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    Home » Side Dishes » Pastas & Grains

    Published: May 28, 2021 by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Orzo and Chickpea Salad Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    This Easy Orzo and Chickpea Salad recipe is the perfect healthy addition to your summer menu! With vibrant Mediterranean flavors and protein-packed garbanzo beans, this salad works great as a side dish for BBQ or a light and refreshing lunch.

    Chickpea Salad recipe in a silver dish on a wood board. Garnished with fresh oregano.

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    There are so many things to love about summer, but I particularly love the transition to a whole new seasonal menu. The heavy meat and potato meals of winter are behind us, and we can now focus on simple, fresh meals full of fruits and veggies we get from our garden.

    This Easy Orzo and Chickpea Salad recipe is the perfect example. It’s a snap to make in advance for a backyard BBQ, plus it doubles as a tasty lunch or snack to pull out of the fridge when hunger strikes.

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Expert tips for making this Chickpea Salad recipe
    • More pasta salad recipes
    • Recipe

    Why this recipe works

    • Fast and flavorful: With just a handful of fresh ingredients plus your pantry staples, you can create this flavorful Greek chickpea salad in no time. It's the perfect side dish for grilled meats or makes a great lunch you can eat throughout the week.
    • Plant-based protein: Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, give this salad a boost of healthy, plant-based protein.

    Ingredients

    Oregano vinaigrette ingredients for chickpea salad.
    Oregano vinaigrette ingredients
    Ingredients for Orzo and Chickpea Salad including chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, orzo and goat cheese.
    Orzo and chickpea salad ingredients

    A few ingredient notes:

    • I specify orzo in the recipe but any other small shaped pasta like rings or ditalini will work, too.
    • Not a goat cheese fan? Feta cheese is a tasty substitute.
    • I used canned chickpeas but feel free to cook dried garbanzo beans if you prefer.

    Instructions

    There are two steps to this salad: make the vinaigrette and then assemble the salad.

    Oregano vinaigrette in a mason jar.

    Combine vinaigrette ingredients in a mason jar and shake vigorously until emulsified.

    Orzo and Chickpea salad recipe ingredients in a glass bowl.

    Place salad ingredients together in a bowl and stir to mix. Drizzle with ¾ of vinaigrette and stir again. Pop salad in the fridge for at least an hour and drizzle with reserved dressing when serving.

    FAQs

    What are chickpeas?


    Chickpeas or garbanzo beans are legumes that high in fiber, iron, and protein. A real plant-based superfood! You can buy dry chickpeas at the grocery store, but they are also found cooked and labeled in the canned goods section as Garbanzo Beans.

    If you’ve ever eaten hummus, you’ve eaten chickpeas. They are the primary ingredients in hummus.

    How can I make this salad gluten free?


    You can easily substitute regular orzo for gluten-free orzo. Our favorite brand is Delallo.

    Can I use other beans?


    Sure! If you can't find garbanzo beans, we suggest Great Northern Beans as a substitute. They have similar buttery flavor that would pair nicely with the rest of the ingredients.

    How should I store leftovers?


    Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Refresh the flavor of this garbanzo bean salad recipe with an extra splash of the oregano vinaigrette before serving.

    How should I serve this chickpea salad recipe?


    We serve this chilled right out of the fridge or at room temperature!

    Silver bowl filled with orzo and chickpea salad. Garnished with fresh oregano, tomatoes and cucumbers.

    Expert tips for making this Chickpea Salad recipe

    • Add some grilled chicken or fish and make this Mediterranean chickpea salad a complete meal!
    • Feta cheese is an excellent substitute for goat cheese in this salad.
    • Don't have orzo on hand? Try another small pasta like rings or ditalini.
    • I sometimes toss in a handful of kalamata olives to this garbanzo bean salad for even more Greek flavor.
    • Not serving this salad right away? Toss the salad with only ¾ of the vinaigrette and refresh the salad with the remaining dressing right before serving.

    More pasta salad recipes

    • Caprese pasta salad in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon on the side.
      Caprese Pasta Salad
    • pasta salad in white bowl on table.
      Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

    You can find all of our side dishes in our archives.

    
    
    Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 
    
    Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers! 
    
    
    

    Recipe

    featured image for orzo salad.

    Easy Orzo and Chickpea Salad Recipe

    Garnish With Lemon
    Need a protein-packed vegetarian pasta salad recipe? This Easy Orzo and Chickpea Salad Recipe is a delicious side dish for backyard BBQs!
    4.92 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 23 minutes mins
    Course Side Dishes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 272 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Mason Jars
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Cutting Boards

    Ingredients
      

    • ¾ cup dried orzo
    • 6 tablespoons olive oil
    • 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
    • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
    • 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
    • 1 ½ cups chopped cucumber
    • 1 ½ cups chopped tomatoes
    • 3 cups cooked chickpeas or 3 cups canned, rinsed chickpeas

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    Instructions
     

    • Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
    • While orzo is cooking, Combine olive oil, vinegar, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper in a small mason jar. Shake vigorously to combine.
    • Add cooked orzo, goat cheese, cucumber, tomatoes and chickpeas to a large bowl and stir to combine. Drizzle ¾ of oregano vinaigrette over orzo mixture and stir to combine. Chill for at least 1 hour. Stir before serving and add remaining vinaigrette if desired.

    Notes

    • This salad tastes great chilled or at room temperature. 
    • Feta cheese is an excellent substitute for goat cheese in this salad.
    • Reserve ¼ of the dressing if making this salad ahead of time and mix in right before serving for the freshest flavor. 
     

    VIDEO

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 272kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 10gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 338mgFiber: 6gSugar: 4g

    Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!
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    About Anna

    Hi, I’m Anna, a former corporate communications nerd turned food fanatic. Turns out I like cooking for others A LOT more than explaining HR policies to them. C’mon over!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathy says

      June 07, 2025 at 12:46 pm

      Could artichokes be added to this? If so, would you use marinated ones & use the marinade or would one need to drain it off? Or, could artichokes in water be used [drained of course]. I'd cut them in half.
      Also, if using Kalamata olives, do they need to be pitted?
      Could Italian seasoning be substituted for the dried oregano. Or would fresh oregano be better and how much fresh?
      Thank you. Sounds great. I am making it for our church picnic and will do it tonight for tomorrow.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        June 07, 2025 at 1:30 pm

        Hi Kathy, you can definitely add artichokes to this! Either marinated or canned would work, though I would drain both options before adding to the salad so it doesn't get soupy with the extra liquid. Kalamata olives should be pitted, and Italian seasoning could easily be used in place of the oregano. I prefer dried herbs when I make vinaigrettes like the one in this recipe because I almost always have them on hand, but feel free to sprinkle some fresh oregano leaves on top of the finished dish if you want. Enjoy the picnic!

        Reply
    2. Karen says

      April 07, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      This is so simple and delicious! Great as a simple meal on a bed of arugula. Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        April 07, 2021 at 2:26 pm

        So glad you liked it, Karen! It's one of our summer faves, too.

        Reply
    4.92 from 12 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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