Orzo Pasta Salad with Artichokes Recipe

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The orzo pasta salad with artichokes recipe is made with tangy marinated artichoke hearts, fresh vegetables, herbs, and a delicious 5-minute vinaigrette! This salad is loaded with flavor in each bite, and is great as a party side dish or pot luck.

This is one salad that will be gone before you know it: crunchy veggies, orzo pasta, and a bright and fresh dressing make this one crowd-pleaser recipe.

Want more delicious pasta salads? Try our tzatziki pasta salad, creamy arugula pasta salad, or our favorite creamy vegan Hawaiian mac salad!

artichoke pasta salad with feta cheese tomatoes and spinach and orzo pasta noodles

Table of Contents

This tasty artichoke pasta salad is A+ and so good as a side dish, to bring to a potluck, or just for lunch. I made it ahead of time for our 4th of July BBQ… and was actually tempted to hide it in our other fridge and not even share it for guests. But I relented, and it was a huge hit!

I made it a day in advance (minus the spinach, which I added right before serving), and it gave the pasta salad just enough time for the flavors to marinate. I make a huge batch of pasta salad every other week for our lunches, and I have a feeling this will be my new Go-To recipe for Sunday night meal prep!

Why This Recipe Works

Refreshing and tangy
This salad is bursting with flavor in each bite
Loaded with fresh vegetables
Vegetarian, and can easily be made vegan by omitting the feta
A huge crowd-pleaser
Great for BBQs, parties, or potlucks

Ingredients for this Easy Pasta Orzo Salad

ingredients for artichoke pasta salad with vegetables and orzo pasta and feta cheese and fresh herbs.

Orzo Pasta – I absolutely love this fun orzo pasta shape, it goes great with this bright and fresh salad. I used regular orzo for this pasta, but if you are looking for a gluten free version, you may be able to find it in stores.
Kalamata Olives: make sure they are pitted! I love the rich briny flavor of these herby kalamata olives, which have a purple hue and a really nice flavor. These Greek olives are fantastic for adding to salads, to dips, or just as a quick snack.
Artichoke heart, parsley, fresh garlic, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and roasted red peppers.
Feta Cheese – I have a great recipe here online to make your own plant-based feta!
The 5-Minute red wine vinaigrette: made with red wine vinegar, whole grain mustard, olive oil, oregano, basil, and sugar.

Additions and Substitutions

You can add your favorite vegetables into this orzo salad with artichokes: shredded carrots, chopped lettuce instead of spinach, or whole tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes.
Use a bottled dressing if you’d like instead of the homemade version – a Greek or Italian vinaigrette dressing will work as a great substitute.
You can omit the feta cheese, or use a vegan version for a plant-based substitute.
Or use a different cheese like shredded parmesan, cheddar, or fresh mozzarella pearls.

How to Make this Salad

cooked orzo in a pot of boiling water to make pasta salad

Step 1: In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside to cool.

chopped vegetables for pasta salad: artichokes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh parsley with feta cheese.

Step 2: Prep your vegetables: chop the tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, artichoke hearts, and pit olives if necessary.

a large bowl of artichoke pasta salad with spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, and olives.

Step 3: In a large mixing bowl add the spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper, and parsley. Add the drained and cooled pasta to the vegetables in the mixing bowl.

easy red wine vinaigrette dressing for orzo pasta salad with mustard, garlic, and olive oil.

Step 4: In a small bowl, add all the dressing ingredients and shake for 30 seconds to mix.

homemade vinaigrette with chopped artichoke pasta salad with orzo noodles.

Step 5: Toss dressing in with pasta and vegetables, and stir to coat well to combine.

Step 6: Top with feta cheese and refrigerate.

Recipe FAQs

Can you use marinated artichoke hearts in pasta salad?

Yes! Artichoke hearts that have been marinated in a brine make a great addition to pasta salads. They have a distinct flavor, and go great with fresh vegetables and orzo pasta like in this recipe.

What’s in artichoke pasta salad?

This pasta salad is made with artichoke hearts, spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, and a 5-mintue homemade vinaigrette dressing.

Can I use bottled dressing instead in this pasta salad?

Absolutely, bottled dressing makes a good substitute. While I prefer making my own vinaigrette, you can use a bottled red wine vinaigrette, Italian dressing, or Greek vinaigrette in a pinch.

orzo salad with artichoke hearts and spinach and tomatoes.

Other Summer Vegan Pasta Salads You’ll Love!

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