Effortless Meal Idea: Summertime Orzo Salad

This Orzo Salad recipe and shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EffortlessMeals #CollectiveBias

Fresh, simple meals and side dishes are made for summer! This easy Orzo Salad is the perfect pairing to a fully cooked rotisserie chicken at Walmart. An added bonus – no heating up the oven when the temperature outside is already heating up!

While I do enjoy making meals for my family, there are times when I just want the day off. Fully cooked rotisserie chickens come in handy on those days. This orzo salad is perfect to pair with rotisserie chicken; and you can mix the chicken into the recipe or serve it on the side. Whatever tickles your tastebuds.

Summertime Orzo Salad

What You’ll Need:
3/4 pound Orzo {small, rice shaped pasta}
1/2 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 cup olive oil
5 scallions, minced
1 cup dill, chopped
1 English cucumber, diced
1/2 medium red onion, diced
6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
salt and pepper
Rotisserie Chicken

What You’ll Do:

Fill a large pot with water, heavily salt it and add a splash of olive oil, and bring the water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package instructions. Drain the orzo thoroughly and pour into a large serving bowl.

While orzo is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Once the orzo has finished cooking. Pour the dressing over the orzo and mix well with wooden spoon.

Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients. Dice the cucumber and red onion. Mince the scallions. Chop the dill.

Add these ingredients to the orzo. Toss with wooden spoon to combine. Gently fold in the feta cheese.

Set aside for one hour to let the flavors combine.

You can serve this along side the hot Rotisserie chicken as a side dish or shred the chicken and combine it. I like it either way. Typically, on day one we eat it as a side dish. Then, I shred the remaining chicken and mix it into the orzo salad for lunch the next day. I love how versatile this dish is. Perfect for an effortless summer meal.

This orzo salad can be prepared the day before, however you want to be sure it returns to room temperature before serving.

If you want to add a fun twist to your summer menu, be sure to look for the Marketside pizzas and grill them while you are enjoying fun outdoor activities with your family and friends. Marketed pizzas are great for busy kids who don’t want to stop having fun to eat dinner! By grilling your pizza outdoors, you also avoid heating up your house!

Be sure to check out more delicious effortless meal inspiration. How would you pair Marketside products with Coca-Cola?