Description
Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo is a delightful one-pan meal that combines tender chicken with creamy orzo pasta, enveloped in a bright lemon sauce and finished with rich Parmesan cheese. This dish is perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions, offering a comforting yet sophisticated blend of flavors that will impress your family and friends. With its ease of preparation and minimal cleanup, this recipe quickly becomes a go-to for any home cook seeking delicious, satisfying meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon slices, for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and sauté the chicken until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from skillet.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and orzo; toast for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in chicken broth while scraping browned bits from the skillet. Add heavy cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme, and crushed red pepper flakes (if desired). Simmer gently.
- Return chicken to the pan and cook uncovered until orzo is tender and sauce thickens, about 10-12 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and parsley; adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm with additional parsley and lemon slices.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pan
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1¼ cups (300g)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg