Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo
Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon seasoning blend, your favorite (e.g., Italian blend), as needed
- 2 tablespoons black pepper, adjust to taste
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 3 cups orzo pasta, uncooked
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 4 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 2 handfuls baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- 1
Warm a large pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the olive oil to the pan.
⏱️ 1 min
- 2
Add the cubed chicken breast to the pan. Season generously with your favorite seasoning blend and the black pepper. Mix well to coat the chicken. Cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Add the diced onion to the cooked chicken. Stir and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften and become translucent.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and continue to cook for another 3 minutes, allowing their flavors to meld with the chicken and onion.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Add the minced garlic to the pan. Give it a quick mix and cook for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Pour in the uncooked orzo pasta and the chicken broth. Stir everything well to combine. Squeeze in the juice from both lemons and mix again.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Sprinkle the fresh chopped basil over the mixture. Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for 10 minutes, allowing the orzo to absorb the liquid and cook.
⏱️ 10 min
- 8
Uncover the pan and give everything a good mix to prevent sticking. Add the baby spinach, then cover the pan again and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Mix everything well once more. Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine thoroughly, creating a creamy sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce and is fully incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon seasoning blend, your favorite (e.g., Italian blend), as needed
- 2 tablespoons black pepper, adjust to taste
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 3 cups orzo pasta, uncooked
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 4 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 2 handfuls baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- 1
Warm a large pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the olive oil to the pan.
⏱️ 1 min - 2
Add the cubed chicken breast to the pan. Season generously with your favorite seasoning blend and the black pepper. Mix well to coat the chicken. Cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the diced onion to the cooked chicken. Stir and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften and become translucent.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and continue to cook for another 3 minutes, allowing their flavors to meld with the chicken and onion.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Add the minced garlic to the pan. Give it a quick mix and cook for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Pour in the uncooked orzo pasta and the chicken broth. Stir everything well to combine. Squeeze in the juice from both lemons and mix again.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Sprinkle the fresh chopped basil over the mixture. Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for 10 minutes, allowing the orzo to absorb the liquid and cook.
⏱️ 10 min - 8
Uncover the pan and give everything a good mix to prevent sticking. Add the baby spinach, then cover the pan again and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Mix everything well once more. Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine thoroughly, creating a creamy sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce and is fully incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 min