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Home » Recipes » Dinner » Chicken

April 18, 2023

One Pan Lemon Chicken Orzo

Published April 18, 2023 | Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Jump to Recipe

Wham! Bam! Done in one pan! This is a cheeky little number if ever there was one. Lemon chicken orzo bake, ready in three simple cooking stages and wildly flavoursome. It’s a tangy family favourite filled with nutritious lean meat and greens.

Serve this frisky Mixed Olive Tapenade with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta antipasto to really get the tastebuds tingling in anticipation.

top down view of cooked chicken thighs on top of orzo with kale in a pan

Searching for week night dinner inspo can be a bore and chore! But this recipe for a sharp and zingy chicken and pasta combo will have the plates licked clean, bellies full and vitamin levels restored. Don’t give it another thought.

Why you’ll love it

Where to start?? This easy lemon chicken orzo dish is a naughty little triple threat: delicious, convenient, nutritious.

Let’s start with delicious: a powerful line up of olives, pesto, lemon, Parmesan, Tuscan kale (Cavolo Nero) and chicken. It’s a flavour festival and this orzo recipe is your ticket in! 

Convenient: in under 40 minutes you can have a square meal on the table using standard shopping list ingredients. No need to hunt for exotic items. It’s a quick and easy one pan dinner.

Nutritious: skinless chicken and fresh leafy greens ensure your family is fuelled and well-fed.

top down view of a round pan with lemon chicken and orzo bake

What is orzo?

Stay with me here. This puzzling pasta looks like rice, it’s made from semolina flour, its name translates as ‘barley’ but it’s classified as pasta. Got that? Phew! 

But what you really need to know is that orzo pasta can be cooked in two ways. Either quickly in salted boiling water then drained, like pasta. Or more slowly beginning in cold water and not drained, like rice.

The results are very different! The first making the orzo firm and al dente, ideal for soups and salads like this Greek Orzo Salad. The second yields a rich creamy consistency, similar to a risotto, which is what we’re aiming for here. 

Another good example of this creamy goodness is Orzo Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash; a vegetarian dish that has all our fans raving!

basil pesto and lemon chicken orzo bake process images

Recipe tips and notes

  • I’ve used boneless chicken thighs. While chicken breast is the leanest and considered the healthiest, thighs are less expensive and the tastiest. The thigh meat is darker and firmer and definitely juicier than the breast. The choice is yours! And if your prefer bone-in thighs, that’s fine too.
  • Basil pesto is a shortcut to layer flavours. It’s a quick kick to fruity nuttiness thanks to the little pine nut (not actually a nut FYI.).
  • Coming across a rogue green olive in this dish is a delight. Contrasting with the other shapes and textures, it’s a briny flavour bomb in itself.
  • Lastly, don’t forget to throw in your greens! I use cavolo nero as I love the colour contrast and it’s slight bitterness. Leafy greens cook quickest so curly kale and spinach are equally speedy substitutes.

basil pesto orzo with chicken thighs and lemon wedges in a cast iron pan

Storage and leftovers

Leftovers can be frozen. But bear in mind the texture of the orzo might change from velvety smoothness to a little mushy! However, the completely cooled chicken orzo pasta bake can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Or cover and keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat on the hob with a splash of water to loosen. 

Favourite One Pan Dinner Recipes to Try:

  • Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta with Chicken and Pancetta
  • One Pan Greek Chicken and Orzo
  • Spanish Style Baked Chicken and Potatoes
  • Baked Penne alla Vodka with Meatballs
top down view of a round pan with lemon chicken and orzo bake

Lemon Chicken Orzo

Julia Frey of Vikalinka
Lemon chicken orzo bake with olives and Cavolo nero, ready in three simple cooking stages and wildly flavoursome.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Modern European
Servings 6
Calories 669 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 skinless boneless chicken thighs
  • salt
  • 2 large shallots or 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 100g/ ½ cup basil pesto
  • 1 lemon
  • 1.25 litre/5 cups chicken stock
  • 50g/1/4 cup pitted green olives
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 120g/4 oz Cavolo Nero/Kale, rib removed or spinach
  • 500g/17 oz orzo
  • 50g/1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Season the chicken thighs with salt and brown them in 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large and deep pan over medium heat until golden but not cooked all the way through. Remove to a plate.
  • To the same pan add the chopped onion and cook over low heat for 5-7 minutes, then add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds longer. Stir in basil pesto, juice of ½ lemon, chicken stock and salt, bring the liquid to a simmer. 
  • Once it’s bubbling add the chopped cavolo nero, Parmesan cheese, olives and orzo, stir to combine, then top with the chicken thighs, cover with a lid and cook in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and cook for 5-10 minutes longer. Serve with additional grated Parmesan and lemon wedges.

Nutrition

Calories: 669kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 43gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 1227mgPotassium: 822mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2470IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 224mgIron: 3mg
Keyword lemon chicken orzo
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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About Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.
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Julia from Vikalinka

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.

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