You’re about to be the most popular person at the BBQ because this summer Lemon Orzo Salad with Chicken is a total crowd-pleaser! Keep scrolling for the recipe.
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This refreshing and flavorful lemon orzo salad is my new go-to summer recipe. It’s super simple and comes together in under an hour. But that’s not even the best part. Honestly, what makes this recipe so good is that it can be made a whole 24 hours ahead of time. And it only gets better the longer it sits! The orzo pasta is amazing at soaking in that bright, lemon flavor that makes this so satisfying.
Because you can make this ahead of time, it’s the perfect meal to make for a summer BBQ. You won’t have to worry about rushing to make your dish ahead of time! Also, this is served chilled. So, no heating required once you get to the party! You’re going to be the most popular person there. This dish screams summertime nights and pure delight.
PrintThe Best Summer Orzo Salad
- Prep Time: 10
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 1x
- Category: Side Dish, Pasta, Salad
Ingredients
Salad ingredients:
- 12 ounces orzo pasta, cooked as directed
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Vinaigrette ingredients:
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl toss together all of the salad ingredients
- Add all vinaigrette ingredients to a bowl or mason jar, and whisk or shake until fully combined
- Pour vinaigrette over the salad and toss to make sure everything is coated evenly
- Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Keep stored in the refrigerator
Keywords: lemon chicken orzo salad recipe, best summer pasta salad recipe, lemon feta orzo pasta salad, lemon feta chicken pasta salad, easy healthy pasta salad, feta pasta salad recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions for Lemon Orzo Salad with Chicken and Feta Cheese
In this case, I use chicken as the protein source. However, if you are vegetarian — or simply don’t want chicken in this — you can omit. If you want to get an extra kick of protein (without adding meat), then I recommend adding garbanzo beans.
If you don’t have/don’t like orzo pasta, then any pasta would work here. In fact, something like fusilli or rotini would be perfect here because of the small, twisty shape. Using this chickpea rotini would add another punch of protein. However, you can use anything you like!
In this recipe, I add feta cheese for a nice tang. However, goat cheese would work great, too.
If you make this Lemon Orzo Salad with Chicken, then I would really appreciate a comment and rating down below, under the recipe card. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me over Instagram (@hungry.blonde), TikTok and Pinterest! xoxo GG
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Herbed Vegan Potato Salad
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