Description
A bright and comforting one-pot meal featuring tender chicken, zesty lemon, and creamy orzo pasta. This easy-to-make dish combines fresh flavors and minimal cleanup, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Protein
- 2 chicken breasts, sliced
Pasta
- 1 cup orzo
Liquids & Fats
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings & Flavorings
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Warm the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat until shimmering to prepare for cooking the chicken and garlic.
- Cook the chicken: Add the sliced chicken breasts to the pan and cook until they are browned on all sides and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic: In the same pan, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, taking care not to burn it.
- Toast the orzo: Add the orzo to the pan with the garlic and toast for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently to coat the orzo in oil and develop flavor.
- Add broth and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer, allowing the orzo to cook and absorb the liquid.
- Return chicken and cook: Place the cooked chicken back into the pan, continuing to simmer until the orzo is tender and the chicken is heated through, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add lemon and seasonings: Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper, mixing well to combine all flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the dish before serving to add a fresh aroma and color.
Notes
- Add spinach during the simmer step for extra nutrition and color.
- Use pre-cooked chicken to reduce cooking time for a quicker meal.
- Adjust lemon quantity to suit your taste preference, adding more for extra zest.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
