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–+ servings
A bowl of crispy chicken thighs served over orzo pasta, part of a Healthy One-Pan Recipes for Simple Clean Eating.

One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Orzo

This recipe provides a simple, one-pan meal featuring chicken thighs baked over orzo pasta with lemon and herbs. It is suitable for quick weeknight dinners and supports clean eating goals.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter or use more olive oil
  • 1 shallot sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1.5 cups uncooked orzo
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 lemon juice from
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream or full fat coconut milk you could also leave this out
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and pepper each
For Serving
  • Parsley and lemon wedges to serve

Equipment

  • Large deep skillet or Dutch oven with a lid
  • Plate

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Add your chicken to a plate and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Rub to evenly coat the chicken.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven with a lid over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for about 3 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. The chicken does not need to be cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
  4. In the same pan, reduce heat to medium. Then add butter or olive oil, shallot, and garlic. Stir until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add orzo and stir continuously for about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and stir in the cream plus an additional pinch of salt and pepper.
  5. Add chicken thighs back on top of the orzo, cover, and bake in the oven for about 12 minutes or until orzo is tender and most of the liquid has absorbed. Some liquid on the sides is fine; it will reabsorb into the orzo as it cools.
  6. Top with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon to serve.

Notes

You can substitute the heavy cream with full fat coconut milk if you prefer a dairy-free option, or omit it entirely.

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