Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo (Printable)

Tender chicken and creamy orzo meld with bright lemon for a comforting, easy one-pan dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Orzo & Aromatics

05 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
06 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
07 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 cup orzo pasta

→ Sauce & Flavor

09 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - ½ cup heavy cream
11 - Zest of 1 lemon
12 - Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
13 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
14 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Finish

15 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
17 - Lemon slices, for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Season chicken pieces evenly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden and fully cooked, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Melt butter in the same skillet, add chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and orzo; cook 1 to 2 minutes until orzo is lightly toasted.
04 - Pour chicken broth into skillet, scraping browned bits from the bottom. Stir in heavy cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer.
05 - Return chicken to skillet. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and sauce thickens to creamy consistency, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
06 - Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and lemon slices.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in one pan with minimal cleanup, which means more time to actually enjoy dinner instead of standing at the sink.
  • The brightness of fresh lemon cuts through the cream in a way that feels elegant without any pretense or fussy technique.
  • Tender chicken and creamy orzo together hit that comfort food sweet spot that somehow feels a little bit special.
02 -
  • Don't skip patting the chicken dry before it hits the oil, or you'll steam it instead of sear it, and the whole recipe suffers for that one small oversight.
  • The cream will break if the pan is boiling—keep it at a gentle simmer or the sauce will separate into greasy and watery instead of staying silky and whole.
03 -
  • Toast the uncooked orzo in the butter before adding liquid—this single step develops a nutty flavor that changes everything about the dish.
  • Finish with fresh lemon zest right before serving, not during cooking, so you get that bright citrus oil right at the end instead of cooking it away.
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