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A white bowl of lemon chicken orzo garnished with lemon rings.
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Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta

Change up your dinner routine with this easy one pan wonder dinner. Seared tender chicken served up with delicious, creamy and lemony orzo pasta for a satisfying meal that comes together in just 30 minutes!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean / American
Diet: Halal
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 800kcal
Author: Amira

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoon olive oil divided
  • 2 lbs chicken breasts cut into strips
  • 1 Lemon zest and juiced
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 ⅓ cup orzo uncooked
  • 2 ½ cup chicken broth
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • ¾ cup grated parmesan
  • 1 cup peas thawed
  • Top with chopped parsley and/or shaved parmesan

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, add in the Italian seasoning, oregano, salt and pepper. Pat the chicken dry and rub the seasoning on the chicken strips covering both sides.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and add chicken. Turn the chicken as it cooks. Once fully cooked, meaning the inside is no longer pink, take chicken out of the skillet and set aside.
  • Keep using the same skillet and add another tablespoon of olive oil, lemon zest and minced garlic. Sauté the lemon zest and garlic on medium-low heat for about 30 seconds to a minute, depending on how hot your skillet is from the chicken.
  • Add in orzo and combine it with the seasonings in the pan. Scrape the pan to get all the flavors mixed. If the orzo starts to brown, decrease the heat.
  • Pour in the chicken broth, give it a couple of stirs and bring it to a boil in the skillet.
  • Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, depending on your liking. Turn the heat down to low and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes or until the liquid is almost gone and the orzo is al dente.
  • Stir in the heavy cream and grated parmesan. Mix until combined.
  • The chicken and peas can be added to the skillet. Cook until the orzo is tender and the chicken is fully cooked with an internal temperature of 165°F. If the orzo starts to stick to the bottom of the pan, you can add additional chicken broth or water to ensure it cooks until tender.

Notes

  • The chicken breasts are cut into strips to make it easy and quick to cook in your skillet.
  • You can also chop up the chicken for smaller bites.
    The cook time of the chicken may vary due to the size and thickness of the chicken.
  • This recipe is versatile and also works with chicken thighs.
  • This one pan recipe can also be made using grilled or precooked chicken, such as rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken. If you are using precooked chicken, chop or shred it up and proceed to the step where the olive oil, garlic and lemon zest are added.
  • One lemon is needed for the recipe, but you may want to have extra on hand if you want a stronger lemon flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 800kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 65g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 216mg | Sodium: 1458mg | Potassium: 1232mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1240IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 295mg | Iron: 4mg