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Lemon Chicken and Orzo: A One Pot Recipe

Published by Kelly // Join The Conversation: 33 Comments

Lemon Chicken and Orzo One Pot Recipe

I love one pot meals!  And this Lemon Chicken and Orzo is no exception!  I needed something fast and easy on a week night and this is an excellent go to meal!  Ready in under 40 minutes!

What is Orzo?

Orzo is a type of pasta that is shaped like rice grains. It is often mistaken for rice due to its small, rice-like appearance. Orzo is made from semolina flour, which is the same flour used to make traditional pasta. It is commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines and can be found in various dishes, such as soups, salads, and pilafs. Despite its resemblance to rice, orzo has a distinct pasta-like texture and flavor.  I love using orzo in recipes as it is easy and a little goes a very long way!

Variations

This is delicious with chicken as your protein base.  Or you can use rotisserie chicken or left over chicken so all you need to do is add it at the end of the recipe.  My preference is to  cook it fresh. Another protein that would make a great variation is shrimp!  I would make the shrimp in a separate pan, but this would still be a tasty option.

Furthermore, another excellent variation is to cut up asparagus instead of spinach.  It makes a great addition if you don’t have spinach on hand!  My most recent variation is I added roasted garlic and cherry heirloom tomatoes.  I had purchased the Le Creuset Olive Branch Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte before Christmas and had yet to use it!  So I roasted the garlic and tomatoes, then added it to the finished product!  It was exceptional!

 

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5 from 10 votes

One Pot Lemon Chicken and Orzo

This is a one pot meal that can be ready in 40 minutes or less. A great weeknight meal to help you stay out of the kitchen!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken recipe, easy dinner recipe
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Boneless Chicken Breast, cut into bite size pieces *use rotisserie chicken to save time!
  • 1.5 cups Orzo Pasta
  • 1.5 cups Chicken Broth
  • .5 cups 2% or Whole Milk *you can use heavy cream for a thicker consistency
  • 2 Lemons
  • 1 Bag Fresh Spinach, chopped
  • 1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan *extra for garnish
  • 1 Shallot, chopped
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced *or one teaspoon of pre-made minced garlic
  • 2-3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Warm a saute pan on medium heat and add oil. Cook your chicken pieces until done, occasionally stirring. About 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, remove from heat and place in a separate bowl. Set aside.
  • Add a little more live oil to pan with minced garlic and chopped shallots. Cook until soft and fragrant. About 5 minutes.
  • Add orzo pasta. Stir until orzo is coated in oil and slightly browned. This will help prevent the grains from sticking. 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and milk. Stir until combined. Add zest and juice from both lemons.
  • Reduce heat and cover, occasionally stirring. Cook until the orzo absorbs most of the liquid and is soft. 7-9 minutes.
  • Add shredded Parmesan and stir until melted. Finally, add the spinach and cover until wilted. About 5-7 minutes.
  • Add chicken and stir until thoroughly combined! Then serve with shredded Parmesan cheese or chopped fresh parsley! Dinner is done!
lemon chicken orzo
This is the recipe with the roasted garlic and tomatoes!
Next SignConclusion

Without further ado, I hope you and your family enjoy this one pot, Lemon Chicken Orzo as much as we did!

 

 

 

Products I LOVE!

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My family gave me this amazing set of pots and pans for Christmas this year.  It was exactly what I wanted!  Not only are they pretty, but it is amazing cookware too!  Order HERE from AMAZON or to learn more!

 

More importantly, thank you for spending your time here at Colorado Kelly!  I love having you here and appreciate everyone that comes to visit and look forward to having you come back soon!

*This post may contain affiliate links! That means; I may get a commission at no additional cost to you!  I do not recommend any products/services that I don’t use and love myself!

Related Topics:

Spicy Chicken Pasta

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Summer Orzo Salad

Burrito Bake

Corn Chowder with Shredded Chicken

 

about kelly

About Kelly

Kelly is passionate about helping people feel beautiful from the inside out! She also loves helping people create thriving at home businesses! If you are interested in learning more about Kelly's journey Read more here...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Ben

    5 stars
    The flavors in this dish are amazing, and I love how easy it is to make. I’m not a particularly big fan of cleanup, so one pot is always a winner for me!

    Reply

  5. LisaLisa

    5 stars
    OMgoodness this dish looks so good. I love how simple it is to cook and all the ingredients will work well with this dish. I will say, I do use lemons a lot when cooking my chicken and wow does it add flavor, but I have yet tried this recipe.

    Reply

  6. Luna S

    I love how the plate looks in the end, would make a great dish to make for a date night & I bet the bit of lemon adds a great pop of flavor. Thanks for our next date night suggestion!

    Reply

  9. Elizabeth Flores

    A creamy pasta dish?? Sign me up! i love all pastas that come in a creamy sauce. I will have to give this a try with this current cold weather.

    Reply

  10. Clarice

    I am not really familiar with Orzo but I would love to try. I will try to check if we have this locally so, I can try this Lemon Chicken and Orzo recipe. It looks delicious.

    Reply

  11. Kat

    5 stars
    Just whipped up your Lemon Chicken and Orzo. It’s a flavor explosion! Your pics got me drooling, and your easy instructions made me feel like a kitchen superstar.

    Reply

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