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Home » Salad

Published: Jan 25, 2021 · Modified: Jun 6, 2025 by Kathy

Orzo Chicken Salad

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Orzo pasta with chunks of chicken and slices of bell pepper in a bowl.

Pasta salad made with orzo, bell peppers, tomatoes and chunks of chicken topped with a light vinaigrette dressing.

Throw this quick tasty pasta salad together in under 30 minutes.

A bowl filled with orzo, bell peppers, tomatoes and chicken.

Why make this pasta salad

There's something so wonderful about pasta salads. They make a great meal for lunch or dinner. They are perfect to take on picnics or to bring to a potluck.

Pasta salads are also easy to make ahead of time and it's ready to go whenever you are ready to eat.

This pasta salad is made with orzo pasta, which is a rice shaped pasta. I've made orzo salad before and this salad has some similarities, but it is also different - it has chicken and a vinaigrette dressing.

Orzo chicken salad in a large white bowl.

Key ingredients

Dried orzo pasta on a cutting board along with fresh vegetables and a grilled chicken breast.

This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.

  • Orzo - Rice shaped pasta
  • Chicken - Cooked and cubed. Use leftover chicken or cook up a couple of chicken breasts
  • Bell Peppers - Use a variety of colors
  • Green Onions - A red onion could also be used
  • Cherry Tomatoes - Halved or quartered, depending on size

Steps to make

In this section, I share step-by-step photos, cooking methods, techniques, and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures, and timing, check the printable recipe card below.

  • Cook and drain pasta. Rinse pasta with cool water and drain again
  • Add pasta, cooked and cubed chicken, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, green onions and black olives to a large bowl
Fresh cut peppers, tomatoes and onions in a white bowl.
  • Make dressing by combining olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, mustard, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper in a small jar with a lid. Shake vigorously to combine.
  • Pour dressing over pasta
A vinaigrette being poured over a bowl filled with orzo pasta and fresh veggies.
  • Lightly stir pasta until everything is well combined
  • Add fresh parsley and combine
Orzo mixed with fresh veggies and black olives in a large glass bowl.

Variations

When making a pasta salad, you can always change things up to include your favorite ingredients or use what you have available.

  • Make it vegetarian - omit the chicken
  • Use leftover turkey or ham instead of chicken
  • Add thinly sliced salami for an Italian flare
  • Spice it up - add a finely minced jalapeno to add a little extra spice
  • Substitute kalamata olives for the black olives
  • A red onion can be used instead of the green onion
  • Use freshly chopped cilantro or basil in place of the parsley

Expert Tips

  • When the orzo is done, drain and rinse with cool water. This helps cool the pasta but also removes excess starch on the pasta which causes the pasta to stick together.
  • Cut the veggies and the chicken into bite-sized pieces
  • Taste the salad before serving and add a bit more salt and pepper if needed.
A bowl filled with orzo pasta, sliced tomatoes and chunks of chicken.

Recipe FAQs

What is orzo?

Orzo is a rice shaped pasta.

How long will this salad last?

This pasta salad will last up to 4 days if covered and refrigerated.

More delicious pasta salads

If you love pasta salads, you'll also want to check out these delicious salads:

  • Mediterranean Couscous Salad
  • Asparagus Pasta Salad
  • Thai Pasta Salad
  • Israeli Couscous Salad
  • Pasta and Pea Salad

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Be sure to check out all my delicious salad recipes!

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A bowl filled with orzo, bell peppers, tomatoes and chicken.

Orzo Chicken Salad

Kathy Berget
Pasta salad made with orzo pasta, chunks of chicken, fresh bell peppers and tomatoes with a tasty vinaigrette dressing.
5 from 25 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Main Dish, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 197 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

Salad

  • 16 ounces orzo pasta
  • 3 cups cooked chicken (chopped)
  • 6 mini bell peppers (sliced)
  • 6 green onion (sliced)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (quartered, approximately 24 tomatoes)
  • ½ cup black olives (sliced)
  • 1 tablespoon parsley (finely chopped)

Dressing

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions
 

Salad

  • Cook orzo pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cool water. Drain off all excess water.
    16 ounces orzo pasta
  • Add orzo, chicken, sliced peppers, sliced onions, cherry tomatoes and olives into a large mixing bowl.
    3 cups cooked chicken, 6 mini bell peppers, 6 green onion, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, ½ cup black olives

Dressing

  • Place olive oil, lemon, vinegar, honey, mustard, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes into a jar or a bowl. Place lid on jar and shake vigorously until combined, or whisk until combined.
    4 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Pour dressing over salad ingredients
  • Toss lightly to combine
  • Add freshly chopped parsley and toss again
    1 tablespoon parsley
  • Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate

Notes

Variations:
  • Make it vegetarian - omit the chicken
  • Use leftover turkey or ham instead of the chicken
  • Add thinly sliced salami for an Italian flare
  • Spice it up - add a finely minced jalapeno to add a little extra spice
  • Substitute kalamata olives for the black olives
  • A red onion can be used instead of the green onion
  • Use freshly chopped cilantro or basil in place of the parsley
Tips:
  • When the orzo is done, drain and rinse with cool water. This helps cool the pasta but also removes excess starch on the pasta which causes the pasta to stick together.
  • Cut the veggies and the chicken into bite sized pieces
  • Taste the salad before serving and add a bit more salt and pepper if needed.
 
 

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 5gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 195mgPotassium: 139mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 199IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Valentina says

    January 26, 2021 at 12:22 pm

    5 stars
    This sounds amazing, and it's so pretty. I love orzo and miss it because my older son has to be gluten-free. I haven't made it in so long. I will have to make it one day when I feel like making a few separate meals. 🙂 ~Valentina

    Reply
  2. David @ Spiced says

    January 26, 2021 at 4:16 am

    5 stars
    Ah, I really love pasta salads! For some reason, I don't use orzo near enough - I need to fix that. We recently picked and froze a bunch (like 5-6) rotisserie chickens, so now I have all that yummy rotisserie chicken ready and waiting for recipes - and I think this recipe might be on the list now! Sounds like my kinda meal. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      January 26, 2021 at 4:49 am

      That's such a great idea! I love having foods in my freezer that make getting meals on the table quick and easy. Freezing the rotisserie chicken in portions would be perfect to use in this salad.

      Reply
5 from 25 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

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