This Grilled Summer Vegetable Orzo Salad is a light and fresh pasta salad, loaded with grilled corn, zucchini and peaches. It also includes cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and feta with a homemade honey lemon vinaigrette. It brings together the best of late summer ingredients, making it the perfect side dish for BBQs, picnics and potlucks!
Table of contents
This orzo salad is a combination of sweet and savory flavors with grilled vegetables and sweet peaches, mixed with a tangy dressing. It’s a delicious way to enjoy fresh summer corn, zucchini and peaches, and charring them on the grill adds amazing flavor and texture.
If you love orzo salads, you’ll also want to try this Greek orzo salad or this Italian orzo salad!
*This post was originally published in July 2019. It was updated in June 2021 and again in August 2025 with new photos and helpful tips, as well as a few adjustments to the recipe.
Ingredients and substitutions
Below is a brief overview of the ingredients and recommended substitutions. The recipe card at the end of this post includes the exact quantities used.
- Orzo – You’ll need 1 ½ cups of uncooked orzo pasta. It will double in size, so you’ll get about 3 cups cooked.
- Corn – The recipe calls for 2 ears of fresh corn with the husk removed. In a pinch, you can use canned or frozen corn but it won’t have the same flavor as fresh grilled corn.
- Zucchini – I used 2 medium-sized green zucchini. You can also substitute with yellow zucchini or summer squash.
- Peaches – Since we’re grilling the peaches, you’ll want them to be firm. They should still be ripe and juicy, but avoid soft peaches as they’ll get a bit mushy on the grill.
- Tomatoes – You can use cherry or grape tomatoes. I cut them in half but you can also keep them whole. I would avoid using large tomatoes and cutting them into pieces as they will be too watery and seedy in the salad.
- Basil – I love the flavor that fresh basil brings to this salad, but you can also substitute with fresh chopped parsley or oregano.
- Feta – I like the little bit of creaminess that crumbled feta adds to the salad, and its tanginess pairs nicely with the vinaigrette. Goat cheese will also work.
- Homemade vinaigrette – This is a basic recipe and just requires extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, honey, fresh lemon juice, garlic powder and salt.
How to make this grilled vegetable orzo salad
Below is a brief overview of the steps to make this recipe along with photos. For further details, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Storage tips
If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this salad should last for 2-3 days. To extend the life of the salad for a day or two, I suggest using raw peaches and zucchini instead of grilled (they’ll hold their texture longer).
Key recipe tips
- Don’t grill the veggies and peaches for too long as they’ll be mushy in the salad. You just want to grill them until tender with a bit of charring.
- If you don’t have an outdoor grill, you can use an indoor grill or grill pan. When I use my outdoor grill, I can fit everything on the grill at the same time. When I use my indoor grill, I have limited space, so I grill the corn first and then the zucchini and peaches.
- Make sure the orzo and grilled ingredients are cooled before assembling the salad, otherwise, the basil will wilt and the feta may melt.
Recipe FAQs
The salad tastes best after the ingredients have had a chance to sit together in the fridge for a few hours. If you’re preparing the salad the day before, I would wait to add the fresh basil as it will wilt in the salad. As the orzo absorbs the dressing, I would also make extra vinaigrette and toss some more in just before serving.
While grilling the corn, zucchini and peaches adds extra flavor to this salad, you can skip it if you wish. You can roast the corn and zucchini in the oven. Or you can add everything to the salad raw and use canned or frozen corn.
More pasta salad recipes
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!
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Grilled Summer Vegetable Orzo Salad with Peaches
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: American, Canadian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Grilled Summer Vegetable Orzo Salad is a light and fresh pasta salad, loaded with grilled corn, zucchini and peaches. It brings together the best of summer ingredients, making it the perfect side dish for BBQs, picnics and potlucks.
Ingredients
For the vinaigrette:
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
For the salad:
- 1 1/2 cups orzo, uncooked
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 ears fresh corn, husks removed
- 2 medium-sized zucchini, halved lengthwise
- 3 peaches, skin on, halved and pitted
- 1 1/2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta
Instructions
Prepare the vinaigrette:
- Add the ingredients to a jar. Seal the lid and shake until combined.
Prepare the salad:
- Cook the orzo according to package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain again.
- Preheat your grill on high. Brush the corn, zucchini and peaches with the 1 tablespoon of oil, and season the corn with the salt and pepper.
- Reduce heat to medium and add the corn. Grill for 12-16 minutes, rotating every few minutes until the corn starts to char and is cooked on all sides.
- Once the corn has been on the grill for about 5-7 minutes, add the zucchini and peaches. Grill for 6-8 minutes, flipping after 3-4 minutes. You’ll want them to be tender but not mushy.
