Chickpea Orzo Salad is a fresh and vibrant side made with crunchy veggies like diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and chickpeas with tender orzo all covered in a sweet and tangy homemade dressing.
One of the things I enjoy the most about this Orzo and Chickpea Salad is that it only takes 20 minutes to prep. It’s short, sweet, simple and to the point. Once you’ve made the dressing, tossed it all together, you can just pop it in the fridge to chill for a while. No fussing over long prep times, no cooking required, and no last minute trips to the grocery store needed since these are all common pantry staple ingredients you most likely already have on hand in the kitchen.
A chickpea salad is a very refreshing, colorful salad. It’s great for spring, and summertime and has a nice pop of zesty citrus lemon flavor, just like my Homemade Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup. However, it can be enjoyed any time of year.
Why This Orzo Salad Recipe Works
This simple salad is not only delicious but also incredibly versatile, making it a perfect choice for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or a side dish for your next gathering.
It’s the perfect side dish to this Margarita Grilled Chicken and would be a great addition to any potluck party that you are headed to.
This Chickpea and Orzo salad is a healthy option to enjoy with tons of flavor and texture.
Simple Ingredients
- Orzo pasta
- Olive oil: Avocado oil will also work
- Red wine vinegar: You can use apple cider vinegar in a pinch.
- Lemon juice: I prefer fresh lemon juice over the bottled stuff as the fake stuff can taste kind of chemically.
- Dijon Mustard
- Honey: Maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
- Herbs and spices: Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and fresh chopped parsley.
- Fresh veggies: diced cucumbers, diced tomatoes, diced red onion.
- Garbanzo beans: Also called chickpeas
- Feta cheese: Goat cheese would also work.
How To Make Orzo Pasta Salad
- Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together until well combined.
- Step 2: Cook orzo according to the package instructions and rinse with cold water. In a large bowl, add the cooked orzo with the homemade dressing and stir to coat.
- Step 3: Add fresh vegetables and beans to the orzo and mix.
- Step 4: Add in fresh herbs and cheese before mixing again. Chill in the fridge.
Recipe Tips
- If you added some cooked chicken, shrimp, or even steak to this salad, it could become a main dish. Even without added protein, this could be a great main course.
- You can add any other veggies that you enjoy to your orzo pasta salad recipe. Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, or bell peppers would work nicely.
- This salad has a variety of bold flavors and textures. You can adjust the herbs and other ingredients to your liking if needed.
- I find it’s best to cook the orzo al dente so it doesn’t get soggy after it cools down.
