Pesto Orzo Salad
Orzo is one of our beloved pantry staples as it cooks up fast and lends itself beautifully to so many easy weeknight meals! In fact, two of the most popular family dinner recipes on this blog happen to be the one pot creamy chicken orzo and poached cod. While orzo works well in hot dishes, it also makes for a great addition to cold pasta salads! If you haven’t tried doing so yet, this pesto orzo salad will WOW you in the best way possible. It is super quick and easy to prepare with just a handful of ingredients and can be made in advance, which is always a bonus for busy families! And here are more kid-friendly dinner ideas.
Ingredients
Orzo pasta – this is my favorite type for this salad but you can use any other small pasta shape. Pesto sauce – use store-bought or homemade pesto! I’ve included some of my favorites recipes below. Vegetables – Feel free to add whatever you have on hand! juicy cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, green onions, zucchini, corn, carrots, broccoli, baby spinach….they will all be delicious. Fresh mozzarella – Use mozzarella pearls or tear regular mozzarella into small pieces. And here are the best cheeses for babies and toddlers. Lemon juice – a must ingredient in my opinion! It truly brightens up the entire salad.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Homemade Pesto Recipes
Here are some easy and unique pestos to try!
Ricotta pesto Broccoli pesto Beet pesto Zucchini pesto Sun-dried tomato pesto
Variations
Add protein – will make the salad more filling so you can enjoy as a main dish. Refer to the serving suggestions section for specific examples. Switch up the pasta – Try with small pasta shapes, such as pearl couscous, macaroni, ditalini, and small shells. Quinoa will be delicious too! Experiment with vegetables – this is a great way to use up any random bits you may have in the fridge. Cheese – I recommend sticking to mozzarella for babies. But for older kids and adults, try with feta cheese, parmesan cheese, goat cheese, cheddar, or whatever you fancy!
Tips for Success
If you want to use cooked vegetables, especially if intending to serve to your baby, cook them in the same pot with orzo. Depending on how soft you want the vegetables to be, I recommend adding towards the end of the cooking time and draining along with the pasta. Rinse the orzo in cold water after boiling if intending to enjoy as cold pasta salad. If you are in the mood for a warm salad, skip the rinse but do drizzle some extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking. Adjust to taste – you have full control over how much pesto and other ingredients you want to add. This is a very flexible recipe so make it your own!
Serving Suggestions
Add some protein to make this easy pasta salad more filling. Some suggestions include:
Leftover chicken Salmon (canned is so convenient!) Tofu Shrimp Hard boiled eggs Beans
Pasta salads are generally liked by kids, as they are a familiar and comforting food. Please try this creamy chicken macaroni salad also! So this may be a great way to introduce new vegetables and flavors to picky eaters, as they can be combined with other ingredients in a way that is appealing and approachable. However, if your child has a difficult time with mixed foods (very common for toddlers!), you can serve deconstructed as pictured. Notice the tiny piece of salmon for exposure. That’s because my daughter is learning to like it and seeing too much can be very intimidating. However, its tiny presence is powerful as it counts as exposure.
Make Ahead Tips
You can cook the orzo up to 3 days in advance. Most pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also use any frozen pesto you may have on hand. Simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Storage
Once assembled, transfer the orzo salad to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If you like to maintain the crunch from the vegetables, store them separately. I recommend adding a bit more pesto and fresh lemon juice to freshen up the leftover salad. Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
