5.0 from 30 votes
Lemon Orzo Salad with Chicken
Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken for an easy-to-assemble lunch or dinner. This lemon orzo salad keeps well for days and is excellent for brown bag lunches.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 3514 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 medium zucchini cut into matchsticks
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved red and yellow if available, halved
- ½ cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 peeled and seeded roasted bell pepper diced (use a jarred pepper or roast one yourself at 400° for 20 minutes or until blackened.)
- 3 scallions thinly sliced
- ½ cup kalamata olives seeded and halved
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese cut into 1/2" cubes or use the BelGioso "pearls"
- 4 ounces dry salami sliced into bite size rounds or cut into 1/2" pieces
- 3 cups chicken breast meat from a rotisserie chicken, cut into 1/2'" pieces
- ¼ cup Italian parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoons basil cut into chiffonade
- ⅓ cup Lemon Vinaigrette plus more if needed
Instructions
- Cook the orzo until al dente -- according to package directions. Strain the pasta through a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool while you prep the other ingredients.
- Combine the zucchini, tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, scallions, olives, scallions, cheese, salami, chicken and parsley in a large bowl. Add the cooled orzo.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Taste for seasoning, and if it needs extra vinaigrette, add it one tablespoon at a time until it's how you like it.
- Cut the basil into a chiffonade and sprinkle over the salad just before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
351.4kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
24.86g
(8%)
Protein
28.94g
(58%)
Fat
14.86g
(23%)
Saturated Fat
5.48g
(27%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1.53g
Monounsaturated Fat
6.17g
Trans Fat
0.01g
Cholesterol
77.68mg
(26%)
Sodium
900.61mg
(38%)
Potassium
687.42mg
(20%)
Fiber
2.65g
(11%)
Sugar
3.77g
(8%)
Vitamin A
1009.88IU
(20%)
Vitamin C
21.98mg
(24%)
Calcium
136.31mg
(14%)
Iron
1.58mg
(9%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 3514
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 351.4kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 24.86g | 8% |
| Protein | 28.94g | 58% |
| Fat | 14.86g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 5.48g | 27% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.53g | 9% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6.17g | 31% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 77.68mg | 26% |
| Sodium | 900.61mg | 38% |
| Potassium | 687.42mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 2.65g | 11% |
| Sugar | 3.77g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 1009.88IU | 20% |
| Vitamin C | 21.98mg | 24% |
| Calcium | 136.31mg | 14% |
| Iron | 1.58mg | 9% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.