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Lemon-Orzo Salad with Veggies and Chicken

PREP 20 minutes
COOK 10 minutes
TOTAL 2 hours 30 minutes
Yield 5 cups
Created by: Charlene Carey
Lemon Orzo Salad with Chicken
This Lemon-Orzo Salad is a refreshing blend of orzo pasta, chicken, and fresh veggies, drizzled with a zesty lemon dressing.
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Course: Salad

Equipment

  • Mason jar
  • Medium sized salad bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta (200g)
  • ½ teaspoon lemon rind finely grated (2g)
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice fresh (60ml)
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin (60ml)
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt (4.5g)
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic minced (3g)
  • 1 teaspoon honey (7g)
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (0.5g)
  • 1 ½ – 2 cups chicken cooked, shredded, skinless, and diced (225-300g)
  • 1 cup cucumber diced (150g)
  • 1 cup red bell pepper diced (150g)
  • ½ cup green onions sliced (75g)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons dill fresh, chopped or 1 ½ teaspoons dried (22.5g / 4.5g)
  • ¾ cup feta cheese crumbled (113g)

Instructions

  • Start by boiling water in a big pot. Once it is bubbling, toss in the orzo and stir it around. Keep an eye on it until it is al dente, tender but not mushy. Rinse it under cold water soon after to stop the cooking process and keep it from clumping together.
  • Grab a bowl and whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon rind, minced garlic, honey, kosher salt, and black pepper. This dressing is key for flavor, so make sure it is well mixed and balanced.
  • Add your cooked, shredded chicken to the bowl with the dressing. Make sure the chicken is well-coated. Letting it absorb some flavor for a few minutes makes a difference.
  • Mix in the diced cucumber, red bell pepper, and sliced green onions. Give everything a gentle stir so you do not crush the veggies.
  • Fold the cooled orzo into the chicken and veggie mixture. Stir enough to combine without breaking the pasta.
  • Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and fresh dill over the top and give it one last gentle mix.
  • Cover the salad and pop it in the fridge for at least two hours. Right before serving, add a fresh squeeze of lemon juice on top to brighten everything up.

Notes

Store in the fridge for several days, but it may need extra seasoning over time.
If the pasta appears mushy after cooking, aim for al dente texture and rinse it under cold water right away.
When your salad seems lacking in flavor, a fresh squirt of lemon juice right before serving can really brighten things up.
If you notice feta cheese getting too salty, adding it just before serving helps preserve its flavor and keeps it fresh.
For the best taste, chill the orzo salad for 1-2 hours before serving; this allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
When meal prepping, remember this salad holds well in the fridge, making it a handy option for quick meals throughout the week.