Next Post
Cinnamon Maple Brown Butter Blackberry Peach Crisp.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
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.
AMAZING! I will make this again and again. Felt healthy but still had rich flavors and made me want seconds.
Hey Allie,
Fantastic!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
I made this for my family tonight and it was so delicious! Everyone loved it!
Hey Angela,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
What happens to the other 1/3 of the dressing?
Hey Vince,
You can use the remainder of the dressing as needed:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I substituted this with marinated tofu and it was amazing ☺️
Hey Rachelle,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
This recipe is amazing! So simple and flavorful! My husband loved it too and that always says something! ?
Hey Chelsea,
Happy Sunday! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad that it was enjoyed!! ☀️xTieghan
Great recipe. Loved it.
Hey Linda,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have the best week:) xTieghan
This is absolutely delish! Thank you.
Hey Christine,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have the best week:) xTieghan
This is such a delicious recipe! Perfect summer meal!
Hey Mollie,
Happy Wednesday! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
I’m planning on making this for neighbors that walked our dog while I was away. I have a “she’s a great cook” reputation in my neighborhood and this looks like it’ll hold up to (okay, surpass) that scrutiny. But I need an appetizer to serve before this with some wine or cocktails. This dish has so many elements I just don’t want to repeat them in an appetizer. Any suggestions?
Hey Terri,
Here are some ideas you might enjoy:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/tomato-peach-and-burrata-salad/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/ricotta-toast-with-marinated-tomatoes/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/antipasto-tortellini-skewers/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/crispy-roasted-blackened-cauliflower/
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Yum! Pasta salad is my jam during the summer and always looking out for a new recipe. This is fantastic, great flavor from the dressing and perfect ingredients. I prefer to eat this warm for dinner but cold for lunch is great, too.
Hey Cheryl,
Awesome! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Have the best week! xTieghan
I made this in June for my daughter’s bridal shower and it was a huge hit! I tripled the chicken and doubled everything else. I left out the cheese because my daughter is lactose intolerant but we didn’t miss it. Absolutely on my rotation now! Thank you!
Hey Veronica,
Wonderful! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
This recipe packs a huge, delicious punch! Made it, recommended it to all my sisters (there are 5 of us!) They made it, then we all got together and made it together 🙂 Honestly, initially we doubled the dressing- but make as much as you can, it is SO GOOD! We also added extra cheese to the orzo- just cut up what was in the fridge without really measuring. I regret nothing! Thanks for such a great summer recipe!
Hey Kim,
Happy Friday! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Hi! I only see use for 2/3 of the dressing… am I missing the last step or is there just extra? Can’t wait to try!
Hey Katie,
You can use the leftover dressing as needed or save:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Made this last night to bring to the concert in the park. It was a huge hit!
Hey Janet,
Wonderful! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Hi. Just wondering if the salad can be made early in the day and dress it when planning to serve it along with adding the bacon at that time, too, to keep it crisp. Thank you. I really enjoy your recipes and other posts.
Hey Karen,
Yes, that would be totally fine to do! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give the recipe a try:) xTieghan