Description
This One-Pan Lemon Chicken Orzo is a delicious, easy-to-make dinner that’s bursting with flavor! Juicy chicken thighs, tender orzo, and a zesty lemon sauce come together in one pan for a complete meal that’s quick to prepare and clean up. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a fresh, flavorful dish with minimal effort!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For the Orzo:
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cup baby spinach (optional)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear them for about 4-5 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the uncooked orzo to the skillet, stirring it into the butter and garlic. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly toasted.
- Pour in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and lemon juice and zest. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Place the chicken thighs back into the skillet, skin-side up. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F or 75°C) and the orzo is tender.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and stir in the baby spinach (if using) and Parmesan cheese. Allow the spinach to wilt, then serve the dish garnished with fresh parsley.
- Enjoy your delicious One-Pan Lemon Chicken Orzo!
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs if preferred, but make sure to adjust cooking time since chicken breasts cook faster.
- For extra flavor, add a little more lemon zest or even a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like some heat.
- If you don’t have spinach, feel free to use other leafy greens like kale or arugula.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 95mg