Lemon Chicken Orzo

closeup of lemon chicken orzo in a skillet

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This Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta with creamy parmesan sauce is bright, cozy and comes together in under 30 minutes.

Prep Time8

Cook Time22

Total Time30

Course: Dinner, lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean

Servings:

Calories: 678kcal

Author: Julie Clark

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 cup dry orzo pasta
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
Zest of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for serving
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
2 tablespoons salted butter
Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Toss the chicken pieces in salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder, evenly coating all the chicken. Pour the olive oil into a large deep skillet, over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and cook them for about 4-5 minutes, browning both sides. Place on a plate and loosely cover with foil. 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 tablespoons olive oil
Without washing the skillet, add the garlic and orzo and stir for about 30 seconds. 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 cup dry orzo pasta
Pour the chicken broth into the skillet and stir into the orzo. Bring to a gentle boil and cook until the orzo is tender, about 8-10 minutes. Most of the liquids will absorb. 2 cups chicken broth
Over low heat, add the heavy cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, stirring until everything is combined. 1/2 cup heavy cream, Zest of 1 lemon, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Add the spinach and butter and stir until the spinach has wilted and butter has melted. 1 cup chopped fresh spinach, 2 tablespoons salted butter
Place the chicken back into the skillet and mix so that the sauce coats the chicken. Cook for 2-3 minutes until all the flavors have combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Remove from heat and plate, sprinkling fresh chopped parsley and Parmesan over the top. Fresh parsley

Notes

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or stovetop. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of broth or water to loosen it up.

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 4, with 1 serving being 1/4 of the pasta. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **

Nutrition