Sweet & Savory Summer Orzo Salad with Peaches, Mint & Feta (Gluten-Free Option)
Embrace the vibrant flavors of summer with this incredibly refreshing and easy-to-make Summer Orzo Salad. It’s the perfect dish for sun-drenched gatherings, backyard BBQs, or simply an effortless weeknight meal prep option. This delightful orzo pasta salad skillfully marries the sweetness of juicy peaches with the crispness of cucumbers, the aromatic freshness of mint, and the salty tang of feta cheese, all brought together by a bright honey-lemon dressing. The best part? This summery salad is so delicious, it tastes just as fantastic the next day, making leftovers a highly anticipated treat!
On a hot day, this salad is everything you crave: light, invigorating, and bursting with contrasting textures. The combination of ripe peaches, crunchy cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, and fragrant fresh mint, all coated in a zesty lemon-honey dressing, creates a culinary experience that will have everyone asking for the recipe. Its robust nature means it travels exceptionally well, making it an ideal candidate for 4th of July celebrations, beach picnics, or any outdoor get-together. My husband and I recently devoured a batch, constantly reaching for more – it’s truly a new hyperfixation salad activated!
Whether you’re on the hunt for a straightforward pasta salad recipe or a healthy side dish to impress at your next backyard BBQ, this recipe ticks all the boxes. For those with dietary considerations, it’s easily adaptable to be naturally gluten-free when you opt for your favorite gluten-free orzo pasta. I personally recommend Delallo and Jovial brand for their excellent texture and taste.
If the allure of fresh peaches in this salad has captured your attention, you’ll be thrilled to explore some of my other beloved peach-packed recipes. Don’t miss out on my unique Peachy Goat Cheese Pizza, the lively Peach Salsa, or the comforting classic Peach Crisp. Each recipe celebrates summer’s sweetest fruit in its own delicious way, perfect for any occasion!
Why This Summer Orzo Pasta Salad is a Must-Try
This isn’t just another pasta salad; it’s a celebration of summer in a bowl. Here’s why this particular orzo salad recipe will become a staple in your warm-weather repertoire:
- Fresh & Flavorful Ingredient Medley: It’s generously loaded with the best of summer’s bounty, featuring succulent sweet peaches, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and peppery arugula. Each bite offers a delightful burst of natural sweetness and garden-fresh flavor.
- Irresistible Homemade Dressing: Forget bland store-bought options! This salad is tossed in a simple yet incredibly potent homemade dressing made with bright lemon juice, rich extra virgin olive oil, and a touch of golden honey. It perfectly complements the fresh produce without overpowering it.
- Perfect Balance of Taste and Texture: The creamy, salty feta cheese provides a delightful counterpoint to the fruit’s sweetness, creating a harmonious flavor profile. An optional handful of chopped pistachios introduces a wonderful crunch, adding another layer of textural intrigue to this already exciting dish.
- Effortless Preparation & Storage: Designed for convenience, this salad comes together quickly in a large mixing bowl. It’s also fantastic for make-ahead meals or entertaining, as it stores beautifully in an airtight container, retaining its fresh appeal for days. Ideal for last-minute picnics or a busy week of meal prep.
- Naturally Gluten-Free (with a simple swap): By simply choosing your favorite gluten-free orzo pasta, this entire recipe becomes a fantastic option for those avoiding gluten, ensuring everyone can enjoy its deliciousness.
Gather Your Ingredients for the Best Peach Orzo Salad
The secret to an outstanding orzo salad lies in the quality of its ingredients. Opt for the freshest produce you can find to truly elevate the flavors. You’ll find the complete list and measurements in the recipe card below, but here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:
- Gluten-Free Orzo Pasta: The star of our pasta salad! Choose a high-quality gluten-free brand like Delallo or Jovial for the best texture. Cook it al dente to prevent mushiness.
- Diced Fresh Peaches: Select peaches that are ripe but still firm, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and texture.
- Diced Crunchy Cucumber: Mini cucumbers or English cucumbers work wonderfully for their crisp bite and fewer seeds.
- Juicy Cherry Tomatoes: Halved cherry or grape tomatoes add a burst of sweetness and vibrant color.
- Arugula: Provides a peppery kick and fresh greens. Feel free to chop larger leaves for easier eating.
