Broccoli Orzo Salad

May 29, 2023

Make this Broccoli Orzo salad for an easy, plant-based family-meal. Full of fresh, spring vegetables and beans, this orzo and broccoli dish is filling and convenient.

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I love to just throw all the colors and veggies into a salad.

There’s something refreshing about looking at a colorful salad. Like this vegan couscous salad – it just looks so tempting!

clear bowl with veggies and broccoli orzo salad

I feel that asparagus gets looked over as a key salad ingredient. I mean, I forget about it too!

I love it in this asparagus mushroom quiche recipe, but when chopped up, it’s a great add-in for your favorite asparagus and broccoli salad.

chopped broccoli on wooden cutting board

Why we love This Broccoli Orzo Salad

We love this orzo salad with goat cheese for so many reasons!

Easy and Quick – Don’t you love easy weeknight recipes that are ready so quickly? Orzo cooks very quickly, and canned beans are instantaneous!
Full of flavor – Picture creamy goat cheese, a squeeze of lemon, charred broccoli and asparagus, orzo pasta, and white beans. So so good.
Customize it how you like! Leave the white beans out, or substitute them with garbanzo beans, or even your favorite meat or soy product. Tofu or rotisserie chicken fair really well in this orzo broccoli salad.
Enjoy it warm or cold – Orzo is technically a pasta, but it looks and acts like a grain. So, you can enjoy this orzo with broccoli salad warm or cold.
Great for a summer BBQ or picnic – Because you can enjoy it cold, it’s a great bring-along for any summer togethers or BBQs.

broccoli and asparagus salad with orzo on blue plates for serving

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this orzo and broccoli salad.

orzo – Orzo is a pasta, but act more like a grain, making it a great base for this goat cheese orzo salad
broccoli – You can use fresh or frozen broccoli.
asparagus – A great way to use spring asparagus!
lemon – The lemon adds some acidity and a light refreshing touch for this summer orzo salad.
white beans – White beans are the main protein source here to add some sustainance without an overpowering taste. They mesh nicely with the orzo and lemon flavor. You could also use garbanzo beans, tofu or chicken.
tomato – Grape tomatoes or tomatoes on the vine both work well.
pitted olives – The olives add a nice saltiness to the salad.
goat cheese – Brie or feta cheese are great replacements.

ingredients in bowls to make broccoli orzo salad

We have this delicious broccoli asparagus salad, that is the epitome of spring!

Fresh lemon and asparagus, complimented by spring and summer tomatoes, salty olives, orzo and a creamy lemon honey dressing.

It’s so forgiving that this cold broccoli pasta salad is a great way to use up any leftovers in your fridge or garden!

Scroll down for the full recipe!

How to Make Orzo Broccoli Salad

You’ll begin by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil. Remember, the orzo cooks quickly so this recipe does not take long!
While the orzo is cooking, you’ll boil your asparagus and broccoli in another pot of water.
Once everything is cooked and cooled, combine the orzo, broccoli, asparagus, white beans, garlic, olives, tomatoes and goat cheese in a bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Add dressing if you desire!
To make the dressing, combine and whisk honey, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a bowl. If you want it sweeter, use more honey. If you want it less sweet, you can use less honey and more lemon juice.

orzo salad with broccoli, tomatoes and artichokes in clear bowl

orzo salad with goat cheese, veggies and greens in clear bowl

HOT TIPS

If you plan on storing this in the fridge, don’t overload it with dressing or it will get soggy. A little bit goes a long way with the lemon dressing.
If adding dressing, add before the pasta completely cools down as it will start to clump. If you add when it is slightly warm, the dressing will spread out much easier.

FAQ

Can you make the orzo ahead of time?

Yes, you can make orzo ahead of time. After cooking, let it cool completely and store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. You can also freeze it.

Can you use frozen broccoli?

Yes, frozen broccoli will work just as well in this orzo broccoli salad.

How to store

Store this orzo with broccoli in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you plan on enjoying with dressing, reserve some to pour over when eating so it’s not soggy.

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Yield: 4 servings

Easy Broccoli Orzo Salad

This easy broccoli orzo salad is a great make ahead summer recipe that's accented with a delicious lemon honey dressing. It's ready in minutes and the best way to enjoy an orzo salad with broccoli.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

1 ¼ cup orzo pasta
1 head of broccoli (about 2-3 cups), cut into small florets
6 oz asparagus, cut into 2-3 inch pieces
1 can white beans
1 tomato, diced
½ cup pitted olives
2 oz goat cheese, for topping
Salt and pepper, as needed
Squeeze of lemon (or 2 tsp lemon juice)

Lemon Honey Dressing

3/4 T honey
1/2 T balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 T olive oil
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1-2 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook orzo pasta according to directions.
In another pot of boiling water, add broccoli florets and diced asparagus and boil for 2-3 minutes.
Once orzo, broccoli and asparagus are cooked, combine orzo, broccoli florets and asparagus in a large serving bowl.
Add white beans, garlic, olives and tomatoes in a bowl. Top with goat cheese, and season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon.
Add the dressing, if desired.