One Pot Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo
A simple, one-pot recipe for creamy chicken orzo flavored with lemon and herbs, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pot and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Stir in the orzo pasta and toast for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth and add the dried oregano. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. Return the cooked chicken to the pot.
- Continue to cook uncovered for 3-5 minutes, stirring until the sauce thickens slightly and the orzo is tender.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- If the orzo seems too thick, add a splash more broth or water until you reach your desired consistency.
- You can substitute fresh thyme for oregano for a different herbal flavor.
- For a richer flavor, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 9
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 110