- Diced Red Onion: A small amount adds a subtle sharpness without overpowering the other delicate flavors.
- Fresh Mint: Essential for that signature refreshing aroma and taste; don’t skip it!
- Feta Cheese: Crumbled feta offers a delightful salty, creamy element. For a twist, you could also use tangy goat cheese.
- Chopped Pistachios (optional): Adds a fantastic crunch and nutty flavor. If you prefer, omit for a simpler salad.
- Zest of 1 Lemon: Infuses the salad with an extra layer of bright citrusy aroma and flavor.
For the Honey-Lemon Dressing:
This simple yet impactful dressing ties all the wonderful flavors of the salad together, providing a tangy-sweet finish.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Always use fresh-squeezed for the brightest flavor.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A good quality EVOO makes a big difference in the dressing’s richness.
- Honey or Pure Maple Syrup: Honey provides natural sweetness and a lovely viscosity. Maple syrup is an excellent vegan alternative.
- Salt: Balances the flavors and enhances the sweetness.
Easy Step-by-Step Instructions
This Summer Orzo Salad is quick and simple to assemble, making it perfect for busy days. Follow these steps for a perfect salad every time. For full detailed instructions and precise measurements, please refer to the recipe card below!
Step 1: Prepare the Dressing. In a small bowl or jar, combine the fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and salt. Whisk vigorously or shake until all ingredients are well combined and the dressing is emulsified. Set aside.
Step 2: Combine Salad Base. In a large mixing bowl (this is key for easy tossing!), add your cooked and cooled orzo pasta. Then, add the diced peaches, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, arugula, diced red onion, and fresh mint.
Step 3: Dress the Salad. Pour the prepared honey-lemon dressing evenly over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure every piece of pasta and produce is coated in the delicious dressing. Be careful not to mash the delicate peaches.
Step 4: Add Finishing Touches. Gently stir in the crumbled feta cheese and sprinkle with the chopped pistachios (if using) and lemon zest. Garnish with a few extra fresh mint leaves for an appealing presentation. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Pro Tips for a Perfect Summer Orzo Salad
Achieving a truly exceptional summer orzo salad is easy with a few insider tips:
- Use a large mixing bowl: This might seem minor, but it’s crucial for properly tossing your summer orzo salad. A spacious bowl allows you to mix ingredients evenly without bruising or squishing the delicate fresh veggies and juicy peaches, ensuring every component is perfectly coated and intact.
- Cook orzo al dente and rinse with cold water: For the best texture in your orzo pasta salad recipe, cook the orzo just until it’s al dente – firm to the bite. Immediately after draining, rinse it thoroughly with cold water. This stops the cooking process, prevents the pasta from clumping together, and keeps it light and separate, which is ideal for a cold salad.
- Perfectly ripe peaches: Choose peaches that are ripe but still slightly firm. Overripe peaches can become mushy when diced and tossed in the salad, while underripe ones won’t offer the sweet burst of flavor we’re looking for.
- Taste and adjust: Before serving, always taste your salad! You might want to add a pinch more salt, a squeeze of lemon, or an extra drizzle of honey to suit your preference.
- Make ahead magic: This salad is a fantastic make-ahead dish. It tastes great fresh, but the flavors truly meld and deepen after resting in the fridge for a few hours, or even overnight. This makes it an ideal option for easy entertaining or advanced meal prep.
- Optimal storage for freshness: To keep your salad fresh and flavorful, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This method helps preserve the bright flavors and crisp textures for up to 3 days. It’s truly perfect for healthy meal prep throughout the week or for having a delicious dish ready for your next summer BBQ.
Swaps + Variations to Customize Your Orzo Salad
This peach orzo salad recipe is incredibly versatile and can be easily adapted to your taste or what you have on hand. Feel free to get creative with these delicious swaps and variations:
- Add More Veggies & Summer Goodies: Enhance the vegetable profile by mixing in fresh corn (cut straight from the cob!), finely diced green or red bell pepper for extra crunch and color, or even some grilled summer vegetables like zucchini or asparagus.
- Make it a Main Meal: Transform this delightful side dish into a satisfying main course by incorporating your favorite grilled protein. It pairs wonderfully with chicken skewers, air-fried shrimp, or a perfectly flaky lemon grilled salmon. The fresh flavors of the salad complement these proteins beautifully.
