This is a simple skillet chicken dinner that can be made bigger or smaller depending on how many people you are serving. Orzo is small and easy to cook and keeps this as a chicken dish however you can easily swap this into a “pasta” dish if you select a bigger pasta. Or, keep it small but mix it up with shells, ditalini or something else! This dish has a bit of a mediterranean flair given the spices and herbs which keeps the flavor profile unique but approachable.
Highlights
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4
Make Ahead? – No
Freezer Friendly? – No
Substitutions? – Yes! You can change up the protein to be a lean fish if you prefer or swap out the orzo for different small pasta other than orzo.
Ingredients List
- 1.5 cups orzo
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thin, so pounded if necessary)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2.5 cups chicken broth (plus extra as needed)
6 cups baby spinach
~3/4 cup crumbled feta
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Recipe: Chicken and Spinach with Lemony Orzo
- In a large skillet with medium heat toast the orzo until lightly golden brown, 3-5 minutes, then transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoons oil in the same skillet and add the chicken. Brown on both sides (3-4 min per side) then transfer to a plate (no need to cover as it will be going back in momentarily).
- Add the other tablespoon of oil and heat the oregano, red pepper flakes, garlic for about 30 seconds. Stir in the broth and toasted orzo. Once coated, nestle the chicken into the orzo and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer ~10-12 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway.
- Transfer chicken to a serving platter and tent loosely with foil. Continue to cook the orzo until al dente and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add broth as needed to reach desired consistency. Stir in spinach, a few handfuls at a time until it is wilty and blended. Stir in feta and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve chicken on top of a bed of the orzo mixture and enjoy!
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Family Tips
- You can swap the chicken for an appropriate lean white fish if preferred but you will likely want to alter cook times for the fish vs. chicken.
- Remove the red pepper flakes if you don’t love spice (or add more if you want to bring the heat!)
- I love this dish with orzo but you can swap in other tiny pasta as preferred such as ditalini or mini shells.
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