Grill up some zucchini and corn to mix with arugula and orzo pasta with a delicious dressing for an easy grilled summer orzo salad.
Jump to RecipeGrilling dinner is so much fun in the summer. We all really enjoy when it’s warm outside. We can enjoy the beautiful backyard while we make dinner and oftentimes eat out there, too. Grilled summer vegetables are a perfect addition to many meals either as a side or incorporated into a dish. Orzo has been one of my favorites lately, so grilled summer orzo salad was a great way to put it all together.
For this recipe, it was a perfect combination of food that needed to be cooked outside on the grill and inside at the stovetop. I let the guys go outside while I hid inside from the wasps prepared the base of the recipe. It worked well, though, that we could both do our part and put it together for an easy meal.
Funny story: we went to make this a few weeks ago and when Justin went to cut up the zucchini he realized that he bought a cucumber instead! We then also realized that explained why the “zucchini” tasted strange in another recipe since he bought two cucumbers. So Justin ran to the grocery store and grabbed a zucchini so we could really make this meal.

Grilled Summer Orzo Salad Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini
- 2 ears corn
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup orzo
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 2 cups arugula
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp pepper

Preparation
Heat the grill to high. Cut the zucchini into quarters and place that with the corn on the grill. Grill the vegetables until they are crisp-tender, which should take about 8-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add the orzo. Boil for about 10 minutes or until the noodles are al-dente.

When the vegetables are done grilling, cut the zucchini into bite-sized pieces and strip the kernels from the corn cobs.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the olive oil, lime juice, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.

Fold the orzo into the dressing.

Add the corn kernels, zucchini, and arugula to the orzo mixture. Toss well to coat.

Serve the grilled summer orzo salad warm.


Recipe
Originally Published On: May 9, 2019
Updated On: July 27, 2022

Grilled Summer Orzo Salad
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini
- 2 ears corn
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup orzo
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 2 cups arugula
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp pepper
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Heat the grill to high
- Cut the zucchini into quarters lengthwise and place that with the corn on the grill
- Grill the vegetables until they are crisp-tender, which should take about 8-10 minutes
- Meanwhile, bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add the orzo
- Boil for about 10 minutes or until the noodles are al-dente
- When the vegetables are done grilling, cut the zucchini into bite-sized pieces and strip the kernels from the corn cobs
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the olive oil, lime juice, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper
- Fold the orzo into the dressing
- Add the corn kernels, zucchini, and arugula to the orzo mixture
- Toss well to coat
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
More Recipes with Orzo
- Swai Fish with Orzo
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More Recipes with Dijon Mustard
- Chicken Thighs with Dairy-Free Creamy Mustard Sauce
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- Dijon-Herb Tilapia
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- Alice Springs Chicken Copycat Recipe
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- Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast with Thousand Island Dressing
- Chicken Schnitzel
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- Simple Classic Coleslaw Recipe
- Lemon Rosemary Tilapia
- Grilled Summer Orzo Salad
Other Summer Recipes
- Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Recipe: Perfect Summer Dessert
- Cucumber Summer Salad
- Fresh Summer Relish
- 5 Ingredient Rum Runner Cocktail Recipe
- Summer Veggie Stir-Fry
- Frozen Piña Colada
- Hawaiian Chicken Wraps: An Easy Summer Meal
- Spiked Agua Fresca: A Perfect Summer Drink
- Frozen Fruit Cups: The Perfect Summer Treat
- Summer Basil Chicken and Shrimp Kabobs
- Fluffy Frozen Fruit Salad
- Grilled Summer Orzo Salad
- 5 Cup Salad Recipe: A Perfect Cool Summer Dessert
- Simple Classic 3 Ingredient Margarita Recipe
- Amaretto Punch Slush
- Classic Potato Salad
- Strawberry Cobbler
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Sweet Baked Plantains
- Simple Strawberry Lemonade
- Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops
- Pineapple Bread Casserole
- Simple Classic Coleslaw Recipe
- Fresh Caprese Salad
This is the perfect summer dish and I love everything about it. I am saving this and will make it for my daughter’s graduation brunch party. It’s going to be so pretty on our table.
Congratulations to your daughter! This would be a great appetizer for a party since it’s light and refreshing but still has some greens in it.
I love grilled veggies, so I am happy to see this recipe. And I shall recommend this to my friends in India as it makes for a perfect hot weather kind of dish 🙂
We love grilling in the summer, too. This is a light dish so perfect for hot days!
Mmmmm, this sounds so good! And I love how there’s an outside part for the grill-meister, and an indoor part! Bet my mama would love this for some of her summer entertaining, so will share with her (since she does both parts at her house lol…)
It works well as a split meal, or you can make the orzo ahead of time and just give it a quick reheat when you’re ready to put it all together.
You are my favourite person now. I love your recipes, they are so easy to make and delicious. I love trying them with my family. Thank you so much.
Awww, thanks! We love coming up with new recipes and new ideas, so it’s fun to share them with others.
Orzo pasta is quite a new recipe to me. It gets too hot here in summer in India. Will make this sometime in the coming week! 🙂
I like orzo because it’s pasta, but it feels very light and refreshing because of the shape and size. And it’s the only pasta I will sometimes each chilled.
You have nice and easy recipes and this seems a worthy of try because we like to try new stuff.
I hope you give it a shot! It’s a yummy meal to use those summertime vegetables.
I don’t know if we have Orzo here in Japan, I have to check. But, this looks yummy. Can I add other veggies?
I’m not sure about the orzo there. It’s usually with the pasta at the store. You could certainly add any veggies you want.
This looks amazing! I love summer salads and orzo – you really can’t go wrong! I can’t wait to whip up a batch and try it!
I feel the same, salads in the summer are so perfect, and I have been loving orzo lately. It feels like such a light pasta.
This looks like it would be the perfect summertime meal. I love to use fresh veggies in our meals and even better when they can have that off the grill taste.
Grilled veggies are the best during the summer! They go so perfectly with this easy summer meal.
Oh my gosh! I love to make this coming weekend and I am so sure that my son loves this so much. Yumm!
I hope you guys enjoy the meal! It’s a perfect summer meal and so light and easy.
I’ve tried Orzo and just haven’t really taken a liking to it, but this one looks delicious. I’ll have to try and see if you can get me to love Orzo!!
Orzo has quickly become my favorite pasta. I think because it still has that pasta flavor, but it doesn’t feel like a heavy meal like most pasta tends to do.
This sounds amazing! I miss having a grill so much and definitely will do this on our little travel one next time!
We went about a year without a grill when we first moved to Texas since our old one was too bulky to move with us and we missed it so much!
Ahhhh so happy grilling season is here!!!! I’m always looking for new options so I will Definitely add this orzo to the mix!!!
Me too! We love going out and enjoying the backyard while making dinner. The boys think it’s the best when we get to eat outside, too!
I love Orzo so this recipe spoke to me. I love making it with sauces or adding it to soups. It’s really delicious.
Orzo is amazing! I’ve found myself using it a lot lately for all types of recipes, too.