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 barbecue!

Picnics are 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 vinaigrette 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

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

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

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Ingredients

Salad

• 1 cup uncooked orzo
• 1 cooked chicken breast, diced
• 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 1/2 cup roasted red pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup sliced green onion
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 2 ounces crumbled goat cheese

Vinaigrette

• 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar, white wine or red wine vinegar as an alternate
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

1. Cook the orzo according to the package directions omitting any oil it calls for. Rinse and drain the cooked orzo in cold water and put it in a large serving bowl. Add in the remaining salad ingredients and toss together.
2. In a small bowl combine all of the vinaigrette ingredients, whisk together, then pour over the salad. Stir until everything is coated in the vinaigrette. Taste for seasoning, then 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

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 245Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 211mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 16g