High Protein Chicken Orzo (Printable Format)
Tender chicken breast with orzo pasta, fresh vegetables, and herbs in a savory Mediterranean-style sauce.
# What You Need:
→ Poultry
01 - 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper diced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach roughly chopped
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
→ Pasta
07 - 1 cup dry orzo pasta
→ Dairy
08 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Liquids
09 - 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 tbsp olive oil
11 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
→ Spices & Herbs
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
16 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped for garnish
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Add to skillet and cook 4-5 minutes until lightly browned but not fully cooked through. Remove and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add orzo to the skillet and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly to coat the grains in oil and aromatics.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, oregano, and thyme. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the pan bottom. Bring to a gentle simmer.
05 - Return chicken pieces to the skillet. Cover and cook 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
06 - Add cherry tomatoes and spinach. Continue cooking uncovered for 3-4 minutes until orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
07 - Stir in lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Everything happens in one pan so you get maximum flavor with minimum cleanup
- The orzo absorbs all those Mediterranean aromatics while the chicken stays impossibly tender
02 -
- Dont skip toasting the orzo in the oil, it makes a huge difference in the final texture and flavor
- The orzo will continue absorbing liquid after you remove it from heat so stop cooking while theres still some sauce visible
03 -
- Use a wooden spoon to scrape up those browned bits from the pan, theyre pure concentrated flavor
- Room temperature chicken pieces will cook more evenly than cold ones straight from the fridge