- Remove the corn, zucchini and peaches from the grill and let cool. Cut the corn away from the cob and chop the zucchini and peaches into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, add the orzo, corn, zucchini, peaches, tomatoes, basil, feta and vinaigrette, and toss to combine.
- Serve immediately or let sit in the fridge for a few hours. Leftovers should be enjoyed within 2-3 days.
Notes
- If you don’t have an outdoor grill, you can use an indoor grill or grill pan. When I use my outdoor grill, I can fit everything on the grill at the same time. When I use my indoor grill, I have limited space, so I grill the corn first and then the zucchini and peaches.
- Don’t grill the veggies and peaches for too long as they’ll be mushy in the salad. You just want to grill them until tender with a bit of charring.
- Make sure the peaches are ripe but firm to prevent them from getting too soft on the grill.
- Make sure the orzo and grilled ingredients are cooled before assembling the salad, otherwise, the basil will wilt and the feta may melt.
Saw that someone added red, yellow & orange peppers but without the peaches. What do you think if I keep the peaches and add the colored peppers?
Adding sweet peppers along with the peaches sounds great!
I made this salad this morning. I did not have peaches, I do not care for zucchini, and as it’s going to be 109 degrees today (PNW excessive heat) I microwaved the corn. I added kalamata olives and sliced small red, yellow, and orange sweet peppers. Oh my gosh!! Absolutely, unbelievably delicious. Can’t wait for dinner. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I’m sharing with all my family and friends.
Hi Debra! Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m so happy you enjoyed the salad, and I appreciate you sharing it with family and friends! Take care!
Leanne, you just made our day ! We love orzo and combine it with almost everything. Summer salads with vegetables are the best to enjoy while the heat is on ! Thank you so much !
I’m so happy to hear that!
I’m a huge fan of orzo and pasta salads, and this variation looks and sounds wonderful! Really great combination of vegetables and juicy peaches!
Thanks so much Ben!
I love this recipe …my go to for summer bbqs…so easy and versatile. The peaches are a great touch.
I’m so glad you love this recipe Terry! Thanks for letting me know!
This summer salad really hit the spot for me! It was refreshing and so flavourful. I’ll definitely be making it again!
Thanks so much Charlotte! I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Such a great side dish for any summer meal! I’m sure grilling the veggies adds so much flavor.
Thanks Ellen! The grilled veggies add a nice flavour and texture!
I never knew what orzo was! Haha Thanks for sharing, it’s definitely something I will be trying. Perfect for summer BBQs.
Thanks Terry! Happy I could share something new! Hope you get to try it!
Orzo is hands down my favorite pasta….even though I can’t eat pasta much anymore! lol I love all of the summer ingredients you’ve packed into here and your photos are just beautiful!
Thanks so much Marcie! I can’t eat a lot of pasta anymore either, unless it is grain-free, but I make an exception for orzo!
I’m all about those side dishes too! And even just regular weekday dinners, I typically always reach for the veggie side first before the main. Funny thing! Anywho, love orzo, especially in salads and this one looks perfect for summer! Love those grill marks on the veggies…makes things extra special. So much yum packed into one bowl! Happy Friday, Leanne 🙂
Thanks Dawn! Hope you had a lovely weekend! I’m glad I’m not alone in my love for all the side dishes!
I agree, summer vegetables definitely make the best salads!! And I also love to reference Marcie’s post on grilling corn! This salad looks so bright and beautiful, Leanne. I love it! I’m all about the sides too and this one would make a fantastic side!
Thanks Katherine! Yes, Marcie’s how-to post is a good one! Happy almost weekend my friend. Hope you get some grilling time in! 😉
Orzo is my go-top pasta for Summer eating, so I’m definitely putting this one on the menu! Such a great side dish for anything off the BBQ 🙂
Thanks Jennifer! Hope you get a chance to make it this summer!
LOOOOVE orzo! OMG my mom used to cook with orzo all the time when I was growing up so I’m totally going to make this salad for her next time she visits. It looks delicious!
Yay! Thanks Kelsie! Hope your mom likes it!
Obsessed with this recipe! From the freshly grilled peaches to the delicious orzo….YUM!! This totally screams Summer and I am so here for it! Love how this dish pops – totally not your average pasta salad to bring to a cookout!
Thanks Haylie! This one is definitely on my list to bring to all our summer gatherings! Glad you like it!
I love salads with orzo Leanne! And you know I’m loving all the summer veggies. Can’t wait to try your recipe!
All the summer veggies are so good right now! Thanks Mary Ann!