Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo
Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed
- 1 teaspoon garlic and herb seasoning, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning, or to taste
For the Orzo
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups dry orzo
- 3 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, or 2 tablespoons for stronger flavor
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, from 1/2 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Pat the chicken breasts dry. Drizzle with olive oil and season generously with garlic and herb seasoning, smoked paprika, and lemon pepper seasoning. Ensure all sides are coated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until browned. The chicken will not be fully cooked through at this stage. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add butter and diced onion to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften and become translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Add the dry orzo, chicken stock, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard to the skillet. Stir to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
While the orzo mixture is coming to a boil, cut the seared chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Once the orzo mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to low. Add the cut chicken pieces back into the skillet. Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
⏱️ 12 min
- 7
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice until well combined and creamy.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo
For the Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed
- 1 teaspoon garlic and herb seasoning, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning, or to taste
For the Orzo
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups dry orzo
- 3 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, or 2 tablespoons for stronger flavor
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, from 1/2 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Pat the chicken breasts dry. Drizzle with olive oil and season generously with garlic and herb seasoning, smoked paprika, and lemon pepper seasoning. Ensure all sides are coated.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until browned. The chicken will not be fully cooked through at this stage. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add butter and diced onion to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften and become translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add the dry orzo, chicken stock, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard to the skillet. Stir to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
While the orzo mixture is coming to a boil, cut the seared chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Once the orzo mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to low. Add the cut chicken pieces back into the skillet. Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
⏱️ 12 min - 7
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice until well combined and creamy.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
⏱️ 1 min