Why I Love This Recipe

Some salads are made to sit on the picnic table for a barbecue. This one is the kind you’ll catch yourself eating straight from the fridge with a fork. It’s bright, herby, full of fresh crunch, and somehow tastes even better after the flavors have had a little time to mingle. Whether you’re packing lunches, heading to a potluck, or looking for something to keep in the fridge all week, this salad always delivers.

Enjoying The Leftovers

This is one of those recipes that was practically made for meal prep. The herbs and lemon dressing have time to soak into the orzo, making every bite even more flavorful the next day.

Storing

Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Give it a quick toss before serving, and if it seems a little dry, add a squeeze of fresh lemon or a drizzle of olive oil to wake everything back up.

When you’re ready to eat

Enjoy it cold straight from the fridge, serve it alongside grilled chicken or salmon, or bring it to your next barbecue or picnic. I like finishing each bowl with a little extra goat cheese and fresh herbs just before serving.

A bowl of orzo salad with garbanzo beans, diced cucumbers, baby spinach, mint, and crumbled goat cheese topped with cracked pepper.
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Lemon Orzo Salad

Fresh herbs, bright lemon, creamy goat cheese, and tender orzo make this Lemon Orzo Salad anything but ordinary. Packed with crisp cucumbers and protein-rich chickpeas, it's the kind of make-ahead salad that's just as good for weekday lunches as it is for summer cookouts and backyard dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
US M
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 10 oz orzo
  • 2 cans garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 4 persian cucumbers, diced
  • 1/2 red onion diced
  • 1/2 oz container fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • 1/2 oz container fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
  • 3 large handfuls fresh baby spinach, finely chopped
  • 4 oz crumbled goat cheese
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • Freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
US – M

Instructions

  • Cook the orzo per package instructions.
  • Once the pasta has cooled down, add it to a large bowl.
  • Add in the rest of the chopped salad ingredients and mix well. Taste add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed. Enjoy!

Equipment

small pot
mixing bowls
measuring cups

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 14g | Fiber: 3g