Not Your Mama's Pasta Salad

If you’re looking for something fairly simple to make for dinner tonight then this is the recipe for you!  It’s very light and fresh tasting, perfect for summer.  My Mom found it last year in Raley’s little monthly newsletter and it’s been a hit at home ever since.  If you’re incredibly lazy like me then you can use precooked chicken patties from Trader Joe’s and the bacon you can find in the salad section at the grocery store.  I’m not talking about bacon bits either, this is real bacon.  This cuts prep time into nothing!

BLT and Chicken Pasta Salad

Ingredients1½ cups orzo pasta (about 2/3 of a 1 lb. 

box) 

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken 

2 cups halved grape tomatoes 

2 cups thinly sliced spinach leaves or 

green leaf lettuce 

1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions 

4 strips bacon, cooked crisp and 

crumbled 

3 tbsp. olive oil 

1½ tbsp. white wine vinegar 

1/2 tbsp. Dijon mustard 

Salt and freshly ground pepper to tasteDirections

Prep time: 20 minutes, Cook time: 10 minutes

Cook orzo according to package directions, rinse with cold water to cool; drain. Stir together orzo, chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and bacon in a large bowl. Whisk together remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over salad and toss to coat.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.