Grilled Chicken with Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Name: Grilled Chicken with Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts (large, boneless, skinless); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 0.5 teaspoon black pepper; 8 ounce orzo pasta; 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved); 0.5 cucumber (diced); 0.25 cup red onion (finely chopped); 0.25 cup Kalamata olives (pitted, sliced); 0.25 cup feta cheese (crumbled); 2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped); 2 tablespoon fresh dill (chopped); 3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Tender grilled chicken breasts served alongside a vibrant orzo pasta salad, packed with fresh vegetables, feta cheese, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing.

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 40 min
Servings: 4
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $3.22/serving

Dietary

Nut-Free
Soy-Free
Egg-Free
High-Protein
Low-Sugar

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts (large, boneless, skinless)
1 tablespoon olive oil
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounce orzo pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
0.5 cucumber (diced)
0.25 cup red onion (finely chopped)
0.25 cup Kalamata olives (pitted, sliced)
0.25 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
2 tablespoon fresh dill (chopped)
3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Season chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat, or preheat oven to 400°F.
Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, or bake in the oven for 18-22 minutes, until cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
Meanwhile, cook orzo pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool, then transfer to a large bowl.
Add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, fresh parsley, and fresh dill to the bowl with the orzo.
In a small bowl, whisk together fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Pour over the orzo salad and toss to combine.
Serve the sliced grilled chicken alongside the Mediterranean orzo salad.

Notes

Chicken can be grilled or baked in the oven. For a vegetarian option, omit the chicken and add chickpeas to the salad.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 540
Protein: 46.5 g
Carbohydrates: 45.2 g
Fat: 20.1 g
Fiber: 4.5 g
Sodium: 780 mg
Saturated Fat: 5.8 g
Sugar: 4.1 g
Cholesterol: 130 mg