Spinach Orzo Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese

Spinach Orzo Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese is the perfect salad to have at your next picnic or BBQ!

Picnicing is something I don’t do nearly enough of. To be honest I can’t say that I’ve been on a picnic since I was a kid. I love the idea of picnics though. If I were to choose a dream location for a picnic it would be a toss up between a shady meadow next to a lake in the mountains or a sandy beach with the waves crashing in and the cool ocean breezes. I know they are two completely different places, but they are my two favorite places to be. There is something so relaxing about being out in nature enjoying the views and the peaceful sounds. Now that I have two locations picked out for my dream picnic, it’s time to pack. First of all, every picnic need a big soft blanket and maybe a couple pillows in case I decide to take a nap. In my picnic basket there would be ice cold lemonade and maybe a bottle of wine. For snacking, crusty bread, a wedge of cheese, and maybe some deli meats or salami. The main dish would be Spinach Orzo Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese, and to finish off the meal, these Blueberry Cheesecake Parfaits.

Yes, this picnic is sounding pretty perfect so far. When I arrive at either the beach or the mountains I would lay out my blanket arrange my pillows and pour my husband and myself a couple of drinks. As we enjoy our drinks and the scenery we would snack on the crusty bread, cheese, and meat. Then it’s time for the main event, the Spinach Orzo Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese.

This pasta salad has the most delicious combination of flavors. There is the nutty flavor of the whole wheat orzo combined with the freshness of the spinach, the sweet smokey flavor of the roasted red peppers, sweetness from the cherry tomatoes, a little spice from the red onion, a fresh slightly lemony flavor from the basil, and of course the creamy tang of the goat cheese. The salad is tossed in a light balsamic vinaigrette dressing to bring it all together. The salad is light, yet filling, balanced, and completely satisfying. With barely enough room in our stomachs after the wonderful salad we finish the picnic with the Blueberry Cheesecake Parfaits. After our stomachs are full and satisfied we lean back on the big comfy pillows and fall asleep listening to the sounds of the breeze and the birds. So this is my idea of a perfect picnic and now I’m dying to go on one! Hopefully I will get my chance this summer and you can be sure that I will be packing my new favorite Spinach Orzo Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese. So, what is your perfect picnic? Where will you go and what will you bring?

Spinach Orzo Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese

A healthy, light, fresh, and filling salad. Perfect as a side dish or main dish at your next picnic or BBQ!

15 minPrep Time

10 minCook Time

25 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

For the Salad
• 1 cup uncooked whole wheat orzo
• 1 large or 2 small chicken breasts, cooked, cooled, and diced
• 1 1/2 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 1/2 cup roasted red pepper, diced
• 3 T. red onion, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 T. fresh basil, chopped
• 1/4 t. kosher salt
• 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
For the Vinaigrette
• 2 T. white balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 T. grapeseed oil or other flavorless oil
• 1/4 t. kosher salt
• 1/8 t. freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Cook the orzo according to the package directions omitting any oil it calls for.
2. Rinse and drain the cooked orzo in cold water and put it in a large serving bowl.
3. Dice the chicken, roasted red pepper, and red onion, then add it to the orzo.
4. Chop the spinach and basil and halve the tomatoes, then add them to the orzo.
5. Add in a 1/4 teaspoon of salt and toss together all the ingredients.
6. In a small bowl or mason jar combine all of the dressing ingredients, mix them well, then pour over the salad.
7. Add in the crumbled goat cheese and gently toss the salad until everything is combined and coated in the vinaigrette.
8. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

If you can't find whole wheat orzo you can use regular orzo in it's place.

Recipe was slightly adapted from Cooking Light

7.8.1.2

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https://reciperunner.com/spinach-orzo-chicken-salad-goat-cheese/