Description
You will love this Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo! It is a simple, one-pot dinner that delivers maximum comfort with a bright, zesty flavor. Get a rich, creamy sauce and perfectly cooked pasta without the hassle.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides and nearly cooked through; remove chicken and set aside.
- Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the orzo pasta and toast for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the orzo is almost tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pot. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until the chicken is heated through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half or evaporated milk for the heavy cream.
- If the sauce gets too thick while simmering, add a splash more broth or water.
- Make sure you use fresh lemon juice for the best bright flavor.
- This dish tastes best served right away while it is hot and creamy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg