Grilled Chicken Orzo Salad Recipe
A refreshing and nutritious grilled chicken orzo salad featuring tender grilled chicken breasts, tender orzo pasta, creamy avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, and a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a satisfying dinner, this salad combines Mediterranean flavors with wholesome ingredients for a delicious and easy-to-make meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for grilling chicken)
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Dressing:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Orzo: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orzo according to package instructions, usually 8–10 minutes until tender. Drain the orzo and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
- Grill Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Preheat the grill to medium heat and cook the chicken for 5–6 minutes on each side or until fully cooked and juices run clear. Remove from the grill and let the chicken rest before slicing it into strips.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey (or maple syrup), minced garlic, salt, and pepper until the dressing is well emulsified.
- Assemble Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked orzo, sliced grilled chicken, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, thinly sliced red onion, and chopped fresh cilantro or parsley. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together to ensure an even coating of the dressing.
- Chill (Optional): For enhanced flavor, cover the salad and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes before serving. Alternatively, serve immediately at room temperature.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breasts with grilled shrimp or tofu for a variation.
- Using fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley brightens the flavor.
- Chilling the salad helps the flavors meld together but is not required.
- If you prefer, add cucumbers or bell peppers for extra crunch.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Keywords: grilled chicken orzo salad, chicken salad, Mediterranean salad, healthy chicken recipe, orzo pasta salad, easy summer salad
Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/grilled-chicken-orzo-salad-recipe/
