Orzo Salad with Apples and Cranberries {Fall Harvest Orzo Salad} is a simple deliciously Fall inspired Salad that is perfect for the holidays and family gathering this season. Made with chilled Ozro, crisp gala apples, dried cranberries, broccoli, chopped walnuts, and a fresh clean tasting dressing made from freshly squeezed lemons, and pure virgin olive oil.
It’s starting to cool down in many areas of the country and it’s becoming the season for comfort food. During the cooler days and nights, it is easy to indulge in heavier dishes — This dish warms the soul with its perfect al dente orzo, yet the cranberries, crisp gala apples, crunchy broccoli, and fresh basil still manage to keep this Fall Harvest Orzo Salad light and fresh.
It’s fall, a time to enjoy fall ingredients like apples, pumpkins, nuts, and cranberries. Here in the South it’s still warm and inviting in the sun but we are sure ready to enjoy our fall foods even if it’s 89 degrees in the shade. That’s why I love making Orzo Salad with Apples and Cranberries {Fall Harvest Orzo Salad} because it hosts some of my favorite fall ingredients without making my house 1000 degrees.
This simple and delicious Orzo Salad with Apples and Cranberries is hands-down one of my favorite side dishes to enjoy this time of the year. It’s healthy, incredibly easy to make, and it tastes even better after sitting in the fridge overnight.
Orzo Salad with Apples and Cranberries {Fall Harvest Orzo Salad}
- 3 cups of cooked orzo, chilled
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 and 1/2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped into small pieces
- 1 and 1/2 cups gala apple, diced
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- kosher salt to own taste
- freshly ground black pepper to own taste
- a pinch of sugar, optional
- 5 fresh basil leaves chopped
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped, optional

- 3 cups of cooked orzo chilled
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 and 1/2 cups fresh broccoli chopped into small pieces
- 1 and 1/2 cups gala apple diced
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- kosher salt to own taste
- freshly ground black pepper to own taste
- a pinch of sugar optional
- 5 fresh basil leaves chopped
- ¼ cup walnuts chopped, optional
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In a medium bowl, add orzo, dried cranberries, chopped broccoli, diced gala apples, olive oil, lemon, juice, kosher salt, ground black pepper, sugar, chopped basil, gently combine until well-incorporated.
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Transfer the mixture to a serving dish, sprinkle with chopped walnuts and serve.
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Great salad for anytime of the year. I made this for church..went over well
I agree with you Connie, this is a great salad for a potluck or church function. Glad you came back to let me know,
I din’t have all the ingredients on hand but turned out well. Hope next time I can do more to plan.
Hi Vicky, happy to hear that! Which ingredients were you out of? Hope you have them next time as you missed out. Glad you came back to share though. Hugs.
Super easy to make and was a nice change up for dinner
Hi, Tom, yes this is one of my favorites to make off and on for the family.
Your blog always makes me hungry.
Ha Ha, Stacy! That’s my job! Thanks for making my day.