Lemon Herb Chicken Orzo Skillet (Printable)

Tender chicken and orzo pasta in a bright lemon sauce with fresh herbs and peas. A comforting one-pan Mediterranean meal in 45 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta & Grains

02 - 1 cup orzo pasta

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup frozen green peas
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon

→ Liquids

07 - 2.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Herbs & Seasonings

08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped or 1 tsp dried dill
10 - 1 tsp dried oregano
11 - 0.5 tsp salt, or to taste
12 - 0.25 tsp black pepper

→ Fats

13 - 2 tbsp olive oil

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
02 - Add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5–6 minutes until lightly golden. Transfer to a plate.
03 - In the same skillet, add chopped onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in orzo, coating it thoroughly in the oil and aromatics for 1–2 minutes.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and add oregano, lemon zest, and half of the parsley and dill. Bring to a simmer.
06 - Return chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Add peas and lemon juice. Continue cooking uncovered for 5–8 minutes, stirring frequently, until orzo reaches al dente texture and most liquid is absorbed.
08 - Remove from heat. Adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with remaining fresh herbs and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The orzo soaks up all that lemony broth, creating this almost risotto like creaminess without any heavy cream
  • Everything happens in one pan, which means maximum flavor and minimum cleanup on busy weeknights
02 -
  • The sauce continues thickening after you remove it from heat, so do not worry if it looks slightly looser than you want
  • Stir occasionally while the orzo simmers, or it will stick to the bottom of the pan
03 -
  • Zest your lemon before juicing it, trust me, trying to zest a squeezed lemon is frustrating
  • Keep some extra broth handy while simmering, orzo has a way of drinking up more liquid than you expect
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