Orzo Salad Recipe

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Orzo Salad…my latest recipe for a light, healthy and delicious dinner. With all these warmer temperatures in my neck of the woods, I decided to marinate and grill some chicken and serve it with a light, veggie filled pasta salad. My Grilled Asian Sweet and Spicy Chicken Skewers would be a good asian chicken to make with the Orzo salad as an alternate.

Orzo Salad Recipe | With Asian Chicken

This is a great dinner that you can make ahead or whip up in a flash. I personally like the orzo salad cold, but it taste just fine warm or at room temperature. If time allows, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours… longer if you can. If you’re feeling like you’re ready for Spring, then this is a great meal for you!

Main Ingredients Needed

Here’s what you’ll need to gather up to make this amazing dish:

For the Dressing/Marinade:

• White vinegar–
• Canola oil + Sesame oil–
• Soy sauce– for a savory flavor.
• Lime juice–
• Brown sugar– slightly sweetens the marinade.
• Ground ginger–
• Salt– balances out the flavors and brings them together.
• Ground black pepper–
• Garlic– minced.

For the Salad:

• Green onions– chopped.
• Carrots– (about 2 large)- diced.
• Red pepper– diced.
• Celery– diced.
• Fresh baby spinach– chopped.
• Slivered almonds– lightly toasted.
• Orzo–
• Ramen noodles–
• Chicken cutlets or chicken breasts– pounded out flat and sliced into two
• Sesame seeds– for a slightly nutty flavor and garnish.

How To Make Orzo Salad | Directions

Here are some step by step directions to make Orzo Salad. For full recipe details, see the printable recipe card below.

Step 1: Mix Marinade/Dressing Ingredients Together

Mix all ingredients for the marinade/dressing together in a small bowl. Pour half the mixture into a large zip top bag. Place chicken pieces into marinade into bag and seal. Move chicken around in bag to coat in marinade and store in refrigerator until ready to grill.

Step 2: Make Salad

Bring large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain completely and pour cooked orzo into large bowl. Top with onions, carrot, red pepper, spinach and celery. Pour remaining dressing over salad and toss to coat completely. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Step 3: Cook Chicken

Heat grill on high. Place chicken onto hot grill and cover. Cook 3-5 minutes per side. Cooking times may vary according to the thickness of the meat.

Step 4: Assemble

Pour orzo salad into large serving dish. Top with toasted almonds and ramen noodles. Place cooked chicken over top and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Leftovers

Store leftover Orzo salad and chicken in an airtight container in the fridge.

More Salad Recipes to Try!

• Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe
• Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad
• Another Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing
• Chinese Chop Salad
• Thai Peanut Chicken & Kale Salad

Make is tonight or over the weekend! Everyone in my family loved this.  My daughter especially loved the Orzo. So, happy weekend and enjoy!

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5 from 7 votes

Orzo Salad Recipe

This Orzo Salad is a light, veggie-filled pasta salad with marinated asian chicken that can be made ahead or whipped up in a hurry.

servings 6

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

for the dressing/marinade:

• ▢ 1/4 cup white vinegar
• ▢ 1/4 cup canola oil
• ▢ 1/4 cup soy sauce
• ▢ 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• ▢ 1 tablespoon lime juice
• ▢ 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• ▢ 1/8 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 large clove garlic minced

for the salad:

• ▢ 4 green onions chopped
• ▢ 1 cup diced carrot about 2 large
• ▢ 1 red pepper diced
• ▢ 2 ribs celery diced
• ▢ 1 large handful fresh baby spinach chopped
• ▢ 1/2 cup slivered almonds lightly toasted
• ▢ 1 lb orzo
• ▢ 1/2 cup ramen noodles
• ▢ 6 chicken cutlets or 3 chicken breasts pounded out flat and sliced into two
• ▢ sesame seeds

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients for the marinade/dressing together in a small bowl. Pour half the mixture into a large zip top bag. Place chicken pieces into marinade into bag and seal. Move chicken around in bag to coat in marinade and store in refrigerator until ready to grill.
• To make orzo salad, bring large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain completely and pour cooked orzo into large bowl. Top with onions, carrot, red pepper, spinach and celery. Pour remaining dressing over salad and toss to coat completely. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
• To cook chicken, heat grill to high. Place chicken onto hot grill and cover. Cook 3-5 minutes per side. Cooking times may vary according to the thickness of the meat.
• To assemble, pour orzo salad into large serving dish. Top with toasted almonds and ramen noodles. Place cooked chicken over top and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Calories: 812kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1227mg | Potassium: 1128mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 4844IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 3mg

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: chicken orzo salad