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    Home / Recipes / Vegan Entrees

    Easy Vegetable Orzo

    Published: Mar 17, 2025 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This easy vegetable orzo recipe combines whole-grain pasta and roasted vegetables with a unique seasoning blend. Then, toss it in a simple dressing. Served cold or warm, this roasted vegetable orzo salad is perfect as an entree or a side dish.

    I have roasted vegetable orzo in a bowl on the counter.

    There's something special about delicate orzo pasta that sets it apart from other types of pasta. So, I decided to cook a vegetable orzo recipe for dinner tonight. I love this roasted vegetable orzo salad because it's easy to make and happens in 20 minutes. 

    Jump to:
    • What is Vegetable Orzo?
    • Vegetable Orzo Ingredients 
    • Vegetable Orzo Ingredient Substitutions
    • How to Roast Vegetables Without Oil 
    • How to Make Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad
    • How to Cook the Perfect Orzo Every Time 
    • Orzo Salad Dressing Ingredients
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Tips
    • More Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    What is Vegetable Orzo?

    Orzo, or risoni, resembles a short-cut pasta shaped like a giant rice grain. Although traditionally made from white flour, orzo comes in whole grain variety. Although it resembles rice, this delicate pasta is light and airy.

    Then, add roasted vegetables, seasoning, and a light dressing, and you have the perfect roasted vegetable orzo salad served cold or hot.

    If you love orzo as much as I do, try the vegan orzo recipes: Greek Orzo Salad or Lemony Orzo Salad!

    Vegetable Orzo Ingredients 

    Broccoli, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, onions and asparagus cut on a cutting board.
    • Whole-Grain Orzo: Whole-grain orzo, is small pasta, named for its “barley” shape, yet it can be mistaken for large grains of rice. Orzo is known for its role in broth-based soups and pasta salads.
    • Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts are high in fiber, which can promote regularity, support digestive health, and reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
    • Tri-colored Tomatoes: Bite-sized, beautiful, and early bearing, these 3 different colored cherries are the sweetest of all tomatoes and yield abundant harvests in all climates. Our mixed seed packet offers an easy way to have tall plants of luscious orange Sun-gold, bright yellow Sweet Gold, and rich red Super-sweet 100 in your garden.
    • Broccoli:Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable rich in antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds. It may also offer several benefits, especially for eye health, heart health, and disease prevention.
    • Asparagus: Asparagus contains potassium, an essential nutrient for keeping your heart, bones, kidneys, and nerves functioning and healthy. 
    • Onion: They're rich in chemicals that can help protect your heart, lower your risk of some cancers, and make it easier for your body to make insulin. Onions are also one of the greatest vegetable sources of quercetin, a plant compound with many health benefits.
    • Turmeric: Turmeric is best when paired with other spices and herbs. Think strong, warm spices with complementary flavor profiles, like cinnamon, black pepper, and ginger
    • Paprika: This vibrant red spice varies in flavor, heat levels, and color depending on the type of peppers used to make the paprika. ... Some paprikas are hot and spicy, with predominant notes of fiery hot peppers. Others are sweet, with no heat and a mild flavor.
    • Italian Seasoning Blend: The main herbs commonly used are oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary 
    • Garlic Powder: Garlic powder works in any recipe for dried or fresh garlic. The difference is intensity.

    Even though I can't explain why this spice combination tastes so fabulous, I suggest making a giant batch and storing it in an air-tight container in the pantry for up to 6 months for other recipes.

    Vegetable Orzo Ingredient Substitutions

    • The best orzo pasta replacements are fregola pasta, stellate pasta, macaroni pasta, ditalini pasta, and alphabet pasta. They're all tiny and have a similar texture to orzo when cooked.
    • Choose any vegetables you prefer.
    • Try different seasoning blends to make a unique roasted vegetable orzo salad.

    How to Roast Vegetables Without Oil 

    Asparagus, tomatoes, and onion on a baking sheet.

    Roasting without oil, although easy, sometimes confuses people. Interestingly, roasting without oil brings the vegetables' authentic flavor to the surface without an oily taste. 

