Greek Pasta Chicken Salad Jars (Printable)

Mediterranean-inspired layered orzo with chicken, vegetables, olives and creamy feta in portable jars.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta & Protein

01 - 1 cup dry orzo pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Add-Ins

08 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
09 - 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1 garlic clove, minced
14 - 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
15 - 1/4 tsp sea salt
16 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# How-To:

01 - Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Cool completely before assembling.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Set out four 16 oz mason jars or similar airtight containers with lids.
04 - Divide dressing evenly among jars. Top with red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber. Add cherry tomatoes, then cooked orzo. Layer chicken, olives, and feta. Finish with fresh parsley.
05 - Seal jars tightly and refrigerate up to 4 days. Shake jar to distribute dressing before serving, or empty into bowl and toss.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Mason jars keep everything impossibly crisp for days, no sad soggy lettuce here
  • The layers become more flavorful as they marinate together in the fridge
  • Perfect for those Sundays when you want to prep something that feels like a treat all week
02 -
  • Always put the dressing in first and delicate ingredients like feta and parsley on top
  • Let the orzo cool completely before assembling or it will wilt the vegetables
  • The order really matters for keeping everything fresh and crisp all week
03 -
  • Wide mouth jars are so much easier to fill and clean than regular ones
  • Invest in a good jar opener if you pack these tight the vacuum seal can be stubborn
  • Double the dressing recipe and keep extra in a separate container for refreshing day four jars
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