marinate’ for 30 minutes before serving for a more developed flavor. Enjoy the chickpea orzo salad at room temperature for the best results. Adding the herbs right before serving can help to ensure they don’t wilt too early.
As this orzo pasta salad is meant to be consumed at room temperature or chilled, you can prepare the cooked orzo in advance and store it in the fridge for 2-3 days. Then, when ready to serve, simply add in the remaining ingredients.
Once prepared, enjoy the orzo chickpea salad within 2-4 days for the best flavor, storing leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Note that the herbs will wilt during this time, so you may want to add some extra before serving. You may also like an extra splash of vinegar to ‘brighten’ the flavors again.
Make sure to toss the salad well, as the tomatoes will release juices for more of a fresh ‘marinade’ as it sits. I don’t recommend freezing the orzo salad due to its impact on the fresh vegetables.
This chickpea orzo salad is balanced enough to be enjoyed as a main meal. However, it also makes for a great side served with the protein of your choice, like tofu skewers or grilled tofu steaks, burgers, and other vegan grill-season classics.
You can also serve it alongside other summer-ready sides like:
And more. Let us know in the comments how you’d enjoy this summer orzo pasta salad!
You might also enjoy browsing through this collection of 59 Ways to Use a Can of Beans.
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
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