Lemon Hen and Orzo – The Keep At House Chef

With contemporary, vivid lemon and herbs, this one-pot meal is our favourite approach to efficiently pull off a home-cooked meal throughout the busy workweek. This simple recipe covers your whole bases—prepared in simply 45 minutes and tremendous flavorful whereas nonetheless being a lighter possibility that doesn’t go away you feeling weighed down.

Love Orzo previous as a lot as we do? Strive our simple and scrumptious One Pot Italian Chicken Orzo.

Orzo pasta elevates this straightforward dish and pairs nicely with the lemon rooster, holding issues attention-grabbing so that you don’t should fall again on boring, boiled pasta. While you want a fast and simple dinner with minimal cleanup, this Lemon Hen and Orzo is the proper answer.

Ingredient Notes

• Hen Breasts: You may as well use boneless thighs for those who desire darker meat. Simply be certain that to chop them into bite-size items and trim off any fats.
• Olive Oil: Substitute with any impartial cooking oil, similar to vegetable or canola oil.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility lets you finest management the flavour. It’s an incredible chef tip.
• Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works nicely and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed all the time has the very best taste.
• Orzo: This short-cut pasta resembles rice and is discovered within the pasta aisle in a field or plastic container. Test the cooking time in your package deal for the very best outcomes.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded or grated Parmesan all the time melts the very best.

Hen Choices

Rotisserie Hen: In the event you’re in a rush, rotisserie rooster is a incredible time-saver. Since rotisserie chickens are often a loss chief for grocery shops, it’s a money-saver too! Merely shred about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of pre-cooked rooster and stir it in throughout the previous couple of minutes of cooking.

Leftover Hen: Acquired leftover rooster from a earlier meal? Whether or not it’s grilled, baked, or roasted, you may simply shred it and add it to your soup. This can be a nice approach to decrease waste and provides new life to leftovers.

Hen Thighs: In the event you desire darkish meat, boneless rooster thighs are a tasty different to rooster breasts. They add a richer taste to the soup and have a tendency to remain extra tender and juicy. Sear and cook dinner them simply as you’d rooster breasts.

Add Veggies

Simply add some colour to this one-pot dish by incorporating contemporary greens. Asparagus, broccoli, and inexperienced beans are all nice choices that pair nicely with lemon, basil, and parmesan.

For asparagus, add chopped asparagus over the past 3–4 minutes of cooking so it stays tender-crisp.

For broccoli, stir in small broccoli florets about 5 minutes earlier than the orzo is finished to make sure they soften with out changing into mushy.

For inexperienced beans, minimize into bite-sized items and add them over the past 5 minutes of cooking for the very best texture.

If utilizing softer veggies like spinach or cherry tomatoes, stir them in after turning off the warmth and allow them to wilt from the residual heat.

The Proper Pan

Dimension Issues: Go for a big, deep skillet (12 inches or larger). It provides the rooster and orzo loads of room to cook dinner evenly and retains every part from spilling out while you stir.

Lid Required: You’ll want a lid to cowl the pan whereas the orzo cooks. In case your skillet doesn’t have one, no worries—simply cowl it tightly with foil.

No skillet? No drawback! A large, shallow Dutch oven or braiser works like a allure.