Recipe: Crispy Chicken Caesar Orzo Salad

Kelli Foster
Kelli FosterCulinary Producer at The Kitchn
I'm a recipe developer, food writer, stylist, and video producer (and The Kitchn's Dinner Therapist), with more than 10 years professional experience. Since graduating from The French Culinary Institute, I've authored 3 cookbooks: Buddha Bowls, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, and The Probiotic Kitchen.
updated Jan 29, 2020
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Credit: Joe Lingeman

This crispy chicken Caesar orzo salad is a dinner salad for pasta lovers as much as it is for anyone who wants a generous dose of greens.

Serves4

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

This is a dinner salad for pasta-lovers. Creamy Caesar-dressed orzo and bite-sized pieces of crispy, lemony chicken breast are layered over a bed of crunchy chopped romaine and tomatoes in a hybrid meal that brings the ease and satisfaction of pasta night to a vibrant, dinner-ready salad.

Treat the Orzo Like You’re Making a Pasta Salad

When making this recipe, I want you to treat the grains of orzo just as if you were making a pasta salad. You’ll want to start by cooking them just short of being al dente, so they hold on to some of their toothsome bite. Once drained, the warm orzo is tossed with a few spoonfuls of Caesar dressing, which will both flavor the pasta and soften its bite.

Our Favorite Way to Make Crispy Chicken for Salads

Jacques Pepin’s technique for making crispy chicken — without the mess of a three-step breading process — is our favorite way to make crispy, juicy chicken breast for salad. The magic ingredient is Wondra — a type of cooked flour that won’t clump when it touches water. Once cooked, chicken tossed in Wondra has a light and crispy coating that we can’t resist.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Crispy Chicken Caesar Orzo Salad

This crispy chicken Caesar orzo salad is a dinner salad for pasta lovers as much as it is for anyone who wants a generous dose of greens.

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 cup

    dry orzo pasta (about 8 ounces)

  • 1 1/2 cups

    grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 1/2 cup

    Caesar salad dressing (store-bought or homemade), divided

  • 1 1/2 pounds

    boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch cubes

  • 2 tablespoons

    Wondra or all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons

    olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons

    freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon

    unsalted butter

  • 4 cups

    coarsely chopped romaine lettuce (from 1 medium heart)

  • 1 ounce

    shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

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  1. Bring a large saucepan of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until barely al dente, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain, then transfer to a medium bowl. Add the tomatoes and 1/4 cup of the dressing, and stir until evenly coated; set aside.

  2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and place in a medium bowl. Add the flour, salt, and pepper and toss to coat. Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet, preferably nonstick, over high heat until shimmering and very hot but not smoking. Add the chicken cubes and cook in one layer, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.

  3. Add the lemon juice and butter and sauté for 1 minute longer, shaking the skillet occasionally to coat the chicken; set aside off the heat.

  4. Place the lettuce and remaining 1/4 cup dressing in a medium bowl and toss to combine. Divide the lettuce between serving bowls, then top with the warm orzo and tomato mixture, chicken, and shaved Parmesan. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers will keep for 1 day stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.