Chickpea Orzo Salad

Name: Chickpea Orzo Salad for Meal Prep Lunches
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1¼ cups Orzo (uncooked); 1 tbsp Olive Oil (extra virgin); 15 oz Chickpeas (can, rinsed, drained and patted dry); 1½ cups Kale (stems removed, patted dry, finely chopped); 1 Red Bell Pepper (chopped); 1 Orange Bell Pepper (chopped); ¾ cup Red Onion (chopped); ¼ cup Parsley (fresh, chopped); ¾ cup Crumbled Feta Cheese (or to taste); Salt and Pepper (to taste); ¼ cup Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed); ½ cup Olive Oil (extra virgin); 1 tsp Garlic (minced); Salt and Pepper (to taste)

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This veggie-packed Chickpea Orzo Salad is an easy and tasty lunch meal prep you’ll actually look forward to having every day! Whip this up in under 30 minutes!

Orzo, chickpea salad, cheese and salad dressing in glass meal prep containers. — Orzo and Chickpea Salad – Perfect for Meal Prep

Contents hide

1 Why This Recipe Works

7 Chickpea Orzo Salad for Meal Prep Lunches

Lunchtime just got a whole lot more flavorful. The best part is that you can eat this meal and it will actually keep you full.

You know how some salads leave you starving an hour later? That’s not the case with this one because the chickpeas, orzo, cheese, and veggies keep you satisfied.

Why This Recipe Works

It only takes 30 minutes – With just 20 minutes prep time (start off by using the Meal Prep 101 to show you why this works and how fast it is) and 10 minutes of cooking time, you can easily throw this chickpea salad together.

Saves you time – Meal prepping is a game-changer! Spend a few minutes to prep and it will provide you with easy lunches all week.

It makes six servings – Prepare six salads all at once, and it comes together fast. It’s also great when you are feeding a bunch of hungry people.

Packed with nutrients – You will get lots of healthy nutrients every time you eat this. Fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and lots of good fats are found in this salad.

🧅 Ingredients

There is the salad itself as well as the homemade salad dressing too. Let’s take a peek at the main ingredients.

Orzo – You will cook the orzo, so it’s al dente to get the perfect texture. It’s a perfect addition.

Veggies – This chickpea orzo salad has kale, bell peppers, onions, and parsley.

Dressing – The dressing consists of lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. It’s so yummy you will want to eat it with a spoon!

🍽️ Instructions

There are only five steps to make this salad, and I think you will be pleased with how easy they are. Let’s get started:

Step One: Prepare the orzo according to the package. Make sure the water is salted, then you will need to drain and combine it with one tablespoon of olive oil. Let it cool and set aside.

Step Two: Drain the can of chickpeas and rinse them well. Pat them dry with a paper towel. Put them in a large bowl.

Step Three: Chop the onions, peppers, parsley, and kale, and add them to the bowl of chickpeas. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix.

Step Four: Prepare the dressing by combining the lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic, and olive oil together in a bowl. Mix with a whisk.

Step Five: Put the orzo in each of the containers. Then, divide the kale salad among the containers. Add on the feta cheese and put the dressing in one ounce lidded plastic containers. Refrigerate and enjoy!

🥘 Meal Prep

This chickpea orzo salad is one of my favorite lunches EVER. The orzo and chickpeas make this meal prepped lunch filling and hearty, and it keeps me full throughout the day. All of the fresh veggies make it taste amazing and fresh.

When ready to serve, mix up the salad with a simple homemade olive oil dressing that ties all the flavors together nicely, and we’ve got a flavorful, beautiful lunch that feels like something you’d order from a restaurant instead of something you packed from home!

Looking for more lunch meal prep ideas? Try this easy burrito bowl vegetarian meal prep or this list of 20 Easy Vegan Lunch Ideas. And if you’re trying to decide which meal prep containers are best for you, here’s a list of my favorite meal prep containers.

I used this meal prep container for this salad.

📌 Expert Tips

Chop the kale finely, so it’s nicely incorporated into the salad.
The flavors of this salad develop over time, so your lunch will taste better every day!
This meal prepped lunch lasts for three days. The amounts listed below will feed two adults for three lunches each.
Don’t pour the dressing on until you are ready to serve the salad. Otherwise, it will become mushy.

Closeup of how the salad is staged in the meal prep glass container to allow for easy combining when it is time to eat. — This is Fresh, Simple, and Delicious!

🥄 Recipe FAQ

What is Orzo?

Orzo is a delicious pasta that looks a lot like rice. It’s slightly larger than a grain of rice, but tastes great in salads and other dishes. All you have to do is boil it and it’s easy to mix in with your favorite recipes.

Can I use store-bought dressing?

Yes, you can use store-bought dressing. We prefer the flavor of homemade dressing. I recommend using whatever you like best, and you can’t go wrong. Just make sure you use the lidded containers for the dressing.

What can I use in place of feta cheese?

If you don’t like or enjoy feta cheese, swap it for goat cheese, ricotta, or mozzarella.

Can I add meat to the salad?

Sure! If you want to add meat to the salad, that’s more than fine. Try tuna, shrimp, or chicken to start.

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

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