Description

This skillet lemon garlic chicken and orzo is a simple one-pan dinner made with tender chicken, cozy orzo, bright lemon, garlic, spinach, and freshly grated parmesan. It’s flavorful, family-friendly, and perfect for an easy weeknight meal that still feels a little special.

Ingredients

Scale

1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup orzo
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Optional: fresh parsley, extra lemon wedges, red pepper flakes

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Instructions

Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked through yet. Remove it to a plate.
Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet, then add the garlic and orzo. Stir for 1-2 minutes, allowing the garlic to become fragrant and the orzo to lightly toast.
Pour in the chicken broth, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Nestle the chicken back into the skillet. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
Stir in the spinach and parmesan until the spinach wilts and the orzo becomes creamy.
Taste and adjust with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed. Serve warm with parsley, extra parmesan, red pepper flakes, or a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Notes

Chicken thighs stay especially juicy in this recipe, but chicken breasts work well, too. If using large chicken breasts, consider slicing them in half horizontally so they cook more evenly.

Freshly grated parmesan melts best and gives the orzo a creamier texture.

If the orzo absorbs the liquid too quickly, add an extra splash of broth.

This reheats well for lunch the next day. Add a splash of broth or water when reheating to loosen it back up.