With contemporary, shiny lemon and herbs, this one-pot meal is our favourite technique to efficiently pull off a home-cooked meal throughout the busy workweek. This simple recipe covers all your bases—prepared in simply 45 minutes and tremendous flavorful whereas nonetheless being a lighter choice that doesn’t depart you feeling weighed down.
Love Orzo previous as a lot as we do? Attempt our simple and scrumptious One Pot Italian Hen Orzo.
Why Our Recipe
- A one-pot meal that’s fast and simple to get on the desk in about 45 minutes.
- Recent lemon and herbs loosen up this simple rooster dish.
- Orzo is a straightforward and filling different to your commonplace pasta dish.


Orzo pasta elevates this easy dish and pairs effectively with the lemon rooster, preserving issues fascinating so that you don’t must fall again on boring, boiled pasta.
Ingredient Notes


- Hen Breasts: You may also use boneless thighs when you want darker meat. Simply make certain to chop them into bite-size items and trim off any fats.
- Olive Oil: Substitute with any impartial cooking oil, akin to vegetable or canola oil.
- Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice lets you greatest management the flavour. It’s an amazing chef tip.
- Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works effectively and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed all the time has the most effective taste.
- Orzo: This short-cut pasta resembles rice and is discovered within the pasta aisle in a field or plastic container. Examine the cooking time in your bundle for the most effective outcomes.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded or grated Parmesan all the time melts the most effective.
Hen Choices
Rotisserie Hen: In the event you’re in a rush, rotisserie rooster is a improbable time-saver. Since rotisserie chickens are normally 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 few minutes of cooking.
Leftover Hen: Received leftover rooster from a earlier meal? Whether or not it’s grilled, baked, or roasted, you possibly can simply shred it and add it to your soup. It is a nice technique to decrease waste and provides new life to leftovers.
Hen Thighs: In the event you want 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’ll 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 effectively with lemon, basil, and parmesan.
When so as to add in…


The Proper Pan
Dimension Issues: Go for a big, deep skillet (12 inches or larger). It offers the rooster and orzo loads of room to cook dinner evenly and retains all the things from spilling out if 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.
Storage & Reheating Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.
To freeze, let the dish cool fully, then retailer it in parts in a freezer-safe container for as much as 2 months. That within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over medium-low warmth, stirring often, till warmed by.
Reheat within the microwave in parts in 30-second increments, stirring in between every, till warmed by.