Spinach Orzo Salad with Chicken Meatballs and Chickpeas
Spinach orzo salad, a main dish salad with bite sized chicken meatballs, will have even the meat-eating man in your family smiling.
I’m on an orzo kick. If you’re not familiar with orzo, it’s a small rice-shaped pasta, often used in salads and soups. The Italian name “orzo” means barley because of this tiny pasta’s similarity to the grain in shape and size,.
Orzo is such a fun summer pasta and it’s the perfect size for salads. Just like any other pasta, it is incredibly versatile. Choose whole wheat or regular orzo, whatever your heart desires (or whatever you can find in your grocery store). Try orzo in this bruschetta orzo pasta salad. It’s perfect for summer picnics or potlucks.
This spinach orzo salad combines orzo with spinach, homemade chicken meatballs, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), cucumbers, tomato and feta cheese. It’s dressed with a light vinaigrette of extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice.
Packed with protein from the bite-sized meatballs, chickpeas, and feta cheese, this main dish salad is filling but not heavy. The fresh vegetables and bright lemony vinaigrette keep it refreshing and healthy.
You’ll love how the spinach wilts slightly from the heat of the pasta to create this wonderful salad – pasta hybrid dish. The little meatballs are baked in the oven, and are ready in less than 10 minutes.
I used regular cucumbers in this recipe today even though I almost exclusively buy English cucumbers or the cute little salad cucumbers (typically used for pickles — they have fantastic flavor).
Somehow this regular cucumber ended up in my groceries. I don’t know if it was left on the checkout belt from a previous customer or if my ever-so-helpful toddler added it my cart, but it is what I came home with and therefore what I ended up using in this salad. I usually scrape out the seeds because I find them to be a bit bitter sometimes. You can use whatever type of cucumber you prefer.
Enjoy!
More orzo salad recipes
Like this spinach orzo salad? You may also like one of these delicious orzo salads:
- Orzo Salad with Chicken, Watermelon and Feta
- Creamy Southwestern Orzo Salad (a reader favorite, makes a big batch and keeps well)
- Orzo Salad with Yogurt Dill Dressing
- Orzo Salad with Chicken and Vegetables
- Greek Orzo Salad with Roasted Shrimp
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad from Iowa Girl Eats
- Whole Wheat Orzo Salad with Kale, Chickpeas, Lemon and Feta from Kalyn’s Kitchen
Spinach Orzo Salad with Chicken Meatballs and Chickpeas
Spinach orzo salad, a main dish salad with bite sized chicken meatballs, will have even the meat-eating man in your family smiling.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- salt and pepper
- 1 cup orzo, uncooked
- one 15 ounce can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- one 5-6 ounce container of baby spinach
- 1/3 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
- 1 lemon, juiced (about 3 tablespoons juice)
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 1 tomato, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. In a large covered saucepan, bring water to a boil over high heat for orzo.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine chicken, egg, parsley, bread crumbs, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. With this mixture, make 24-28 bite sized meatballs (about 1-inch in size).
- Place meatballs on a large rimmed baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Brush meatballs lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil or spray with olive oil spray. Bake for 7-10 minutes or until cooked through (165°F internal temp).
- While meatballs are in the oven, prepare the orzo according to package directions. Drain well and dump into a large bowl. Toss orzo with beans, spinach, and feta.
- Prepare dressing in a small bowl by whisking together lemon juice and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Pour over orzo and toss to combine.
- Divide salad between four plates. Top with meatballs, sprinkle with cucumber and tomato, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Make ahead tip: Cooked meatballs can be made a day or two in advance. Refrigerate in a covered container. Reheat lightly before adding to salad.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 saladAmount Per Serving: Calories: 718Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 951mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 15gSugar: 9gProtein: 50g
RachelCooks.com sometimes provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietitian. Please consult a medical professional for any specific nutrition, diet, or allergy advice.
Husband’s take: He loves this salad!
Changes I would make: None are necessary.
Difficulty: Easy!
17 Comments on “Spinach Orzo Salad with Chicken Meatballs and Chickpeas”
I made this recipe the other night. My husband and I are empty-nesters, so we made this an evening meal. It was perfect. Light enough for a summer meal and filling. Thanks for the idea. If you were to do another type of dressing besides the olive oil and lemon juice, what would you suggest? My husband loves dressings on his salad, especially homemade. :)
So glad you liked this salad! The flavors are all pretty light so I think it would be great with many types of homemade dressing. A balsamic vinegar dressing would be yummy.
Such a great idea to add the little meatballs!
I need to make this!
The meatballs are my favorite and will definitely be the selling point for this in my house. Love how fresh the salad is :)
that is awesome, going to try your recipe.
Enjoy!
What a great way to serve meatballs – such a lovely hearty dish for an autumnal evening.
Thanks Kathryn!
I love everything about this salad. The meatballs have me salivating. I wish I had some for lunch!
Thanks Cassie! Wish we were lunching together.
Love the idea of meatballs in a salad! Such a fun twist :)
Thanks Rachel!
I love the idea of putting baby meatballs in the salad! This looks like a dinner dish I’ll be trying soon (now that it’s not too hot to cook in my kitchen).
Thanks Tara! Hope you love it.
This is gorgeous, Rachel! Perfect transition salad!
Thanks Tieghan!