Description
Grilled lemon herb chicken avocado orzo salad brings together juicy chicken, creamy avocado, and tender pasta tossed in a bright citrus dressing that makes you feel like dinner came together with minimal effort. Your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen, but this one-bowl meal takes just 30 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Grains:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 cup orzo pasta
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Vegetables and Garnish:
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Rub your 2 chicken breasts all over with 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, salt, and pepper until they’re evenly coated.
- Heat your grill to medium-high and place the chicken on the grates for 6 to 7 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- While your chicken cooks, bring salted water to a boil and add 1 cup orzo pasta, cooking for about 9 to 10 minutes until tender, then drain it completely.
- Let your grilled chicken rest for a few minutes, then slice it into bite-sized pieces.
- Toss your 2 cups mixed greens together with the cooled orzo in a large bowl.
- Gently fold in your 1 diced ripe avocado so the pieces stay intact.
- Arrange the sliced chicken over the top of your salad.
- Drizzle an additional 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon lemon juice across everything and toss lightly to combine.
- Finish your dish with fresh parsley sprinkled across the top right before serving to your table.
Notes
- Pat your chicken breasts dry before seasoning them so they brown better on the grill and cook more evenly.
- Add your avocado just before serving since it browns quickly when exposed to air; toss it in gently at the end to keep the pieces whole.
- Cook your orzo slightly under the package time so it stays firm and doesn’t turn mushy when tossed with the warm dressing.
- For a dairy-free version, this salad works perfectly as written; for extra protein, try adding chickpeas or grilled shrimp instead of chicken, keeping the same lemon herb flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Grilled Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 530 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg