Garlic Lemon Chicken Orzo Skillet
Garlic Lemon Chicken Orzo Skillet is a delightful one-pan dish that blends savory chicken, aromatic garlic, and zesty lemon with tender orzo pasta. This vibrant meal is perfect for weeknight dinners or special gatherings, captivating your taste buds and leaving everyone asking for seconds. With its simple ingredients and foolproof techniques, even novice cooks can impress their family and friends with this restaurant-quality dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Main
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.5 lbs)
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients by chopping the garlic and zesting the lemons.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then sear for 6-8 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet. Add minced garlic to the pan; sauté for about 30 seconds.
- Stir in uncooked orzo pasta, ensuring it’s coated in the garlic flavor.
- Gradually pour in chicken broth and lemon juice; bring to a boil before reducing heat to simmer.
- Cook orzo for about 10 minutes until al dente, stirring occasionally.
- Return sliced chicken to the skillet along with lemon zest; mix well and garnish with parsley before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 300g)
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: For added nutrition, consider mixing in spinach or swapping chicken for shrimp. To keep leftovers moist when reheating, add a splash of water.