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This easy Greek Chicken Orzo Salad with my Greek-inspired herby honey dressing is my go-to summer pasta salad. It’s almost no-cook, comes together quickly, and with very little effort. Grilled pesto balsamic chicken tossed with Greek dressing, orzo pasta, big cubes of feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and herbs. It’s colorful and so delicious. Enjoy this for dinner, serve at your next cookout, and save the leftovers for lunch. It’s always good.
Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us, and for me, that means summer is here. It’s a time for days spent in the sunshine, nights spent outside, cooking with family and friends, and enjoying simple dinners with fresh summer produce.
Lots of grilling, fresh summer herbs, corn, sweet tomatoes, zucchini, and of course, all the berries and stone fruit too. We have so much to look forward to. For any given summer gathering, you can guarantee that I’ll have a pasta salad on my buffet table. Really yummy, flavorful pasta salads are summertime staples.
So happy to be making these again!
Today’s recipe is a new one with flavors we know and LOVE. Greek salads are delicious just as they are. Fresh tomatoes, cubes of feta cheese, dill, and a simple dressing. I elevated the classic Greek salad with orzo pasta, grilled pesto chicken, cucumbers, olives, cherry tomatoes, plenty of fresh herbs, and one of my favorite variations on a Greek dressing.
This is such a great make-ahead salad. You can serve it warm or cold, and as a side or as a main. You and your guests will enjoy every bite!
Greek Dressing Ingredients
- extra virgin olive oil
- red wine or balsamic vinegar
- honey
- Dijon mustard
- shallots
- fresh herbs – dill, basil, oregano, and or thyme
Step 1
How to make my Greek dressing
This is very easy and my secret is to make the dressing directly in the same bowl you toss the salad in. Get a nice big salad bowl, then mix all of the ingredients listed until combined.
Season the dressing to your taste with salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
For the combination of herbs, I love to use fresh basil, dill, oregano, and thyme. You can use your favorite mix or whatever you have in the fridge (or garden). And if you don’t have any fresh herbs swap in dried herbs instead.
Greek Chicken Orzo Salad Ingredients
- chicken tenders
- basil pesto
- balsamic vinegar
- dry orzo pasta
- feta cheese
- cherry tomatoes
- Persian cucumbers
- kalamata olives
- roasted bell peppers
- pepperoncini
Step 2
Grill the chicken
Toss the chicken with basil pesto and balsamic vinegar and heat up your grill. Grill each chicken tender until fully cooked through. Once finished cooking, you can chop or shred the chicken to use in the salad.
If you are vegetarian or looking to serve this as more of a side dish. You can omit the chicken from the recipe.
Step 3
Cook the orzo
Cook the orzo in boiling water, drain, and toss that hot orzo with the dressing in the salad bowl. Do this while the orzo is still steaming hot. Tossing the orzo while hot helps to further develop the flavors of the salad. The heat will activate the fresh herbs and shallots used in the dressing.
It’s going to smell delicious!
Step 4- assemble
The final step is to assemble the salad. Once the orzo is tossed with the dressing, add all the remaining ingredients, the grilled chicken from above, cubes of feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, roasted red peppers, and all those fresh herbs. You can also add some pepperoncini if you enjoy as well.
This salad can be made up to a day in advance. It’s a wonderful dish to entertain with or use as meal prep for busy weekday lunches!
You and your family and friends will really love this fresh salad!
Looking for other great pasta salad recipes? Here are some favorites:
Pesto Chicken, Corn, and Avocado Bacon Pasta Salad
Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad
Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken Avocado Orzo Salad with Honey Mustard Bacon Dressing
Lastly, if you make this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Greek Chicken Orzo Salad
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 513 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Dressing
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped herbs, dill, basil, oregano, and/or thyme
- kosher salt and black pepper
Salad
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken tenders (omit if vegetarian)
- 1/3 cup basil pesto
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 pound dry orzo
- 2 cups cubed feta cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2-3 Persian cucumbers chopped
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 2 roasted bell peppers, sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped pepperoncini
Instructions
- 1. To make the dressing, combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl.2. Toss the chicken with pesto and balsamic vinegar. Set your grill, grill pan, or skillet to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Give it a chop. 3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta to al dente. Drain. Add the hot orzo to the salad bowl full of dressing. Toss, toss! Add the chicken, feta, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, peppers, and pepperoncini. Toss, toss! Serve warm or cold. The salad will develop more flavor as it sits.
question…my orzo is semi swimming in the dressing…do i need more orzo
Hi Gretchen,
How much orzo did you use? I would keep moving along with the recipe! Please let me know how it turns out for you! xx
So delicious! I will definitely make this again. I may add artichokes and/or chickpeas next time. I did only use 1/3 cup olive oil in the dressing and still had plenty of dressing for all the orzo. Also, the chicken is delicious – can be eaten on its own, in other salads, etc.! Given the amount of orzo, I’d also add more chicken – 2 lbs. – next time to bulk and protein it up. There are at least 6 large main course servings in this dish.
