Chilled Greek Chicken Orzo

Lunchtime on the go is always a bit tricky when it comes to meal logistics. The criteria check list includes minimal prep work, easy cleanup process, and something that doesn’t make a mess all over your office paperwork. You probably want something tasty, satisfying, and healthy but let’s face it—salad from the cafe bar only gets you so far until you’re reaching for another snack. Salads are great, but unless we add all the components of a balanced meal, such as healthy fats, protein, complex carbohydrates, AND fiber—our hunger cues are silenced only for a few hours.

So back to the lunchtime in the office conundrum. A few people had asked for more meals and recipes that were “office friendly” and required no heating up. To me, a cold Greek pasta sounded like a match made in heaven. It’s easy to meal prep, stays good throughout the week, busting with whole food nutrition, and includes all the components of a balanced meal. I made a large batch of this Greek orzo pasta and filled it with everything I could think of. I even thought about calling this recipe Loaded Greek Orzo.

Furthermore, I got a bit creative and used a mash-up of the typical ingredients found in a Greek pasta. Black peppered feta cheese, San Marzano cherry tomatoes, citrus-marinated Kalamata olives, and lemon peppered chicken. It’s in the little details that brought this dish together, yet still allowing it to be different according to your individual taste. Feel free to use sun-dried tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes, or green olives instead of Kalamata olives, maybe even throw in some goat cheese instead of feta cheese. Other ingredients that can be utilized include fresh asparagus, chopped artichokes, or pickled pepperoncini peppers.

This recipe is wonderful straight out of the pan while it’s steaming hot with slightly melted feta cheese. However, it’s still wonderful after a night in the fridge, chilled yet soaking in all the bold flavors. So have it your way, either meal-prep it and bring it to the office during the week, or simply make it for dinner and enjoy it while it’s hot. I hope you enjoy this wonderful dish!