Description
A comforting one-pot meal featuring tender chicken, earthy orzo, and zesty lemon, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound chicken thighs or breasts
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup orzo
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- Fresh parsley or thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Spinach or cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the chicken, seasoned with salt and pepper, and brown it on all sides.
- Pour in the broth and bring to a simmer. Add the orzo, ensuring it’s submerged.
- Cover the pan and reduce to low heat; cook for about 12 minutes until the orzo is tender.
- Stir occasionally, adding more broth if necessary to prevent sticking.
- Once the orzo absorbs most of the broth, stir in the lemon juice and zest, along with fresh herbs and spinach.
- Serve hot, garnished with more herbs if desired.
Notes
Substitutions can be made for chicken, orzo, and herbs as desired. Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and can also be frozen.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken, orzo, lemon, one-pot meal, quick dinner, Southern cooking