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Looking for a fresh, zesty twist on your usual pasta salad? This Dill Pickle Chickpea Orzo Salad is the tangy, crunchy salad you didn’t know you needed. Packed with protein-rich chickpeas, tender orzo pasta, and plenty of dill pickles (plus a splash of that beloved pickle juice!), this salad brings bold flavor with minimal effort.
Karlynn’s Recipe Rundown: Dill Pickle Chickpea Orzo Salad
- My fresh new take on chickpea orzo salad is loaded with vegetables and pickles and drizzled with a pickle juice vinaigrette!
- This orzo salad is the perfect make-ahead option for picnics, potlucks, or quick weekday lunches. Its flavor gets even better when it sits overnight.
- The base recipe is not too pickle-y flavored, so it’s perfect for everyone’s tastes. However, pickle lovers can add in more pickles and make a stronger vinaigrette!
Quick Recipe Summary: Dill Pickle Chickpea Orzo Salad
- Cook the orzo to al dente according to the package instructions.
- Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
- Combine the dressing ingredients.
- Toss the salad with the dressing.
Ingredient Tips You Need to Know
- Orzo: You can use other pasta but the small orzo works well in this recipe.
- The Vegetables: You can use almost any vegetable you want! Add celery, more tomatoes, or diced red or green peppers. The dressing will pair with everything.
- The Pickles: Use dill and garlic pickles, large or small, as you need the dill pickle brine for the vinaigrette.
- Chickpeas: This would be great with almost all bean types. I would also try black beans or white beans.
Make This More Pickle Flavored
This recipe is perfect for all palates as it’s not strongly pickle flavored, as half of my family members don’t like things that are too pickle-y.
Add more pickle juice to the vinaigrette if you want a stronger pickle flavor. The vinaigrette is not a classic ratio; it is mostly pickle juice. Too much olive oil will interfere with the pickle taste.
Add more chopped pickles. I add one cup to mine, but if you love pickles, add another cup or two!
Add diced sweet pickles. I love sweet pickles and think they would be awesome in this recipe!
Storage Instructions
This is perfect for making ahead of time, and it tastes the best when made the day before and eaten the next day.
Store the prepared salad in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
My Suggestions for Different Pasta Salad Recipes
If this salad isn’t quite for you, try some of these reader favorites!
BLT Pasta Salad – Yes, this tastes like a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich in a salad!
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad -This version has fewer vegetables and a creamy dressing instead of a vinaigrette.
Greek Pasta Salad – This salad is one that we eat weekly during the summer, especially when we are camping out at the farm!
Picnic Macaroni Salad – This is just like your Grandma used to make! Retro and delicious!
Feel free to play around with all the ratios in this salad, and let me know in the comments below if you have tried it and what you think!
Happy cooking!
Love,
Karlynn
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Dill Pickle Chickpea Orzo Salad
Ingredients
Dill Pickle Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¾ cup dill pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- salt & pepper to taste
Orzo Salad Ingredients
- 1½ cups orzo pasta dry, uncooked
- 19 ounces canned chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 large English Cucumber diced
- 2 medium carrots diced
- 4 ounces feta cheese diced
- 1 cup dill pickles diced
- ½ cup chopped fresh dill
- 3 medium radishes sliced
- ⅓ cup sliced green onion
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients for the dill pickle vinaigrette in a lidded mason jar and shake to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- Add the chickpeas, cucumber, carrots, feta cheese, dill pickles, dill, and radishes to the salad bowl.
- Shake the vinaigrette again in the mason jar, then drizzle all over the salad ingredients in the bowl.
- Toss the salad ingredients with the vinaigrette, making sure to coat everything completely.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Add more dill pickles if you want a stronger dill pickle flavor.
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