Roasted Chicken and Barley Salad
A flavorful chicken barley salad packed with veggies, tender chicken, and barley. This hearty one-dish meal is both satisfying and perfect for any time of day.
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
Salad
- 1½ cups pearled barley
- 3¾ cups water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 1 red onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 English cucumber diced
- 2 bundles curly leaf parsley chopped (about 3 cups chopped)
- 10 ounces cooked chicken shredded or chopped; a rotisserie chicken works well
lemon honey dressing
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup light olive oil
Instructions
Salad
- Combine the barley, water and salt in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Cook for 35 to 50 minutes until the barley is tender. Let sit until cool. You can speed the cooling up by spreading the barley on a platter and putting it in the fridge.
- In a large bowl combine the cooked barley with the chopped vegetables and chicken.
Dressing
- Combine all of the ingredients in a jar, seal tightly and shake until well combined.
- Stir the dressing into the salad.
Video
Notes
Rinse and inspect the barley: Rinse well under cold water and check for any small pebbles before cooking.
Watch the cooking time: Pearled barley can vary by brand. Begin checking for tenderness at 25–30 minutes, but some batches may take up to 45–50 minutes.
Using hulled barley: Hulled (whole-grain) barley requires a longer cook time. Add 20–25 minutes and extra water as needed, and expect a firmer texture.
Cool before mixing: Let the barley cool completely before adding vegetables to prevent wilting and excess moisture.
Taste before serving: Barley absorbs dressing as it sits, so adjust seasoning just before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 198mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g