    For some reason, some people misconstrue oil with flavor when the seasonings and natural vegetable tastes make roasted vegetables wonderful. 

    Cooking Suggestions

    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
    • Cut the vegetables into uniform sizes; separate the broccoli and the Brussel sprouts from the rest of the vegetables.
    • As a result, the vegetables cook evenly.
    • Also, rinsing the vegetables before roasting them allows the seasoning to stick to them. 
    • Place the tomatoes, onion, and asparagus mixed on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper
    • Another helpful hint to roasting vegetables is to toss the vegetables together so the flavor of the onions and tomatoes enhances the other vegetables on the roasting pan. 
    • Cook the baking sheet with the asparagus, tomatoes, and onions for 15 minutes.
    Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts on a baking sheet.
    • Similarly, separating the cruciferous vegetables, which take a little longer to rost, allows for perfectly roasted vegetables. 
    • Do the same with the broccoli and Brussel Sprouts.
    • Combine all the spices in a bowl and sprinkle generously over the two pans with the vegetables.
    • Roast the broccoli and Brussels sprouts for 20 minutes.

    How to Make Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad

    Roasted asparagus, onions, and tomatoes on a baking sheet,
    • Once roasted, allow the vegetables to cool completely while preparing the orzo.  
    Broccoli and Brussels sprouts roasted on a baking sheet.

    How to Cook the Perfect Orzo Every Time 

    • Bring 6 cups of water and 1 Tablespoon salt (yes, 1 Tablespoon; don't worry, you rinse it off) to a boil.
    • Add 1 ½ cups dry orzo pasta and stir.
    • Once boiling again, reduce heat to low and simmer for 7 minutes.
    • Then, transfer the pasta to a colander and rinse with cold water, moving the pasta around to ensure all the pasta is cooled to room temperature.
    • Shake any excess water out and place cooled pasta into a large bowl.

    Orzo Salad Dressing Ingredients

    Roasted vegetable orzo salad in a bowl on the table.

    It's time to combine the orzo and roasted vegetables and dress the orzo salad. Because the seasoning blend is so fabulous, the oil-free dressing consists of 3 simple ingredients:

    • Champagne Vinegar: In comparison to other popular vinegar, such as white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, champagne vinegar tastes much milder and is an ideal choice when you want to add the tang of vinegar without overpowering the other flavors in the dish.
    • Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard is made with red wine vinegar, while yellow mustard contains corn, barley, rye, and wheat grains. Dijon mustard is a grainy yellow dressing, while yellow mustard is a smooth, creamy dressing. Dijon mustard is used as a condiment, while yellow mustard can also be served hot or cold.
    • Lemon Juice: I prefer using fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.

    Then, toss it all together for an incredible vegetable orzo salad! 

    Serving Suggestions

    I chose to serve the vegetable orzo cold for this particular recipe, but if you prefer it warm, do not rinse the pasta in cold water, add the vegetables warm, dress, and serve immediately. 

    I am eating the salad with a fork.

    Recipe FAQs

    Is orzo healthier than rice?

    Orzo also has a higher fiber content than rice as well. Orzo does, however, have a higher carbohydrate content per serving, but not by much. Due to the higher protein and fiber content, orzo will leave you feeling fuller for longer, which is helpful for those trying to lose weight.

    Is orzo made from rice or pasta?

    Orzo is an Italian type of pasta. It's often made from semolina flour, a kind of flour that comes from durum wheat.

    Is Orzo healthy?

    More good news: Whole-grain versions of Orzo are available. They can be harder to find, so an online grocer or retailer is a good option. Whole grains are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber that help reduce your risk of developing certain diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.

    Tips

    • To avoid mushy orzo, boil it for about 8-10 minutes or until it has a firm, chewy texture, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking together. Drain orzo in a colander. For the best flavor and texture, serve the orzo immediately after cooking.
    • One cup of raw orzo (about 6 oz) will give you about 2 cups cooked. Orzo can be cooked like rice if you want a slightly creamier result. Boil ½ cup of water for each cup of orzo.
    • Orzo doesn't need to be rinsed before cooking, just like any other pasta shape.
    • For a cold roasted vegetable orzo salad, rice the pasta in cold water to chill immediately.
    • I always use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to avoid a mess when roasting vegetables. 
    • Even though I can't explain why this spice combination tastes so fabulous, I suggest making a giant batch and storing it in an air-tight container in the pantry for up to 6 months for other recipes.

