Description
A vibrant and colorful summer salad featuring grilled chicken, orzo, and fresh vegetables, perfect for picnics and easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- 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
- Begin by boiling salted water in a pot, then cook the orzo according to package instructions (about 8–10 minutes). Drain the orzo and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set it aside, letting it cool.
- While the orzo cooks, season the chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill the chicken over medium heat for about 5–6 minutes on each side until fully cooked. Remove from the grill, let it rest for a few minutes, and then slice it into tender pieces.
- In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until you have a smooth, emulsified dressing.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine your cooled orzo, sliced grilled chicken, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped herbs.
- Drizzle the delicious dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together.
- For an enhanced flavor experience, refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes to let the ingredients meld together—or serve immediately.
Notes
Great for meal prep; add the dressing just before serving to keep ingredients fresh. Best enjoyed within three days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg