One-Pot Lemon Hen and Orzo

Tender rooster, orzo pasta, tomatoes and spinach come collectively in a lemony cream sauce for a scrumptious dinner made multi function pan. This one-pot lemon rooster and orzo will develop into a weeknight dinner favourite very quickly!

We love one-pot dinners round right here. There’s nothing higher than minimal cleanup and having a meal that my household will fortunately gobble up.

One-pot spaghetti and one-pot beef stroganoff are massive hits round right here. I needed so as to add to my record of one-pot dinners with one thing round rooster and orzo (considered one of my favourite little pasta shapes) and this one-pot lemon rooster and orzo was born.

Between the rooster, the orzo, and the spinach and tomatoes, that is really a full meal in a single pan. Speak about a weeknight dinner win!

What’s orzo?

In the event you’ve ever eaten orzo at a restaurant or seen it in ready salads at locations like Complete Meals, you may assume it’s a kind of rice due to the form.

However orzo is definitely pasta! You’ll find it within the grocery retailer with the opposite small, formed pasta.

Orzo is nice in pasta salad recipes like my Greek orzo salad and herbed shrimp orzo salad. It’s additionally scrumptious in soups and one-pot dishes like one-pot orzo with rooster sausage and this one-pot lemon rooster and orzo.

Similar to most pastas, you’ll be able to typically discover entire wheat orzo along with common orzo. Be at liberty to make use of the entire wheat model on this recipe should you’d prefer to up the fiber and protein content material.

There are even gluten-free orzo choices out there for anybody who adheres to a gluten-free food plan.

My savory one-pot lemon rooster and orzo

This one-pot lemon rooster and orzo has so many nice issues packed into one dish.

Tender rooster is nestled right into a pot of creamy orzo. A pop of lemon and dijon mustard carry tons of taste and brighten the dish. 

Add within the spinach and the tomatoes for shade and further taste and also you’ve bought a complete lot of goodness on this meal.

Your entire recipe cooks in a single pot, so you have got fewer dishes to scrub when dinner is over. The leftovers additionally make nice lunches later within the week!

The best way to make lemon rooster and orzo

This one-pot lemon rooster and orzo appears fancy, nevertheless it’s really fairly simple to make. Let’s speak by it!

Substances you’ll want

Don’t be intimidated by the lengthy record of components for this recipe. When you get into the recipe, you’ll see that it’s really not that unhealthy.

To make this dish, you will have:

• 2 kilos boneless/skinless rooster breasts or thighs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 massive diced
• 4-5 minced cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups rooster inventory
• 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 cups dry orzo
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 4 tablespoons lemon juice
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 10 ounces halved cherry or grape tomatoes (elective)
• 5 ounces contemporary child spinach
• Salt and pepper to style

I created this recipe so as to use rooster breasts or thighs, whichever you like or have readily available. 

I like so as to add cherry or grape tomatoes to my lemon rooster and orzo. I just like the added acidity and the pop of shade they add, however be at liberty to omit them should you don’t like tomatoes.

Technically you may omit the spinach, too, however I like having it in right here in order that that is really a whole meal in a single pot. If you wish to depart it out, I counsel having one other vegetable aspect, akin to air fryer inexperienced beans or honey glazed carrots.

Making the rooster and orzo

In a massive dutch oven or a deep saute pan, warmth the olive oil over medium warmth. As soon as the oil is scorching, add the rooster items and prepare dinner till they’re golden brown on each side and the interior temperature reads 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

It will take about 5-7 minutes per aspect. Work in batches if you should! As soon as the rooster is cooked, take away it to a plate, however depart the pan over medium warmth.

Add the onion and prepare dinner till softened, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, thyme, and italian seasoning and prepare dinner for 1 extra minute.

Sprinkle the flour over the cooked onions. Stir to mix and prepare dinner for 1 minute, then add the rooster inventory and the mustard. As you stir, use your spoon to scrape the browned bits from the underside of the pan. Deliver the combination to a simmer.

As soon as simmering, add the orzo together with the cream, parmesan, lemon juice and lemon zest, and the halved tomatoes. Season with a heavy pinch of salt and pepper and stir to mix.

Flip the warmth right down to low. Cowl and simmer the combination for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, till the orzo is cooked by.

As soon as the orzo is completed, style for seasoning. Add further salt and pepper as wanted, then stir within the spinach and nestle the rooster again into the pot. 

Let the spinach wilt and the rooster to heat again by earlier than serving with further parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon.

Methods to alter up this recipe

In order that’s learn how to make this lemon rooster and orzo in accordance with the recipe. However like so lots of my dinner recipes, you’ll be able to change up some issues to suit your household’s tastes! 

Make it gluten free by swapping the normal orzo for gluten-free orzo. Omit the flour and scale back the liquid components by ¼ to ½ cup. The sauce will not be as thick, however it is going to be scrumptious!

Use entire wheat orzo to get some additional fiber and protein into the dish with out your loved ones even figuring out it.

Use rotisserie rooster as a substitute of rooster breasts or thighs. Begin with sauteing the onions within the olive oil; proceed with the recipe as written, stirring in a number of cups of shredded rotisserie rooster on the finish.

Swap the cherry tomatoes for solar dried tomatoes. Roughly chop a jar of oil-packed solar dried tomatoes and add them to the recipe rather than the cherry tomatoes or wait to stir them in on the finish with the spinach.