Lemon Chicken and Orzo – The Stay At Home Chef

With contemporary, vibrant lemon and herbs, this one-pot meal is our favourite strategy to efficiently pull off a home-cooked meal throughout the busy workweek. This straightforward recipe covers your whole bases—prepared in simply 45 minutes and tremendous flavorful whereas nonetheless being a lighter choice that doesn’t depart you feeling weighed down.

Love Orzo previous as a lot as we do? Attempt our straightforward and scrumptious One Pot Italian Chicken Orzo.

Orzo pasta elevates this easy dish and pairs effectively with the lemon rooster, conserving issues fascinating so that you don’t must fall again on boring, boiled pasta. If you want a fast and simple dinner with minimal cleanup, this Lemon Rooster and Orzo is the proper answer.

Ingredient Notes

• Rooster Breasts: It’s also possible to use boneless thighs if you happen to want darker meat. Simply be sure to chop them into bite-size items and trim off any fats.
• Olive Oil: Substitute with any impartial cooking oil, similar to vegetable or canola oil.
• Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can finest management the flavour. It’s an incredible chef tip.
• Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works effectively and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed at all times has the most effective taste.
• Orzo: This short-cut pasta resembles rice and is discovered within the pasta aisle in a field or plastic container. Verify the cooking time in your package deal for the most effective outcomes.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded or grated Parmesan at all times melts the most effective.

Rooster Choices

Rotisserie Rooster: In case you’re in a rush, rotisserie rooster is a implausible time-saver. Since rotisserie chickens are often a loss chief for grocery shops, it’s a money-saver too! Merely shred about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of pre-cooked rooster and stir it in throughout the previous few minutes of cooking.

Leftover Rooster: Received leftover rooster from a earlier meal? Whether or not it’s grilled, baked, or roasted, you possibly can simply shred it and add it to your soup. This can be a nice strategy to reduce waste and provides new life to leftovers.

Rooster Thighs: In case you want darkish meat, boneless rooster thighs are a tasty various to rooster breasts. They add a richer taste to the soup and have a tendency to remain extra tender and juicy. Sear and cook dinner them simply as you’d rooster breasts.

Add Veggies

Simply add some shade to this one-pot dish by incorporating contemporary greens. Asparagus, broccoli, and inexperienced beans are all nice choices that pair effectively with lemon, basil, and parmesan.

For asparagus, add chopped asparagus over the past 3–4 minutes of cooking so it stays tender-crisp.

For broccoli, stir in small broccoli florets about 5 minutes earlier than the orzo is completed to make sure they soften with out changing into mushy.

For inexperienced beans, reduce into bite-sized items and add them over the past 5 minutes of cooking for the most effective texture.

If utilizing softer veggies like spinach or cherry tomatoes, stir them in after turning off the warmth and allow them to wilt from the residual heat.

The Proper Pan

Measurement Issues: Go for a big, deep skillet (12 inches or greater). It provides the rooster and orzo loads of room to cook dinner evenly and retains every thing from spilling out if you stir.

Lid Required: You’ll want a lid to cowl the pan whereas the orzo cooks. In case your skillet doesn’t have one, no worries—simply cowl it tightly with foil.

No skillet? No downside! A large, shallow Dutch oven or braiser works like a allure.