Hi Anie,
Happy Monday!!😎 I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
This was delicious!! I didn’t realize the difference adding dressing to hot pasta makes to the dish. I will definitely make the Greek dressing again! It is perfect served warm or cold.
Hi Jeanette,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and your review!! 🍓🫐🍉
Looks delicious! How long would you recommend saving this dressing in the fridge? I’d like to make a big batch with my garden herbs and take it with us on vacation to the beach.
Hi Melissa,
Wonderful!! I’m so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! The dressing is good for 2 weeks in the fridge! xT
Great recipe and flavors. My husband even commented on it being great.
Hey Kate,
Love to hear this! Thanks a lot for trying this salad and sharing your review! So glad to hear it was a hit! xT
This one is most definitely a keeper! Lots of flavors, very fresh, and the dressing is wonderful!
Thanks so much Gina!! So glad to hear you enjoyed this dish and I appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Another summery winner! I love that you can customize with different options if you want, although I made as recommended and it was delicious. Felt like a long list of ingredients, but it all came together for me in 45 min or less including roasting the peppers and the grilling.
Hey Clare,
Fantastic!!🥗🌮 I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
One of the best salad’s I’ve ever made! Will be eating this all week as meal prep. I added spinach/kale for extra greens and would really reccomend.
Hi Morgan,
Fantastic!!🥗🌮 I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
Should the chicken marinate? If so, how long? Looks great. Will be trying this tonight!
Hi Kristin,
No need to marinate the chicken, you can follow the recipe as written:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
This was SO good! I had no fresh herbs so used dried… but I wonder if that, combined with the pesto and a bit of S/P to the dressing made it a little on the salty side? I’ll try fresh next time. Quick Q about the chicken – the photo of the chicken looks like oil and red pepper flakes but I didn’t see that in the recipe so I didn’t add it. I think it turned out just fine but just double checking if I missed that instruction.
Thank you!!! Can’t wait to make it again!
Hi Melody,
Happy Friday!!🍪🍦 Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! Did you reduce the measurements for using fresh herbs? I did add some chili flakes for spice, but totally not necessary:) xT
Wow- what a flavor bomb! So tasty and easy to make. The dressing alone was something I’ll keep on hand for salads. Will definitely be adding to our list of favorite dishes and maybe adding in a few more veggies.
Hey Nancy,
Thanks so much!! I love to hear that this recipe was delish and I appreciate you making it! xT
Loved this recipe! I followed it as written….I’d consider adding artichokes, red onion, or green olives. I used fresh thyme, dill, and basil as suggested. Next time I’ll consider adding more herbs. All that said….I love a salad that is perfect as written but also adaptable. Winner!
Thanks so much Amy!! Love to hear that you enjoyed this salad and yes you can totally add other veggies to your liking:) xT
I’m obsessed by this salad! I was wondering if you thought quinoa could be substituted for the orzo to make it gluten free?
Hey Cindy,
Happy Friday!!🍉🍓 Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try and your comment, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Sure, quinoa would be great! xx
My reviews are becoming redundant!! This salad is so delicious and herby and packed full of freshness and flavor. I made it just as written and would make as is again and again. It’s a perfect summer salad that I will make year round. Thank you!
Hey Maren,
Happy Wednesday!🌤️🌸 I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
Delicious! Will be summer go to recipe. Rave reviews by all.
Hi Carol,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks for trying it out! Have a great week:)
Made this tonight. Hubs and I loved it…will be a summer go-to recipe. That dressing is INSANE!!! I used leftover chicken that was already seasoned with lemon pepper so I skipped the pesto/balsamic. Y’all. Make this immediately!!!
Thanks so much Leslie!! I love to hear that you enjoyed this salad and I appreciate you making it:) xT
Oh boy! This looked amazing but like others I couldn’t find orzo so subbed Arborio rice as suggested in the comments… I don’t think its a 1-1 ratio in replacement as a pound of rice made sooo much and kind of threw off the ration of the rest of the salad. The flavors are good though!
Hi Maggie,
Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback!! Hopefully you can find some orzo next time! xx