Fresh, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make, this Pesto Orzo Salad with Sundried Tomatoes is packed with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients like pesto, chickpeas, feta, cucumber, arugula, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks, summer gatherings, or a light lunch, this vibrant pasta salad comes together in minutes and tastes even better after chilling.

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Pesto Orzo Salad with Sundried Tomatoes

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• Author: Chef Sara
• Total Time: 20 mins
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Fresh, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make, this Pesto Orzo Salad with Sundried Tomatoes is packed with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients like pesto, chickpeas, feta, cucumber, arugula, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks, summer gatherings, or a light lunch, this vibrant pasta salad comes together in minutes and tastes even better after chilling.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 6 oz orzo pasta (about 1 cup uncooked)
• 3 heaping tablespoons pesto
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cucumber, diced
• ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, julienned
• ⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup arugula
• 1 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 2 – 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Cook the orzo according to package instructions until al dente.
2. While the pasta cooks, dice the cucumber and chop the parsley.
3. Drain the orzo and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cooled orzo, pesto, olive oil, cucumber, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, arugula, chickpeas, parsley, and lemon juice.
5. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve immediately or chill for 1 hour before serving for even better flavor.

Notes

For extra flavor, add 1 tablespoon of the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar.
Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
Substitute dairy-free pesto and feta for a vegan version.
This salad tastes even better after a few hours in the refrigerator.

• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Nutrition

• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Protein: 10 g