Orzo salad is a light and refreshing dish that I looove eating during summer, or any time of year actually. My salads always contain feta, but the only must-have ingredient here is orzo!
Here are 15 delicious and easy to make side dishes that complement orzo salad perfectly.
The best dishes to serve with orzo salad are whole roasted branzino, yogurt-marinated chicken, lamb kofta, and blackened shrimp. You can also try baked lobster tails, carne asada, or Greek fried cheese. For vegetarian options, go with roasted chickpeas, mushroom shawarma, or black bean burgers.
Roasted asparagus
Roasted asparagus is a simple yet elegant side that pairs beautifully with orzo salad.
To prepare, just toss the asparagus spears with a olive oil, sea salt, and garlic. Roast until tender and slightly crispy on the ends. It’s that straightforward (a little sprinkle of parmesan is never a bad idea either).
You can serve it alongside the salad, and chop it up and toss it into the salad.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a sign summer is coming.
Featured recipe
Garlic lemon roasted asparagus
Spice it up
Chili roasted asparagus
Go meaty
Prosciutto wrapped asparagus
Roasted branzino
Enjoy this delicious roasted fish with a Mediterranean orzo salad for a light dinner.
To make the prep easy, ask fishmonger to clean the fish for you. Then when it’s time to cook, all you need to do is season the fish and stuff it with aromatics.
It’s really as simple as that.
Why we love this recipe: this dish will make you feel like you’re on a Greek island.
Featured recipe
Greek whole roasted branzino
Make a classic
Baked salmon with garlic butter
Ditch the oven
Pan-seared halibut
Mushroom shawarma
This mushroom shawarma is the perfect meatless alternative to the Middle Eastern classic.
The mushrooms will absorb all the tasty goodness from the marinade, which includes tamari, maple syrup, cinnamon, and cumin,
The recipe also includes a dairy free tzatziki for drizzling over the mushrooms.
Why we love this recipe: it will fill your kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma.
Featured recipe
Vegan mushroom shawarma
Skip the mushrooms
Jackfruit ‘chicken’ shawarma
Make a classic
Beef shawarma
Pork tenderloin
Pork often gets overlooked in favor of chicken or beef, but this recipe highlights how delicious it can be,
The pork is coated with a mustard and herb mix and roasted in the oven. YUM.
Pro-tip: for best results, use a thermometer to check the temperature of your pork. It’s perfectly cooked when the meat reaches 145°F.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a budget-friendly show stopper.
Featured recipe
Mustard garlic pork tenderloin
Fire up the grill
Greek marinated pork chops with lemon and oregano
Make it indulgent
Cheesy-topped Mediterranean pork loin chops
Yogurt-marinated chicken
Greek yogurt is my go-to marinade for chicken breasts.
It’s more effective at tenderizing the meat than vinegar and citrus-based marinades, which is really important when grilling.
Plus, it infuses the meat with a delightfully tangy flavor.
Psst… make sure to let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing it and serving on top of your orzo salad.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Featured recipe
Grilled yogurt chicken
Make it Greek-inspired
Chicken souvlaki
Preheat the oven
Baked balsamic chicken breast
Lamb kofta
Lamb kofta is a classic Middle Eastern dish made from spiced ground lamb.
It similar to meatballs, but there’s no filler breadcrumbs here. Just pure meat. And if you’re not a fan of lamb, you can swap it for whatever meat you do like.
Serve the koftas on a bed of orzo salad with a side of dips, salad, and pita bread.
Why we love this recipe: leftovers are great for the next day.
Featured recipe
Lamb kofta
Make it fancy
Pan-seared lamb chops
Make it comforting
Braised lamb shanks
Zucchini and corn fritters
Zucchini and corn fritters are a delightful addition to any meal, especially when served alongside orzo salad.
These fritters combine the sweetness of corn with the mild flavor of zucchini, bound together with flour and eggs, then pan-fried to golden perfection. They’re normally served with a dollop of sour cream to finish them off, but in a real pinch they’ll been fine with ketchup!
Why we love this recipe: They’re a tasty way to sneak more veggies into your meal.
Featured recipe
Crispy zucchini and corn fritters
Make it healthier
Zucchini ribbons
Add a twist
Spicy jalapeño and cheese corn fritters
Blackened shrimp
Blackened seasoning is one of my favorite spice blends to use with shrimp.
