Begin by preparing the chicken marinade. In a large bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, black pepper, and lemon zest.
Add the chicken and toss thoroughly until every piece is coated in the marinade.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. For deeper flavor, marinate for up to several hours in the refrigerator.
While the chicken marinates, prepare the lemon-oregano dressing.
Add olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper to a small jar.
Close tightly and shake vigorously until emulsified. Set aside.
Bring water or chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan.
Add the orzo and cook according to the package directions until al dente, stirring occasionally.
Drain the orzo thoroughly.
Transfer it to a large bowl and immediately toss with olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and black pepper.
Set aside and allow it to cool slightly while preparing the chicken.
Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat.
Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing excess marinade to drip away. Discard any marinade that contacted raw chicken.
Place the chicken in the hot skillet.
Cook for approximately 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
Continue cooking until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean cutting board.
Allow it to rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing. This helps keep the chicken juicy.
Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables.
Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, and halve the Kalamata olives.
For a milder onion flavor, soak the sliced red onion in cold water for approximately 10 minutes, then drain thoroughly.
Divide the warm or room-temperature lemon-herb orzo among four large serving bowls.
Arrange cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and Kalamata olives around the orzo.
Slice the rested chicken into strips or bite-sized pieces.
Place a generous portion of Greek chicken over each bowl.
Sprinkle crumbled feta generously over the chicken and vegetables.
Add fresh parsley and optional dill.
Drizzle the lemon-oregano dressing over each bowl.
Finish with freshly ground black pepper and an extra squeeze of lemon.
Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.
