Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This hearty, delicious salad 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!
- Perfect for potlucks, baby showers, or simply as a light lunch or dinner for my own family, this salad always gets rave reviews!
- Great for feeding a crowd! This recipe does make a lot, so you may want to cut it in half. You can always use the rest of your chicken to make a heartwarming chicken soup.
After you preview the recipe card, be sure to look below for ingredient substitutions, recipe and storage tips, and suggestions for pairings and fun variations!
Orzo Chicken Salad
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, it will quickly become a favorite in your recipe rotation!
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Servings: 6 -8 servings
Calories: 445kcal
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
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add2 cups uncooked orzo pasta and cook for 5-6 minutes or until just tender. Drain and rinse with cool water.
- Remove meat from 1 supermarket rotisserie chicken and shred into bite size pieces. Add to a large bowl along with the orzo. Stir in 1 green bell pepper, chopped, 1 cup chopped celery, 1/2 cup chopped red onion, 2 green onions, chopped and 2 cups grapes, halved.
- In a small bowl, stir together 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.
- Pour sour cream/mayonnaise mixture over pasta and chicken mixture and mix well. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 282mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g
Keep scrolling for tips, ingredient substitutions, answers to frequently asked questions and more!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Rotisserie Chicken Choices: I love the convenience and ease of using a rotisserie chicken in this recipe, but you can substitute 3–4 cups of cooked, shredded chicken breast or thighs (poached or roasted).
- Grapes in Chicken Salad? You can definitely leave out the grapes if fruit in your chicken salad just isn’t your thing. Other good choices are diced apples, dried cranberries, and even chopped pineapple.
- Sour Cream and Mayonnaise: You can swap out Greek yogurt for part or all of the sour cream for a lighter option with added protein. You can also use all mayo for a richer flavor or all sour cream for more tang.
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.
Make It Ahead
If you want to make this chicken salad ahead of time, this is the method I like to use.
- Cook the Orzo and Prep the Chicken (1–2 Days Ahead): Cook and cool the orzo as directed on the package. Shred the rotisserie chicken and store both in separate airtight containers in the fridge..
- Chop the Vegetables and Grapes (1 Day Ahead): Chop the bell pepper, celery, red onion, green onions, and halve the grapes. Store them together or separately in airtight containers in the fridge.
- Mix the Dressing (Up to 2 Days Ahead): Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, and seasonings and store in a jar or covered container in the fridge. Stir before using.
- Assemble the Salad (Day of or Night Before Serving): Combine the orzo, chicken, vegetables, and grapes in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss until well coated. Cover and refrigerate the fully assembled salad for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to allow flavors to blend.
- Before Serving: If the salad seems dry after being in the refrigerator, stir in an extra spoonful of mayo and/or sour cream just before serving.
Storing Leftovers
- Transfer the salad to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3–4 days. Give it a quick stir before serving. Do not leave the salad at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Do not freeze.
Variations & Fun Twists
- Mediterranean-Inspired: Use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. Replace the grapes with any or all of the following: cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, feta or sliced olives.
- Southwest Style: Add some corn, black beans, diced bell peppers and cilantro. Season with Tajin or a bit of cayenne pepper. Replace the lemon juice with lime juice.
- Autumn Harvest Chicken Salad: Replace grapes with chopped apples or pears. Toss in some dried cranberries and toasted pecans or walnuts.
Pairings
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
11 comments
detroiteats
The salad looks great. Everything is cut to the right size.
Sharon
Looks great, funny that not even an hour ago I was searching the net for a leftover rotisserie chicken recipe and now I found it! Thanks!!