- Pasta Alternatives: No orzo on hand? No problem! This recipe works just as well with any small pasta shape. Think ditalini, acini di pepe, or even small shells. For a larger pasta, choose something like rotini or fusilli.
- Dairy-Free or Vegan Option: If you’re looking for a dairy-free or vegan version, easily swap out the creamy feta cheese for a dairy-free feta alternative (there are many great ones available now!). Alternatively, skip the cheese entirely and sprinkle in some crunchy pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for added texture and a boost of healthy fats and flavor. Just remember to use pure maple syrup instead of honey for the dressing.
- Experiment with Fresh Herbs: While mint is key, don’t be afraid to mix in other fresh herbs to customize the flavor. Fresh dill adds a slightly tangy, herbaceous note, while fragrant basil offers a sweet, peppery touch. A combination of herbs can make the salad even more complex and vibrant.
- Spice it up: For a subtle kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing.
- Different Nuts: If pistachios aren’t your preference, try toasted slivered almonds or walnuts for a different nutty crunch.
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ToggleMore Favorite Orzo Dishes
If you’re now an orzo enthusiast, you’ll love exploring these other delicious recipes featuring this versatile pasta:
- Greek Orzo Pasta Salad: A classic Mediterranean-inspired dish with robust flavors.
- Marry Me Chicken Orzo: A creamy, comforting one-pan meal that’s utterly irresistible and gluten-free.
- Orzo Chicken Skillet: Another fantastic one-pan option for a quick and flavorful dinner.
Summer Orzo Salad with Peaches, Mint, and Feta (GF)
Ingredients
Dressing
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice about the juice from 1-2 lemons
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoons honey can sub pure maple syrup for vegan
- ¼ tsp of salt plus more to taste
Salad
- 3 cups GF orzo, cooked (about 1 1/2 cups uncooked) I used Jovial GF Orzo, but also like Delallo. Tip: cook the pasta al dente, then rinse with cold water after draining
- 2-3 peaches diced
- 3 mini cucumbers sliced in half moons
- 1 pint ripe cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 2 cups arugula I prefer some of them chopped, so I don’t end up with giant stems
- 2 T red onion diced
- ¼ cup fresh mint chopped
- ⅓ cup feta cheese crumbles or swap with goat cheese or more, if desired
- 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios optional – good if you like extra crunch, but we also love it without
- Garnish with more fresh mint and lemon zest
Instructions
- Prepare gluten-free orzo according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
- While the orzo is cooking, whisk together fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and salt in a small bowl or jar. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss orzo pasta with diced peaches, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, arugula, red onion, and fresh mint.
- Pour the lemony dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Add finishing touches: Stir in creamy feta cheese and sprinkle with chopped pistachios and lemon zest. Garnish with additional fresh mint if desired.
- Chill or serve immediately: This salad tastes great fresh or after resting in the fridge overnight, making it a perfect make-ahead option for summer picnics or BBQs.
Notes
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- Use a large mixing bowl when tossing your summer orzo salad to mix ingredients evenly without squishing the fresh veggies and juicy peaches.
- Slightly ripe, not overripe, peaches will work best in this.
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- Cook the orzo al dente and rinse it with cold water to keep the pasta light and prevent clumping in your orzo pasta salad recipe.
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- This salad tastes great fresh or after resting in the fridge overnight.
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- Keep your salad fresh by storing leftovers in an airtight container—this helps preserve the bright flavors and crisp textures for up to 3 days, making it perfect for meal prep or your next summer BBQ.
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- This would be delicious with fresh corn, green or red bell pepper, or grilled summer vegetables.
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- Lemon Grilled SalmonTo make this a main meal, add in your favorite grilled protein like chicken skewers, shrimp, or lemon grilled salmon.
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- No orzo? Use any long or short pasta shape that you have on hand.
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- Want a dairy-free or vegan option? Swap out the creamy feta cheese for a dairy-free feta alternative or sprinkle in some crunchy pumpkin seeds for added texture and flavor.
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- Feel free to mix in other fresh herbs like fresh dill or basil to keep your salad vibrant and customizable.