It’s a little less spicy than Cajun seasoning but still lends a nice amount of heat to the mildly sweet shrimp, thanks to the cayenne pepper.
Prop these blackened shrimp over your orzo salad for a delicious and nutritious one-bowl meal.
Why we love this recipe: it’s ready in less than 25 minutes.
Featured recipe
Blackened shrimp
Fire up the grill
Margarita grilled shrimp
Keep it simple
Garlic shrimp skillet
Carne asada
This classic Mexican dish is made with flank steak, which has a reputation for being a tough cut of meat.
The solution? Soaking it in a lemon and vinegar-based marinade. The acid will break down the steak’s proteins making the meat delightfully tender.
Plus it infuses the steak with a vibrant, citrusy flavor.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a foolproof recipe for delicious steak.
Featured recipe
Carne asada
Make it decadent
Mushroom and spinach stuffed flank steak
Make it fancy
Grilled rib-eye
Greek fried cheese
This Greek fried cheese is crunchy on the outside and oh-so-gooey on the inside.
It’s traditionally flambéd in restaurants before serving, but you don’t need to do that unless you’re trying to impress someone!
Squeeze lots of lemon juice on this cheesy treat and enjoy it alongside a Mediterranean orzo salad.
Why we love this recipe: it’s highly addictive.
Featured recipe
Greek fried cheese (saganaki)
Preheat the oven
Oven-fried feta rolls
Make it Mexican-inspired
Cheese quesadilla
Roasted chickpeas
Chickpeas are the easiest way to add meatless protein to your orzo salad.
You can add them straight from the tin, but I think it’s well worth going the extra mile and roasting them.
They get nice and crunchy, and you can season them with however you like!
Why we love this recipe: the chickpeas are great for snacking on too.
Featured recipe
Roasted chickpeas
Make a favorite
Falafels
Make it different
Crispy parmesan garlic edamame
Black bean burgers
These black bean burgers are stuffed with onions, peppers, and mushrooms, making them super tasty and super nourishing.
You can stuff them in in a bun or prop them naked over your orzo salad for a satisfying lunch.
Pro-tip: chill the burgers for at least 15 minutes to make them easier to cook.
Why we love this recipe: these are great for meal preps.
Featured recipe
Black bean burgers
Skip the black beans
Mediterranean chickpea burgers
Make it interesting
Vegan beet burger
Chili-lime tofu and peach skewers
These tofu skewers are brushed with a chili glaze as they finish cooking, giving your taste buds a delightful tingle.
Psst… for best results, use firm tofu for these skewers – less moisture = meatier texture.
All these skewers need is a wonderful orzo salad to rest on.
Why we love this recipe: even meat lovers will be raving about these.
Featured recipe
Chili lime tofu and peach skewers
Ditch the fruity notes
Grilled barbecue tofu skewers
Skip the grill
Baked tofu nuggets
Baked lobster tails
If you’ve never cooked lobster tails before, baking them is the way to go.
It’s a fuss-free process that requires no special tools – but a good pair of kitchen shears to help you butterfly the tails.
After that, brush the meat with a classic garlic butter sauce and they’re ready to bake!
Why we love this recipe: it produces a restaurant-quality meal.
Featured recipe
Baked lobster tails
Fire up the stovetop
Butter-poached lobster tails
Make it indulgent
Lobster thermidor
Pulled pork sliders
Got some leftover pulled pork? Use it in these handy sliders.
They’re great if you’re feeding a crowd because its as easy to make 12 as it is to make 1.
And it’s not just pulled pork in there – they’ve got bacon and cheese too!
Why we love this recipe: they’re great for parties and potlucks.
Featured recipe
BBQ pulled pork sliders
Make another favorite
Sloppy joe sliders
Skip the pork
Philly cheesesteak sliders
Read Next: Tried And Tested Orzo Substitutes
What To Serve With Orzo Salad [15 Side Dishes]
Ingredients
- 1 portion orzo salad
Instructions
- Prepare your orzo salad according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: greek whole roasted branzino, vegan mushroom shawarma, mustard garlic pork tenderloin, yogurt-marinated chicken, lamb kofta, blackened shrimp, carne asada, greek fried cheese, roasted chickpeas, black bean burgers, chili-lime tofu and peach skewers, baked lobster tails, and pulled pork sliders.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
![25 Delicious Ways To Enjoy Matcha [Sweet And Savory]](https://pantryandlarder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Matcha-recipes-200x200.jpg)
