Meal Prep

Greek Orzo Salad with Olives, Cucumbers, & Feta

~ Carrie Tyler ~ Leave a comment
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Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese in a bowl with wood spoon! It's combined with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

This is a recipe to make you go weak in the knees.  My Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese is seduction in a bowl!  Yes, I have been seduced and believe me, you will be too.  It’s creamy, tangy, crunchy, salty, fresh, bright, and irresistibly delicious.  The base here is Orzo, which is the perfect size and texture.  Cucumber brings a cool refreshing crunch.  The kalamata olives and feta bring the saltiness and tang that keep you coming back for more…and more…and more.   All of this goodness is combined with a creamy lemon dressing that’s bright and light!

Serve with my Ground Chicken Greek Meatballs!

This is a super easy recipe to make anytime because most of the ingredients come right out of your pantry or freezer!  Click here to get more pantry dinner ideas and  Pantry Must-Haves for Quick & Easy Dinners!

Spoonful of Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese over a bowl! It's combined with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

Cold Salads are EASY Meal Prep

Meal Prep with all the identical containers so perfectly organized.  

identical meal prep containers.

Do you look at this and think, “beautiful!  But it ain’t gonna happen in my house”?  Well, if you have kids and are making family dinners, of course it’s not gonna happen!  

Thats where making one big bowl of something, whether its a soup, a stew, a casserole, or a salad, can make all the difference.  You can make one bowl that everyone can serve themselves from.

Or you can make one bowl for YOU for lunches throughout the week.  Here are some other favorite cold salad ideas for meal prep:

Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese in a bowl with lemon on side. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

Quick note!  This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them.  This commission is what helps me keep this blog afloat :).  But, I also share these links because I have used the products, genuinely love them, and want you to know exactly what I used. 

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Nothing special for this one! Just medium pot for boiling the Orzo.

And mincing garlic is made super easy with a Garlic Press.

PREP-AHEAD FOR YOUR GREEK ORZO SALAD

We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are the steps you prepare in the day(s) in advance and store in the fridge as your meal Kit… (See the recipe below for more details) 

For this recipe, you can prep the entire salad ahead!  It will last 5-6 days in your fridge so you can enjoy it all week long!

Start by cooking your Orzo until al dente, then strain and rinse it with cold water. Store in the fridge until ready to mix.Cooked Orzo in bowl for Greek Orzo Salad.

While the pasta is cooking, prep the other ingredients:  Slice your cucumber, pit and quarter your olives, slice the scallions, chop the cilantro, crumble Feta.  Note: You can substitute parsley in for the cilantro, but I love the bright flavor that cilantro brings to this salad!

Kalamata Olives being quartered for Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light! Diced Cucumbers for Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

Once the pasta is cooled in a large bowl, add the cucumbers, olives, scallions, and feta.  I like to leave the cilantro out until the end.

Cucumber, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese, Scallions, and orzo all separate in bowl for Greek Orzo Salad.

Can I use another Pasta shape?

Yep!  I love Orzo because it’s such a small shape and size, so the dressing easily coats each and every piece.  Also the small shape allows the other ingredients to really stand out.  However, if you don’t have Orzo, you can use another small cut pasta, such as fusilli, rotini, ditalini, pene, or similar.

Do I have to use pasta?

Not at all!  You could use quinoa, rice, farro, or any other hearty grain you like!  If you want to skip the carbs all together, you could add in kale or other greens.  You could also make this into a meal by adding a protein such as chopped chicken breast or tuna or chickpeas.

PREP THE LEMON DRESSING

In a small mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.

Zest entire Lemon, then cut in half. Add the zest and juice from half of the lemon to the dressing. 

Zesting Lemon over bowl for Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese.

MIX & SERVE YOUR GREEK ORZO SALAD 

Mix the dressing and then add it to the orzo salad. Fold gently to completely combine.  Last fold in the fresh cilantro, saving some for garnish if you want.

Ingredients in bowl for Lemon dressing for Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese.

Pouring dressing over Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

Cilantro added to Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

Serve with cilantro garnish. This will last 5 days in the fridge!

