Lemon Herb Chicken Orzo Skillet (Printable)

Tender chicken, orzo pasta, and green peas in a bright lemon herb sauce. A light, one-pan Mediterranean-inspired meal.

# What you need:

→ Proteins

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta & Grains

02 - 1 cup orzo pasta

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup frozen green peas
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon

→ Liquids

07 - 2.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Herbs & Seasonings

08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 0.5 teaspoon salt, or to taste
12 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

→ Fats

13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How to make it:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until lightly golden. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in orzo, coating it in the oil and aromatics for 1 to 2 minutes.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and add oregano, lemon zest, and half the parsley and dill. Bring to a simmer.
05 - Return chicken and any juices to the skillet. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Add peas and lemon juice. Continue to cook uncovered for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring, until orzo is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
07 - Remove from heat. Adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with remaining herbs and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan so you spend less time washing up and more time enjoying your evening
  • The lemon and fresh herbs make it taste like something from a nice restaurant but its actually incredibly forgiving and hard to mess up
02 -
  • The orzo will continue absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so dont let it get completely dry or youll end up with a sticky mess
  • Adding the lemon juice at the end instead of the beginning keeps it bright and fresh instead of bitter
03 -
  • Use a microplane or zester to get just the bright yellow part of the lemon skin, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath
  • Chop your herbs right before adding them so they stay vibrant and do not turn dark from sitting too long
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