Shrimp and Orzo Salad

This easy Shrimp and Orzo Salad recipe is served cold, drizzled with the most delicious garlicky, lemony fresh herb vinaigrette! The corn, tomatoes, and green onions complement the shrimp really well in this 25-minute make-ahead recipe. And if you don’t have fresh herbs? No problem- just use dried.

You’ve got to add this yummy recipe to your pasta salad collection. It’s packed full of fresh flavors and is sure to be a crowd pleaser, whether you make it for a light meal or serve it as a side at a potluck or summer BBQ.

And because you can make it ahead of time, it’s perfect for meal prep lunches all week long!

Lately, I’ve received feedback that including ingredient substitutions in my recipes has been helpful. I hear you, and I’m going to start including them when applicable, so you can use what you have on hand and not worry about running to the store!

For example, I love orzo in this easy shrimp salad recipe, but you can use any kind of pasta shape you want. There are lots of other ingredient substitutions for this recipe. Read on for how to make this recipe and some suggestions for if you don’t have some of the ingredients on hand.

How to make shrimp orzo salad

Just whip up an easy herb vinaigrette, and mix it with some cooked shrimp, orzo, corn, tomatoes, and green onions! here’s how, with some helpful tips and tricks.

1. First, cook the orzo in salted water.
2. While the orzo is cooking, mix up the herb vinaigrette. Fresh herbs- basically any kind you want (I used parsley, dill, and oregano) – with olive oil, lemon zest and juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper, a little honey, and a little crushed red pepper. YUM.
3. Mix a little of the vinaigrette with the raw shrimp to coat, along with a little more salt and pepper.
   
4. Cook the shrimp for a few minutes in a nonstick skillet.
5. Two minutes before the orzo is done cooking, add frozen corn directly to the pot. This is one of my favorite pasta salad tricks when you use frozen veggies! The corn will defrost in the water, and you can drain it all together.
6. Once the orzo is done, drain it and rinse it off with cold water until it’s cool. When making pasta salad, it’s important to do this, as warm pasta will absorb too much dressing. (NEVER rinse pasta when making a hot pasta dish, though, as it will remove too much starch and the sauce won’t stick to it.)
7. Finally, mix everything together, along with some chopped tomatoes and scallions. Yum!

I like serving this orzo salad with an extra drizzle of olive oil and a scattering of more fresh herbs. It would also be delicious served with crumbled feta cheese or queso fresco!

How to make it ahead of time

I love pasta salads because they can be made ahead of time, but sometimes, they will absorb the dressing and dry out over time.

You can do two things here:

• Drizzle with olive oil just before serving, or, if you don’t want the extra fat…
• Reserve half the vinaigrette before mixing it all together, and add it in just before serving.

This will help re-coat all the ingredients to make sure it doesn’t taste dry! Read more about this trick in these 20 easy make-ahead pasta salad recipes.

Ingredient Substitutions for Shrimp Orzo Salad

• Other frozen veggies, such as peas or soy beans, can be substituted for the corn.
• Pre-cooked shrimp can be used instead of raw- just add it cold into the salad with all the vinaigrette.
• Dry herbs may be substituted for fresh. Use 1 tablespoon in place of the 1/4 cup fresh. An Italian seasoning mix, or individual dried herbs would work well. I recommend letting the dressing sit for a little longer to allow the flavors to really develop if you use dried.
• Red wine vinegar, or another kind of vinegar, may be substituted for the fresh lemon zest/juice. I recommend 1-1.5 tablespoons.
• Sugar may be substituted for the honey.
• Red onions or chives may be substituted for the green.
• Garlic powder may be substituted for the fresh minced garlic- I recommend 1 teaspoon.
• You can use any kind of pasta you want if you don’t have orzo. I like small pasta for this.
• You can also use rice instead of orzo for a gluten-free version.

Other orzo recipes:

• Mediterranean Chickpea and Orzo Salad
• Manestra (Greek Orzo and Ground Beef)
• Italian Spinach, Orzo, and Meatball Soup
• One Pot Orzo with Mushrooms, Brown Butter, and Thyme

Browse all my pasta recipes here.

Other shrimp recipes:

• Easy classic shrimp and grits
• Shrimp and Zucchini fritters
• Blackened shrimp tacos
• 15-minute classic shrimp scampi
• Shrimp and couscous with peas and mint
• Garides Saganaki (Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta)
• Shrimp Stir Fry

Browse all my seafood recipes here.

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