Vegan Orzo Recipes

Unsure how to best use the rice-shaped pasta called orzo? Explore this collection of easy Vegan Orzo Recipes that showcase how versatile this pantry ingredient can be. You'll find delicious soups, salads, and main dishes to inspire your cooking creativity.

While it looks similar to rice, orzo, sometimes called risoni, is a short-cut pasta. This "pastina" or little pasta is very versatile and can be used in a variety of vegan dishes.

Like other shapes of pasta, it's typically made from semolina flour which comes from durum wheat. However, gluten-free orzo is also available and can be made from ingredients like corn, rice, or cassava.

All varieties are perfect for using in these tasty vegan orzo recipes.

Jump to:

• Why you'll love these vegan orzo recipes
• Where to buy orzo
• How to cook orzo
• Orzo FAQs
• Vegan soups
• Vegan salads
• Vegan main dishes
• 💬 Comments

Where to buy orzo

Orzo can be found in most supermarkets in the pasta aisle. You can also find it online. If you or someone you cook for is gluten-free, I recommend DeLallo gluten-free orzo, made from a blend of corn and rice, or Jovial gluten-free orzo, made from brown rice.

How to cook orzo

Orzo can be cooked the same way as other pasta shapes.

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on the stove. Cook the orzo, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• If using in salads, cool the pasta by rinsing it with cold water in a colander. Or spread out the cooked pasta on a baking sheet to allow to cool.
• If making soup, you can add the dry orzo directly and allow it to cook in the soup.

Orzo FAQs

Vegan soups

Creamy Vegan Orzo Soup with Chickpeas is loaded with lemon flavor and is inspired by Greek Avgolemono. It's easy to make in 30 minutes on the stove.

Vegan Pesto Orzo Soup features creamy white beans and vegan pesto sauce. It's ready to enjoy in half an hour.

And for a tomato-based soup, try Gimme Some Oven's Italian Orzo Spinach Soup. It's another 30-minute recipe, and it's vegan if you make it with vegetable stock and use non-dairy parmesan (or simply skip the cheese).

You can also use orzo to make Chickenless Noodle Soup. This simple family favorite is seasoned with lemon and fresh herbs.

Vegan salads

Vegan Mediterranean Spinach Orzo Salad features Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and pine nuts. The homemade dressing is easy to make with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and fresh garlic.

And for a change of pace from typical pasta salads, Mediterranean Vegan Orzo Salad more than fits the bill. It's higher in protein thanks to both chickpeas and marinated tofu feta. And it's loaded with flavor from the zesty Dijon mustard and herb dressing.

If you're looking for a simple side dish, you'll love this Lemon Cucumber Orzo Salad. It's full of fresh flavors from lemon zest, lemon juice, and mint leaves, and it's easy to make in 20 minutes. Plus you can add other ingredients to it like beans or vegan feta to make it a complete meal.

Vegan main dishes

The small rice-shaped pasta is perfect for quick and easy one-pot meals like this Lemon Asparagus Orzo with chickpeas. This 30-minute dinner only requires 5 ingredients, plus salt and pepper.

Or for a variation of flavors, try Vegan Orzo with Spinach and Lemon from The Hidden Veggies. It's a risotto-style dish that's much quicker and easier to make than the traditional version with Arborio rice.

I also like One-Pot Tomato Orzo from Vegan Huggs. Here the tiny pasta is cooked with white wine, tomatoes, and seasonings and finished with capers and fresh basil.

If you're looking for an oil-free dish, you can't beat the Vegetable Orzo from Kathy's Vegan Kitchen. The cooked pasta is tossed with oven-roasted vegetables and a dressing made with champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, and lemon.

Orzo is also wonderful in casseroles like Holy Cow Vegan's Lentil Orzo Bake. Or try the cheesy Baked Vegan Orzo from A Virtual Vegan.

And for something more decadent, I recommend Easy Vegan Grub's Creamy Tomato and Spinach Orzo. It features garlic, chili, and plant-based cream.