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This Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken Avocado Orzo Salad with Honey Mustard Bacon Dressing is the perfect summer dinner salad. It’s almost no-cook and comes together quickly and easily. Grilled chicken tossed with a lemony herb honey mustard dressing, orzo pasta, cheddar cheese cubes, crispy bacon, and creamy avocado. It’s colorful and so delicious. Enjoy this for dinner and save the leftovers for lunch. Warm or cold, it’s always good. Or serve this up at your next backyard dinner with friends.
It’s a Monday salad, but an exciting Monday salad because it’s certainly not just greens and vegetables…there’s so much more! I love this one.
First of all, happy Monday guys. Hope everyone had a great weekend and is slowly slipping into the laid-back, chill, summertime mindset. It’s all about the easy-going life for the next three or so months, right? That’s kind of my thinking and I’m really embracing it when it comes to our weekly dinners.
I know most of us want to be out enjoying these summer days and not spending hours in the kitchen. So as I said last week, simple is the name of the game…all summer long.
I have what seems like hundreds of orzo recipes on HBH, so it’s really no secret that I love using orzo. Technically, it’s pasta, but it’s shaped like small rice, so I love tossing it into salads. It makes for super quick one-pot pasta dishes or even carbonara.
It really is so versatile, and one of my favorites ingredients to use in the summertime because of how quickly it cooks up.
Shockingly, I have not shared an orzo salad with you guys. So when I had this idea, I jumped right in and created it. It ended up being the perfect, quick-to-throw-together summer dinner…and you guys, it really is good and for so many reasons…
The lemon herb honey mustard dressing, the grilled chicken, orzo, bacon, creamy avocado, melty cubes of cheddar cheese, and fresh herbs. And when put all together, such a GOOD combination.
Here are the details…start with the dressing
The dressing is where you want to start. I was so into the dressing I made for those burrata vegetable sandwiches I shared the other week that I used the same dressing here. Only I added fresh herbs, rosemary, thyme, and basil, and a shallot too.
The dressing is the heart of this recipe. As the chicken grills in it and then the hot orzo gets tossed up with it too.
It’s a little herby, spicy, sweet, and tangy…all the things we really love.
Grill up that chicken and toss the orzo
Once you toss the chicken in the dressing, throw it on the grill. While the chicken is grilling, I boil off the orzo and then toss it with the chicken.
Now, this next step is key. I like to toss the hot orzo with the cubes of cheese and the dressing. The heat from the pasta turns the cheese melty and helps the dressing really soak into the pasta and infuse it with flavor.
Now finish it up
When you have the chicken grilled and the orzo tossed, add everything else, then top with the avocado and more fresh herbs.
You can enjoy this warm or cold, though I LOVE this warm with those melty chunks of cheddar cheese.
Totally and completely delicious. But simple to make!
I know I say this just about every day, but this recipe really is good.
It’s one of those recipes that you’ll crave time and time again. Plus the sauce just kind of melts in your mouth. YUM!
Looking for other quick dinners? Here are some favorites:
Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata
Lemon Parmesan Salmon with Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Salad
Tropical Jerk Grilled Chicken with Charred Mango Salsa Verde
Lastly, if you make this Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken Avocado 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!
Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken Avocado Orzo Salad with Honey Mustard Bacon Dressing
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 728 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons grainy dijon mustard
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup mixed herbs, chopped (rosemary, oregano, basil)
- 1 small shallot, grated
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes
Salad
- 3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 1 bell pepper, quartered
- 1 pound dry orzo pasta
- 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (optional)
- 2 cups shredded red leaf lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 avocado, sliced
Instructions
- 1. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.2. In a large bowl, toss the chicken with 1/3 of the dressing. Let sit 10 minutes. Set your grill, grill pan, or skillet to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken until lightly charred and cooked through, turning halfway through cooking, about 10 to 12 minutes. During the same time, grill the bell pepper, until lightly charred, then chop.3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the orzo to al dente, according to package directions. Drain. Add the hot orzo, cheddar cheese, blue cheese, and 1/3 of the dressing, toss to combine. Add the chicken, grilled peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon, tossing to combine.4. Top the pasta with avocado. Season with freshly cracked pepper and salt. Serve warm or cold.