    For a quick weeknight dinner, try this vegetable orzo recipe. You will love this easy orzo recipe.

    More Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipes

    • Mexican Pasta Salad Recipe
      Vegan Mexican Pasta Salad
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    • Thai noodle salad
      Vegan Thai Noodle Salad

    If you love this roasted vegetable orzo salad recipe, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

    📖 Recipe

    Vegetable Orzo

    Vegetable Orzo

    Kathy Carmichael
    Vegetable orzo combines whole-grain orzo pasta and roasted vegetables with a unique seasoning blend. Then it's tossed in a simple oil-free dressing. Served cold or warm, this vegetable orzo recipe is perfect as an entree or a side dish.
    4.72 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Entrees
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servrings
    Calories 111 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Roasted Vegetable Seasoning Blend

    • 1 Tablespoon ground dried turmeric
    • 1 Tablespoon paprika regular, hot, or smoked; I used smoked
    • 2-½ teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
    • 1-½ teaspoons garlic powder

    Vegetables (cut all vegetables into uniform sizes)

    • 1 broccoli crowns cut into bite-sized florets
    • 2 cups Brussel sprouts ends removed and cut in half
    • 1 bunch asparagus ends removed and cut into bite-sized pieces
    • 1 yellow or white onion cut into bite-sized pieces
    • 1 cup snacking tomatoes or cherry tomatoes

    Other ingredients

    • 1 ½ cup whole-grain orzo

    Oil-free Dressing

    • ⅛ cup champagne vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
    • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
    • Cut the vegetables into uniform sizes; separate the broccoli and the Brussel sprouts from the rest of the vegetables.
    • Place the tomatoes, onion, and asparagus mixed on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
    • Do the same with the broccoli and Brussel Sprouts.
    • Combine all the spices in a bowl and sprinkle generously over the two pans with the vegetables.
    • Roast the broccoli and Brussel Sprouts for 20 minutes.
    • Cook the baking sheet with the asparagus, tomatoes, and onions for 15 minutes.
    • In the meantime, bring 6 cups of water and 1 Tablespoon of salt to a boil in a pot.
    • Add 1 ½ cup dry orzo, and stir. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 7 minutes.
    • Remove from the heat, and rinse in a colander by running cold water through it. Make sure to move the orzo around so all the pasta cools.
    • Whisk the dressing ingredients together and set aside.
    • Once the vegetables are cool, place the cooled orzo in a large bowl
    • Pour the dressing into the pasta and stir.
    • Then, add the cooled roasted vegetable, toss and serve.

    Notes

    • To avoid mushy orzo, boil it for about 8-10 minutes or until it has a firm, chewy texture, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking together. Drain orzo in a colander. For the best flavor and texture, serve the orzo immediately after cooking.
    • 1 cup raw orzo (about 6 oz) will give you about 2 cups cooked. Orzo can be cooked like rice if you want a slightly creamier result. Boil ½ cup of water for each cup of orzo.
    • Orzo doesn't need to be rinsed before cooking, just like any other pasta shape.
    • For a cold roasted vegetable orzo salad, rice the pasta in cold water to chill immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 6gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 34mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 798IUVitamin C: 65mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 2mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

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      4.72 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Pravin Shah

      April 16, 2021 at 1:43 am

      The vegetable orzo recipe that you have shared with us sounds like a very healthy and yummy recipe. The recipe and ingredients that you have added to the article will help us make this orzo easily at home.
      Thank you for listing everything together and sharing it with us. I would like to have more such amazing recipes in the future also.

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        April 16, 2021 at 6:49 am

        Hi Pravin! You are very welcome. I hope you enjoy the recipe and others. Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it.

        Reply

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