Orzo Chicken Salad

Name: Orzo Chicken Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 supermarket rotisserie chicken; 2 cups uncooked orzo pasta; 1 green bell pepper (chopped); 1 cup chopped celery; 1/2 cup chopped red onion; 2 green onions (chopped); 2 cups grapes (halved); 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 cloves minced garlic; 1/2 teaspoon dried basil; 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; Salt and pepper to taste

4.7 from 12 votes

Recipe by Danelle

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Posted September 6, 2024Last Updated October 28, 2024

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This Orzo Chicken Salad combines tender rotisserie chicken, fresh vegetables, juicy grapes, and a creamy dressing for a dish that comes together in no time. Ready in under 30 minutes, this Orzo Chicken Salad will quickly become a favorite in your recipe rotation!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This delicious chicken salad with orzo is like a cross between a chicken salad and a pasta salad. Because why not enjoy the best of both worlds? I for one love a good chicken salad–which this recipe is! I also love a good pasta salad–which this recipe also is!

Whether I serve it at potlucks, baby showers, or simply as a light lunch or dinner for my own family, this salad always gets rave reviews. And it’s a nice change from the usual chicken salad.

I love this recipe, I’ve made it countless times now and always get rave reviews!

Laura

This recipe does make a lot, so if you aren’t feeding a crowd, you may want to half the recipe. You can always use the rest of your chicken for soup.

You can also make this with a few cooked and cubed chicken breast halves, but buying the supermarket rotisserie chicken makes it a lot easier, and I like the flavor it adds.

This is a pretty forgiving recipe, so don’t worry if your measurements aren’t exact. If you love grapes, add more. Same goes for pretty much any of the ingredients.

It definitely tastes better after it has chilled for several hours. In fact, I like this salad best the next day. It’s great on it’s own, or served in croissants, sandwich-style.

If you’re looking for a change from the usual chicken (or pasta) salad, you’ve got to give this Orzo Chicken Salad a try!

So goood! We love this in our home often!

Deidra

Ingredients

Chicken: Let’s be honest, rotisserie chicken is a busy cook’s best friend. It’s juicy, flavorful, and saves a ton of time! You can also roast your own chicken if you’re feeling extra fancy, but for me, store-bought is a total win
Orzo pasta: If you haven’t tried orzo before, think of it as pasta’s answer to rice. Be sure not to overcook it! A quick 5-6 minute boil and a cold rinse will keep it from turning mushy.
Green pepper: If you want to add some color and sweetness, red or yellow bell peppers are a great addition or substitution.
Celery: I like to dice it nice and small so every bite has that refreshing crunch. Plus, it’s loaded with fiber and low in calories, so you can feel good about it.
Red and green onions: Red onion adds a sharp, sweet bite while green onion brings a milder, fresh flavor.
Grapes: This might be my favorite part of the salad. I like to use red grapes to add some color, but green taste just as good. If you’re not a fan of grapes in your salad, you can swap them out for dried cranberries or even diced apples for a similar effect.
Garlic: Because I put garlic in everything.
Sour cream and mayonnaise: The sour cream adds a tangy note, while the mayo keeps everything rich and satisfying. If you’re looking to lighten things up, you could sub Greek yogurt for some of the mayo and sour cream.
Lemon juice: Lemon helps brighten up the flavors and balances the richness of the dressing.
Spices: basil, mustard powder, onion powder, salt and pepper

How to Make Orzo Chicken Salad

Step 1

Cook the orzo: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and rinse the orzo under cold water to cool it down and prevent it from sticking.

Step 2

Prep the chicken: While the orzo is cooking, remove the meat from your rotisserie chicken and shred it into bite-sized pieces. Discard the skin and bones. Add the drained orzo and chicken to a large bowl.

Raw orzo pasta in a bowl, beside shredded rotisserie chicken in a bowl.

Step 3

Chop the veggies: Next, chop up the green bell pepper, celery, red onion, and green onions. I like to chop everything into small, bite-sized pieces for easy mixing. Add the chopped veggies to the bowl with the orzo and shredded chicken.

Step 4

Add the grapes: Cut the grapes in half and add them to the chicken and vegetable mixture.

Step 5

Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried basil, ground mustard, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Step 6

Mix everything well to combine: Add the dressing to the orzo, chicken, and vegetable mixture. Gently stir everything together until the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.

Steps for mixing dressing into orzo chicken salad.

Step 7

Chill and serve: Cover the salad and let it chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. This gives the flavors time to meld and allows the salad to reach the perfect temperature.

What Should I Serve With Chicken Salad?

As far as I’m concerned, chicken salad is a meal all on it’s own, and an even better meal served sandwich-style, with buttery croissants. But if you want to offer a little bit more, I suggest rounding things out with a nice a fruit salad.

These are some of our favorite fruit salads to enjoy alongside chicken salad

Melon Berry Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing — **Melon Berry Fruit Salad**

Berry Watermelon Feta Salad — **Melon Berry Fruit Salad**

Recipe Tips

Orzo cooks quickly, so keep an eye on it. You want it to have a little bite (al dente) so it holds up well in the salad. Rinsing in cold water after cooking will stop the orzo from cooking further and help keep it from sticking together.
This salad is super versatile! Not a fan of green bell pepper? Swap it for red or yellow for a touch of sweetness. Want more crunch? Add some chopped cucumber or carrots. Don’t hesitate to throw in your favorite veggies or whatever you have on hand—this recipe is pretty forgiving.
If you’re using seasoned rotisserie chicken, go easy on the salt when making the dressing. Taste as you go! You can always add more, but once it’s in there, you can’t take it out.

Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.

FAQs

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Yes In fact, I think this salad tastes even better if it’s made the day ahead. It’s perfect for meal prep or a make-ahead dish for gatherings.

How long does this salad last in the fridge?

This Orzo Chicken Salad will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just be sure to give it a good stir before serving, since the dressing may settle a bit.

My salad looks dry after chilling—how can I fix it?

If your salad looks a little dry after being in the fridge, you can freshen it up with a splash of lemon juice or an extra spoonful of mayonnaise or sour cream. Just give it a good stir to redistribute the dressing.

What can I substitute for orzo?

Try another small pasta shape like couscous, ditalini, or small shells. These will have a similar texture and work well in the salad. You could even try quinoa for a gluten-free option!

Can I freeze Orzo Chicken Salad?

Unfortunately, this salad isn’t a great candidate for freezing. The dressing can separate and the texture of the orzo and veggies will change after thawing. It’s best enjoyed fresh or within a few days of making it.

More Pasta Salad Recipes to Try

Greek Pasta Salad
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Curry Chicken Orzo Salad
Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad
Orange Pineapple Chicken Pasta Salad