Lemon Chicken Orzo
Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo is an easy one-pan dinner made with tender seasoned chicken, fresh spinach, bright lemon, and simple pantry ingredients. It’s comforting, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights without the extra prep or cleanup.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- ½ onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced (or 1 Tablespoon minced garlic)
- 1 cups orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups fresh spinach chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Lemon zested and juiced
Instructions
- Cover 1 1/2 lbs of chicken in plastic wrap or place in a storage bag. Pound the chicken to approximately 1/2 inch thick with a meat mallet.
- Remove from bag or plastic wrap and slice into strips.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat.
- Add the chicken directly to a large skillet. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning.
- Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, until browned.
- Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Stir in 1/2 (chopped) onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened.
- Add 3 cloves of garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Stir in 1 cup of orzo pasta, then pour in 2 cups of chicken broth and return the chicken back to the pan.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cover and simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the chicken is fully cooked.
- Stir in 2 cups of spinach, 1 cup of heavy cream, 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, 1 lemon zest and juice. Cook until the spinach wilts and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. The orzo will soak up the broth and sauce as it sits so add more broth when reheating.
Nutrition
Calories: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 1465mg | Potassium: 980mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2468IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 217mg | Iron: 2mg
