Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad
This makes a great lunch or dinner. Loaded with delicious vegetables, Greek chicken, and accompanied with orzo pasta, this pasta salad dish adds a fresh take to your traditional pasta salad.
Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad has all you need to make a well rounded meal. Tender chicken, tasty vegetables, and delicious orzo pasta, offers a complete meal in just one simple to make pasta salad.
I am obsessed with this pasta salad, and the main reason is the Greek Chicken is to die for, and it is such a fun way to use up any leftovers you might have. But also a great way to incorporate vegetables and flavor. Pasta salad is fun in general, but I love making this as a day two meal by making double Greek Skillet Chicken, and using half for this recipe.
Then when you add in the orzo…yum! One of my favorite pastas to work with.
What is Orzo?
If you haven’t used orzo before, you are missing out. It really is a game changer.
Orzo is such a fun ingredient to work with.
Orzo is… drum roll please… PASTA! I know, I know, it looks like rice. Don’t be fooled though. It’s not rice.
Rice is gluten free and orzo is not.
Orzo is typically made of white flour, but just like other pastas, you can find orzo that is made of whole grain flour too.
If you love the way Orzo feel on your tongue, check out some more recipes, like Creamy Chicken Orzo Soup & Orzo Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette!
Is Orzo Better Than Rice?
Well, it has double the protein and it offers more flexibility with cooking methods. That sounds better to me, but in general as with most food it goes to personal preference.
Rice and orzo both have their place in the kitchen.
However, orzo pasta does seem slightly healthier due to the amount of protein.
If you buy your orzo at the store, remember to look in the pasta section! It is commonly confused as a rice. Or you can easily order some orzo from Amazon here!
How Do You Serve Orzo Pasta?
Due to orzo’s neutral tasting flavor, there are so many ways to use orzo in your cooking. It is such a versatile ingredient.
Ways to Serve Orzo Pasta:
- Use Orzo for Orzo Pasta Salad
- Great for Casseroles
- Use in Stir Fry
- Include Orzo in Soup
- Use as a Filling for Stuffed Peppers
- Serve as a Main Pasta Meal
- Make for a Side Dish
How to Cook Orzo Pasta?
There is a lot of flexibility in the way you cook orzo.
Some Ways to Cook Orzo:
- Cook like rice— cook the same way on the stove as you cook rice. Use a 2:1 ratio. Add 2 cups of water for every one cup of orzo. Bring water to boil, add orzo, lower heat and simmer for about 18 minutes until orzo is no longer crunchy and liquid is absorbed. Remove from head and sit for five minutes, then fluff with fork.
- Cook like pasta—bring water to boil, add orzo, simmer in a medium sized saucepan for ten minutes, drain and fluff.
- Bake orzo—saute in pan with oil, add hot broth and cover. Then place in oven at 350 for 20 minutes.
Why Make My Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad?
Make Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad because it is one of my favorite pasta salads.
The texture of the orzo adds a new dimension to a pasta salad dish and pairs nicely with the flavors of fresh vegetables and Greek chicken.
Plus, Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad is such a hearty dish. It is great to take to a potluck, bring for a lunch, or eat for a relaxing dinner.
Once you try my Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad you are going to want to make it again and again.
Reasons to Make Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad:
- Easy to Make Dish
- Loaded with Fresh Ingredients
- Different from your Run of the Mill Pasta Salad
- Crowd Pleasing Dish
- Would make a great lunch or make ahead option, just like these other Pasta Salad Lunch Box Ideas
Foods This is a Great Side For
What Should I Serve with Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad?
No need to serve anything with this pasta salad. My Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Salad makes a great stand alone dish.
However, with that said, stand alone dish or not, let’s not kid ourselves, there is always room for dessert.
Finish this meal off with a great dessert like Eazy Peazy Mealz Churros or Eazy Peazy Mealz White Chocolate Cheesecake Naan. Either dessert will be a fantastic finish to this already great meal.
Greek Chicken Orzo Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 5 cups Orzo Pasta cooked
- 1 cup Grape tomatoes sliced
- 1 cup Cucumber sliced
- 1/2 cup Red Onion diced
- 1/2 cup Kalamata Olives sliced
- 1/2 cup Green Olives sliced
- 2 cups Greek Chicken diced
Dressing
- 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
- 1/3 cup Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Dill
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Add orzo to a large salad bowl
- Top with chicken, tomatoes, onion, cucumber, and olives
- Mix dressing ingredients together and drizzle over the top
- Toss salad and serve
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Trang says
This is such a refreshing and healthy recipe. Interesting but I’ve always considered orzo a rice until now! I didn’t know!
Toni says
A new favorite side dish in our house! Really amazing!
Tanya Schroeder says
Orzo is my favorite type of pasta! This salad is great for BBQ’s and potlucks!
Kimberly says
Love this flavor combo, such a delicious and easy to make salad!
Amy Locurto says
One of my favorite recipes! I love all Greek food!
Rachael says
Oh me too, and this one is especially flavorful