One-Pan Chicken with Lemon Orzo Spinach & Feta
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This easy and delicious recipe brings together tender chicken, creamy orzo, and refreshing flavors in a single pan, making it a perfect choice for a stress-free meal.
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While you may prefer to skip to the recipe card, we suggest reading the entire blog post to avoid missing valuable tips and substitution suggestions and to ensure you have the necessary ingredients, equipment, and understanding of the steps and timings.
One-Pan Chicken with Lemon Orzo
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply craving a comforting yet hassle-free meal, one-pan chicken with lemon orzo is the ideal choice.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and convenience—everything is cooked in one pan and is on the table in 30 minutes!
The combination of juicy chicken, creamy, lemony orzo, vibrant spinach, and tangy Feta cheese will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more with each delectable bite.
So, get ready to amaze your palate and relish the flavors of our one-pan chicken recipe with lemon orzo, spinach, and feta.
Allow the tantalizing aroma to fill your kitchen, and immerse yourself in the gratifying experience of indulging in this delicious dish.
Reasons Why You’ll Love One-Pan Chicken with Lemon Orzo!
- Easy one-pan preparation—simplifies the cooking process and minimizes cleaning up, which allows you to focus on enjoying the company of your loved ones or the leisure of your mealtime
- Juicy and tender chicken—thinner pieces of chicken mean the meat cooks quickly, searing all the juices.
- Creamy and flavorful orzo—adds a delightful creaminess that complements the dish wonderfully.
- Tangy and savory flavors—vibrant spinach adds a pop of color and freshness to the dish, enhancing its visual appeal and taste. While the tangy feta cheese provides a delightful contrast and depth of flavor.
- Perfect for casual and special occasions—if you’re looking to elevate a casual weeknight meal or impress guests during a special gathering, this dish is sure to satisfy and impress.
Ingredients & Equipment Used In This Recipe
For convenience, the required ingredients and equipment for this recipe are linked to online stores like Amazon or Amazon Fresh, if available.
Ingredients Needed For Chicken with Lemon Orzo
- Fresh Produce – Onion, Garlic, Baby Spinach, Lemon, Parsley
- Protein – Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (butterflied and cut in half) or Chicken Cutlets if you can buy them in your grocery store.
- Dairy – Heavy Cream (Double Cream), Butter, Feta
- Other Fresh Ingredients –
- Pantry –Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Black Pepper
- Orzo Pasta – a versatile, rice-shaped pasta, good to use in soups, risottos, salads, and in this dish!
- Chicken Broth/Stock
- White Wine – use a wine you enjoy drinking, or you can substitute it for extra chicken broth/stock.
The complete list of ingredients with measurements is found on the recipe card at the end of this post.
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Equipment Needed For This Recipe
- Sharp Knife
- Chopping/Cutting Board
- Large Nonstick Frying Pan or Skillet
- Kitchen Tongs
- Rubber/Silicone Spatula – or you could use a Wooden Spoon if you prefer.
The Purple Pumpkin Blog uses both cups and weighted measurements in its recipes, making American cups and kitchen food scales useful tools for trying out all the recipes. I provide US customary, imperial, and metric measurements, but it’s important to note that while you can combine cup measurements with weighted measures, never mix US customary/imperial (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.) with metric (kilograms, grams, liters, etc.).
More Recipes Using Orzo
One of the hero ingredients in this dish is orzo, so here are some more recipes using the same:
How Do I Make One-Pan Chicken with Lemon Orzo?
The printable recipe card with the full ingredients list and instructions can be found at the end of this post.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes
Step 1 – Heat Pan: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat.
Step 2 – Cook Chicken: Season chicken cutlets generously with salt and pepper on both sides and place them in the hot pan.
Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Step 3 – Cook Orzo: Add the remaining olive oil to the pan, with the onion and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent.
Add the orzo and stir well to coat. Carefully add wine to deglaze the pan and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes or until the wine reduces by half.
Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a steady simmer. Cover with a lid and cook until the orzo is al dente.
Step 4 – Finish Orzo: Add spinach to the pan and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes or until the spinach wilts.
Stir in the lemon juice, heavy cream, and butter until the orzo becomes very creamy.
Step 5 – Add Chicken: Place the chicken breasts and any accumulated juices on top of the orzo and cover the pan with a lid.
Continue cooking for another 3 minutes or until the chicken and juices are completely cooked through.
Step 6 – Garnish & Serve: Uncover and sprinkle with fresh parsley and crumbled feta. Enjoy!
More One-Pan Recipes
Looking for more one-pan dishes to make? Check these recipes out next:
- Flavorful One-Pan Mediterranean Pork Chops for Busy Weeknights
- One-Pan Lemon Chicken with Summer Squash (Ready in 30 Minutes!)
- One Pan Roasted Vegetable, Chick Pea, & Rice Salad
Recipe Tips
- To ensure juicy chicken, don’t overcook it during the initial searing. The chicken will finish cooking while resting on top of the orzo.
- Use good-quality chicken broth to enhance the flavor of the orzo.
- Feel free to customize the dish by adding your favorite vegetables or herbs to the orzo.
Storing Leftovers & Freezing
- Storing Leftovers:
- Cool and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, place the desired portion in a microwave-safe dish and heat until warmed through.
- Add a splash of chicken broth or water if needed to maintain the desired consistency.
- If you are not a fan of feta, you can substitute freshly grated parmesan instead.
- Freezing Instructions:
- Not suitable for freezing.
- With all leftovers, ensure the food looks and smells okay before consuming.
- Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart for Cooking
- You can always consult the Food Standards Agency in your country for the most up-to-date advice on storing and freezing foods: Food Standards Agency (UK) | Food Safety (USA).
Printable Chicken with Lemon Orzo Recipe Card
To save ink, any demonstration photos on the recipe card do not print.
Chicken with Lemon Spinach Orzo & Feta
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- 4 chicken cutlets (or 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, butterflied and cut in half)
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- ½ cup white wine (or chicken broth)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 4 cups baby spinach, chopped
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 3 oz (85g) feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat.
- Season chicken cutlets generously with salt and pepper on both sides and place them in the hot pan. Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the pan, with the onion and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent. Add the orzo and stir well to coat. Carefully add wine to deglaze the pan and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes or until the wine reduces by half. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a steady simmer. Cover with a lid and cook until the orzo is al dente.
- Add spinach to the pan and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes or until the spinach wilts. Stir in the lemon juice, heavy cream, and butter until the orzo becomes very creamy.
- Place the chicken breasts and any accumulated juices on top of the orzo and cover the pan with a lid. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes or until the chicken and juices are completely cooked through.
- Uncover and sprinkle with fresh parsley and crumbled feta. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 677Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 219mgSodium: 1237mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 40g
This site uses Nutritionix to provide estimated nutrition. Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Dinner Party Menu Suggestions
You’ve made the main dish, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a menu for a dinner party or special meal:
- Appetizer: Greek Shrimp Saganaki
- Soup: Chilled Cucumber Avocado Soup
- Salad: Strawberry Feta Salad with Pecans and a Balsamic Glaze
- Side Dish: Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe
- Beverage: Raspberry Lime Vodka Cocktail
- Dessert: Poached Pears with Honey Mascarpone Cream
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy – please feel free to check them out too.