ENJOY! 😍 Carrie

 

Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese in a bowl with spoon on side. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!
Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese in a bowl with spoon on side. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!
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Greek Orzo Salad with Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta

This Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese will make you go weak in the knees!  It's creamy, tangy, crunchy, salty, fresh, bright, and delicious.  It starts with Orzo pasta. Cucumber brings a cool refreshing crunch.  The kalamata olives and feta bring the saltiness and tang. All of this goodness is combined with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light! #greeksalad #orzosalad #pastasalad #picnicfood #summerrecipes #grillingsides #easysalads

Course pasta, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Greek
Keyword feta, kalamata olives, meatless, orzo, vegetarian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

Salad

  • 8 oz Uncooked Orzo 2 cups cooked
  • 3/4 cup Kalamata Olives, Pitted and quartered
  • 1/2 cup Crumbled Feta Cheese
  • 1/2 English Cucumber
  • 3 Scallions
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro You can substitute parsley

Lemon Dressing

  • 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp Honey
  • 1 Lemon
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper (or to taste)

Instructions

Prep Ahead Ingredients

  1. Boil a medium pot of water for the Orzo pasta. Once the pasta water is boiling, add a pinch of salt. Add the Orzo and stir. Boil the Orzo until al dente, about 5-8 minutes. Strain the pasta and rinse with cold water. Store in the fridge until ready to mix.

    Cooked Orzo in bowl for Greek Orzo Salad.

  2. While the pasta is cooking, prep the other ingredients: Wash your English cucumber and then slice in half lengthwise. Cut each half in half again lengthwise so it's now quartered. Slice into 1/4 inch thick slices.

    Diced Cucumbers for Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

  3. If your Olives are not pitted and quartered, do that now.

    Kalamata Olives being quartered for Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

  4. Slice the scallions. Chop the cilantro. Crumble Feta if not already done.

  5. Once the pasta is cooled in a large bowl, add the cucumbers, olives, scallions, and feta. I like to leave the cilantro out until the end and fold it in after the dressing.

    Cucumber, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese, Scallions, and orzo all separate in bowl for Greek Orzo Salad.

Prep Ahead Lemon Dressing

  1. In a small mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.

    Adding minced garlic to Lemon dressing for Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese.

  2. Zest entire Lemon, then cut in half. Add the zest and juice from half of the lemon to the dressing.

    Zesting Lemon over bowl for Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese.

Mix and Serve!

  1. Mix the dressing and then add it to the orzo salad. Fold gently to completely combine. Serve with cilantro garnish. This will last 5 days in the fridge!

    Cilantro added to Greek Orzo Salad with Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, and Feta Cheese. It's mixed with a creamy lemon dressing that's bright and light!

Easy Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin

~ Carrie Tyler ~ 2 Comments
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Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin sliced on board with sesame seeds and cup of sauce. It's sweet, tangy, salty, nutty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! Marinade ahead and then roast in the oven.

Sweet, tangy, salty, nutty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! This Chinese BBQ Pork tenderloin is absolutely the most easy and amazing recipe! Just a few prepared ingredients and a few fresh, plus some rice and veggies and you can have this Sweet & Savory Chinese BBQ Pork Dinner this week!

SIMPLE & FLAVORFUL

Easy dinners mean simple, accessible ingredients with big flavor.  That’s where this recipe really shines.  First, pork tenderloin is a lean protein that cooks up in the oven so simply within 25 minutes.  Second, the ingredients are ones that you can keep on hand in the pantry until you open them and then store them in the fridge.  

In terms of BIG flavor, the ingredients here definitely deliver!  Sweet Chili Sauce, Sesame Oil, Garlic, Ginger, and Ketchup!  I mean this recipe screams flavor!

Ok, let’s get to cooking!

PREP-AHEAD FOR YOUR CHINESE BBQ PORK 

I mean, does it get much easier than tossing all of the ingredients in a bowl and then pouring over the pork to marinate for 4-24 hours?  That’s it!  That’s your prep.  Ok, so there are a couple mincing steps, BUT, you can do those in bulk and store in the freezer for use for meals over several months!  Check out my Printable Freezer Hacks Cheat Sheet for more like this by CLICKING HERE!

Mince the garlic and the ginger.  Measure and add the other ingredients to the bowl.  Then whisk everything together.

Ingredients in bowls for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

Ketchup, Sweet Chilli Sauce, & Soy Sauce in bowl for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

Hand adding ingredients to bowl for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

Hand adding ingredients to bowl for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

Next, place the pork tenderloin in a storage container or bag.  Pour between one-third to one-half of the Chinese BBQ sauce over the pork.  Save the remaining sauce for after the pork is cooked.  

Marinate the pork sealed in the container in the fridge for 1 hour up to 24 hours.

Raw Pork Tenderloin in storage bag for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

Raw Pork Tenderloin marinating in storage bag for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

COOK YOUR CHINESE BBQ PORK TENDERLOIN

Place the marinated pork tenderloin on an oiled sheet pan.  Bake in a 400 degree F oven for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145F degrees in the center.

While the pork is cooking, place the remaining sauce in a small sauce pot with 2 tablespoons of water.  Bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat.

Raw Pork Tenderloin with sauce on pan for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

Because you have sugar from the sweet chili sauce and ketchup, you will see sauce charred on the sheet pan.  Let the pork rest on the pan for at least 5 minutes, up to 10 minutes. 

After the pork has rested, you can slice it.  

Cooked Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

Cooked and sliced Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauceYou have a couple options for the sauce at this point.  If you want to use the charred sauce on the pan, pour any juices from the pork onto the pan with a tablespoon of the simmered sauce and then whisk everything to get any of the loose charred bits up.  Then pour it all into the remaining sauce in the pot and mix to combine.  Serve the sauce on the side.

I like to serve this pork with some stir fry veggies, like onions, broccoli, carrots, and peppers.  On the side, either white rice or rice noodles.

That’s it!  ENJOY!  😍 Carrie

Print

Easy Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin

Sweet, tangy, salty, nutty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! This Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin is absolutely the most easy and amazing recipe! Just a few prepared ingredients and a few fresh, plus some rice and veggies and you can have this Sweet & Savory Chinese BBQ Pork Dinner this week! #familydinner #porktenderloinrecipes #porkloinrecipes #bbq #bbqsauce

Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword BBQ, chicken dinner, pork, pork tenderloin
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Sweet Chili Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Ketchup
  • 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 1 tsp Ginger, minced
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced 
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Sesame Oil
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 lb Pork Tenderloin
  • 2 tbsp Sesame Seeds for Garnish

Instructions

Prep-Ahead Steps

  1. Mince the garlic and the ginger.  Measure out all of the ingredients except for the sesame seeds and add them to the bowl, along with the garlic and ginger.  Then whisk everything together.

    Hand adding ingredients to bowl for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

  2. Place the pork tenderloin in a storage container or bag.  Pour between one-third to one-half of the Chinese BBQ sauce over the pork.  (Save the remaining sauce for after the pork is cooked.) Rub the sauce all over the pork so it is entirely covered. Marinate the pork sealed in the container in the fridge for 1 hour up to 24 hours.

    Raw Pork Tenderloin marinating in storage bag for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

Cook

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Place the marinated pork tenderloin on an oiled sheet pan and bake on center rack for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145F degrees in the center. Let the pork rest for 5-10 minutes so that the juices redistribute.

    Raw Pork Tenderloin with sauce on pan for Chinese BBQ Sauce for Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

  2. While the pork is cooking, place the remaining sauce in a small sauce pot and mix in 2 tablespoons of water.  Bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat.

  3. Also while the pork is cooking, toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan on medium heat. Stir constantly so they don't burn and remove from the heat as soon as you start to smell them. This only takes a couple minutes.

  4. After the pork has rested, slice it into 6-8 slices and garnish with the toasted sesame seeds.

    Cooked and sliced Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin. It's sweet, tangy, salty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! #chinesebbqsauce #bbq #bbqsauce

  5. You have a couple options for the sauce at this point.  If you want to use the charred sauce on the pan, transfer the pork to a platter. Pour any juices from the sliced pork onto the pan with a tablespoon of the simmered sauce and then whisk everything to get any of the loose charred bits up.  Then pour it all into the remaining sauce in the pot and mix to combine.  Serve the sauce on the side.

    Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin sliced on board with sesame seeds and cup of sauce. It's sweet, tangy, salty, nutty, and all together lick-your-fingers delicious! It's also easy to make! Marinade ahead and then roast in the oven.