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a skillet full of Lemon Chicken Orzo topped with fresh herbs and lemon slices.
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5 from 1 vote

Lemon Chicken Orzo

This Lemon Chicken Orzo is an irresistibly creamy risotto-style dish bursting with fresh citrus flavor. Best of all, it’s made in one pan in just 30 minutes! Perfect for quick weeknight dinners and special occasions.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: lemon chicken orzo
Servings: 4
Author: Erin Alvarez

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb. chicken breast
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 ½ cups dry orzo
  • 2 ½ cups chicken broth divided
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Juice from 2 small lemons and zest from 1 lemon divided
  • 2 cups spinach
  • cup parmesan cheese grated, or more to taste

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, stir the oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper together, then sprinkle the mixture over both chicken breasts until they’re coated.
  • Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken smooth-side down and cook for 5 minutes, then use kitchen tongs to flip over and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through; remove from the skillet.
  • To that same skillet, add a splash of broth to scrape up the brown bits, then add the onion and garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft.
  • Next, pour in the dry orzo, along with 2 cups of the chicken broth, heavy cream, and juice and zest from 1 lemon.
  • Bring mixture to a boil, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the orzo is cooked.
  • Add the spinach, remaining ½ cup of broth and remaining lemon juice (from 1 lemon) and stir for 2 minutes or until the spinach is soft.
  • Nestle the chicken back in, then top everything with parmesan cheese. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt and/or pepper if you’d like. Enjoy!

Notes

*Calories are per serving and are an estimation

Nutrition

Calories: 567kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 1126mg | Potassium: 768mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1975IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 2mg
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