Lemon Chicken Orzo
from kristineskitchenblog.comMy family loves this lemon chicken orzo! With tender orzo pasta, lemon, garlic and Parmesan, it's a delicious one pot meal.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 379kcal
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts see note
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 ½ cups orzo pasta
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus more to season chicken
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper plus more to season chicken
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¾ teaspoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups chopped fresh spinach loosely packed
- chopped fresh parsley and/or lemon slices if desired for serving
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until chicken is cooked through (it should be 165° F in the center), 4-8 minutes per side. Remove chicken to a clean plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of oil and the onion to the skillet. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth, water, orzo, ¼ teaspoon of salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Stir. Bring to a simmer. Then adjust the heat to maintain a low simmer, cover and cook for 8-11 minutes, until orzo is tender, stirring occasionally to make sure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. (If the dish runs out of liquid before the orzo is cooked, add a little more water.)
- Stir the butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, grated Parmesan and spinach into the orzo in the skillet. Stir until spinach wilts. Slice chicken breasts and add them to the skillet. Serve, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon slices, if desired.
Video
Notes
- If the chicken breasts are large, pound them to thin them out to an even thickness. This helps them to cook through more quickly and easily.
- If you prefer a creamier dish, you can stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream in the final step of the recipe, after the orzo is cooked.
Nutrition
Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 364mg | Potassium: 691mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1080IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 1mg