So delicious! All the flavours! Absolutely love everything about this. Can’t wait to make it for a get together♥️
Hey Lauren,
Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed:) xTieghan
I made this tonight and it was amazing. The textures and all the flavors! Smoky, sweet, tangy, and the red pepper flakes give it a hint of spice. It’s a party of flavors!
Hey Lacey,
Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed:) xTieghan
So delicious!! I didn’t used bacon because I forgot to cook it on the grill when I’ve grilled the peppers & chicken, but still turned out amazing! My whole family (picky eaters) loved it!
Hey Lily,
Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed:) xTieghan
Lawdy! This sounds, and looks divine, but can I get away with using regular, dark balsamic vinegar? I’ve never heard of white balsamic. Can you kindly share the differences. Thank you.
Hey Andrea,
Sure, that will also work well for you. White Balsamic Vinegar has a sweet, subtle flavor and a clean color. Balsamic vinegar is a very dark, concentrated, and intensely flavoured vinegar originating in Italy, made wholly or partially from grape must: freshly crushed grape juice with all the skins, seeds and stems. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Whole meal is fantastic, but the dressing made it. Absolutely delectable. I even ended up making double to dressing because we kept wanting more and more.
Hey Maren,
Awesome! I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed and truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
The dressing… ohhh man that was incredible!! By far one of the best dressings I’ve ever had! My whole family devoured the salad I made with it. Amazing work Tieghan!!
Hey Claira,
Fantastic!! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
I made this last night and it was absolutely delish! So fresh tasting and perfect for the weather in NC….the dressing was nice and tangy and the charred chicken tenders and peppers added a nice smoky flavor to the dish. Will definitely make again and again!
Hey Julie,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Have a great Tuesday! xxTieghan
I forgot to rate this recipe
Thanks again Kate!
This dressing is soooo good!! I made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was really yummy but the dressing wins the day! I’m making more tomorrow so I have it for everything else I make!
Thanks for another great recipe!
Hey Kate,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Have a great Tuesday! xxTieghan
This recipe was delicious, easy, and a huge hit for everyone I made it for. I love a good summer meal that comes together quickly!
Hey Annie,
Wonderful! I am so glad this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it! Have a lovely week:) xTieghan
This recipe is amazing! I made it for a weeknight dinner after enjoying the pool. It’s hot down here in Texas and this was the perfect dinner. My husband is a big fan of orzo pasta so I knew he would would love and he did! You were so right about the pockets of melted cheese!-yum! This dish will definitely be made again and again in my kitchen! I doubled the recipe and the leftovers are just as good as the night I made it! Many thanks!
Hey Denita,
Wonderful! I am so glad this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it! Have a lovely week:) xTieghan
We loved this recipe!!! I tried mozzarella because that’s what we had. Very good!! I’ll definitely make it again. Thank you for your generosity in sharing your creations.
Hey Laurie,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
VERY GOOD! I made/served it hot and the cheese melted and it was excellent. :))
Hey Rachael,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
This was a family favorite, I have a family full of picky eaters. This was the one dish they all gave 10/10 and said it needs to be made weekly.
Hey Jamie,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Hi! It looks like you use 1/3 of the dressing to marinate the chicken, and 1/3 for the salad. Where does the last 1/3 get used? Thanks!
Hey Vanetta,
You can use the remaining dressing as you like:) You can add it to the salad or save for later, it’s really up to you! I hope the recipe turns out amazing for you. Please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
We did try it and it was delicious! The leftovers were great the next day too. Thank you!
Hey Vanetta,
Fantastic!! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan