One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo – Simple & Delicious

If you’re craving a hearty, flavorful dinner that won’t leave you with a sink full of dishes, this One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo is exactly what you need. It’s vibrant, cozy, and delivers bold lemony flavor with juicy chicken and creamy orzo pasta all in one skillet. Whether you’re cooking for your family or prepping meals for the week, this dish is a guaranteed hit.

Looking for more recipes like this one dish lemon chicken orzo? Check out our quick and cozy one-pan dinners designed for comfort and convenience.

Flavorful Foundations

The Ingredients That Bring It All Together

This One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients to create maximum flavor with minimal effort. From juicy chicken thighs to citrusy lemon zest and savory orzo, it’s the ultimate all-in-one comfort food. It’s built with pantry-friendly staples, much like our one-skillet garlic herb chicken.

Helpful Hack: If you don’t have orzo, you can substitute it with pearl couscous but reduce the broth slightly and monitor doneness closely.

Quick Prep: Sear and Set the Stage

Start your lemon chicken orzo skillet by seasoning and searing the chicken until golden. These browned bits, combined with fresh lemon and herbs, will elevate your one dish lemon chicken orzo into something truly special.

1. Season the chicken: In a bowl, rub the chicken thighs with oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Sear the chicken: Heat the olive oil in your skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and sear both sides until golden about 5 minutes per side.
3. Remove and rest: Set the browned chicken aside on a plate. Don’t worry, it’s not fully cooked yet it’ll finish in the oven.

Pro Tip: Use a meat thermometer probe during baking to prevent overcooking. Chicken is perfectly done at 165°F.

Building Bold Flavor in One Skillet

🔹Sauté the Aromatics & Toast the Orzo

This is where your One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo gets its signature flavor. Toasting the orzo in butter and garlic infuses each grain with a savory base that carries the lemon and herb notes beautifully similar to our creamy asparagus orzo recipe.

1. Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the diced onion and cook for about 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Stir in the minced garlic and uncooked orzo. Toast them together for 2–3 minutes, letting the orzo get slightly golden and nutty.

Kitchen Note: Toasting the orzo adds a deeper, almost creamy flavor once it simmers. Don’t skip this step!

Deglaze, Simmer, and Layer the Goodness

As you simmer the broth and asparagus, the orzo begins to soften and soak up flavor. Nestle the chicken back into the skillet this step finishes off your skillet lemon chicken orzo and locks in all the juices.

1. Pour in the white wine or vinegar to deglaze the pan scrape up all those flavorful bits with a wooden spoon.
2. Add the chicken broth and diced asparagus.
3. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then let it simmer for 3–5 minutes to start softening the orzo.

Now the magic moment: nestle your seared chicken thighs back into the skillet. Grate some lemon zest directly over the top, then squeeze the lemon juice all over. Finish with a generous sprinkle of fresh parmesan.

This skillet is now a full-on flavor bomb, ready for the oven.

Bake, Serve, and Savor Every Bite

Into the Oven for a Finish That Wows

Now that your skillet is layered with flavor, it’s time to finish this One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo in the oven. Let the lemon zest and parmesan work their magic while the chicken bakes to tender, juicy perfection.

Place your lemon chicken orzo skillet in a 400°F oven, uncovered. Bake for 10–15 minutes or until the chicken hits 165°F. As it bakes, the orzo becomes rich and creamy, absorbing all the flavors from the chicken, broth, and asparagus.

This part is crucial the oven unites all elements of your one dish lemon chicken orzo into a true comfort food experience. It’s bold, fast, and clean-up friendly just like our baked lemon garlic chicken thighs.

1. Place the skillet uncovered into your preheated 400°F oven.
2. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
3. Let it sit for 3–5 minutes after removing from the oven this allows the juices to settle and the orzo to absorb the final bit of broth.

Bonus Flavor Tip: Before serving, add a final squeeze of fresh lemon for a tangy punch.

Plating the Perfect One Dish Meal

Once out of the oven, let the skillet lemon chicken orzo sit for 3–5 minutes. This quick pause locks in moisture and deepens the flavor.

To serve, scoop up the creamy orzo, making sure every plate gets a piece of that golden chicken thigh. Each bite of this One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo gives you zesty citrus, creamy pasta, and savory herbs in perfect balance.

It’s no wonder this lemon chicken orzo recipe has become a family favorite just like our baked lemon garlic chicken thighs, it’s bold, fast, and clean-up friendly.

This meal is a true one-dish wonder no side needed, but you could pair it with:

• A crisp cucumber salad
• Warm garlic bread
• Or a glass of chilled sauvignon blanc

It’s dinner perfection without the pile of dishes.

Nutrition Facts & Expert Tips

Nutrition Breakdown (Per Serving Estimate)

Each serving of this satisfying One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo comes in around 430 calories, making it both filling and nutritious. You’re getting lean protein, complex carbs, and veggies all in one balanced bowl.

If you’re watching sodium or calories, you can easily tweak this lemon chicken orzo skillet using low-sodium broth and just a light dusting of parmesan.

⚠️ Nutrition values are estimates and may vary based on ingredients and portion size.

Expert Tips for Guaranteed Success

Want your One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo to come out perfect every time?

• Always zest the lemon before you cut it it’s easier and you’ll get more flavor.
• Use freshly grated parmesan to create that irresistible golden top.
• Try doubling this lemon chicken orzo recipe and freezing half it’s an ideal make-ahead meal for busy nights.

As Sonia says: “The joy of one dish lemon chicken orzo is that every part works in harmony no sides needed, no cleanup headache.” For more inspiration, browse our 30-minute skillet meals roundup.

• Use fresh lemon zest: It packs way more flavor than bottled juice.
• Don’t skip the sear: Browning the chicken first locks in juices and creates delicious depth.
• Make it a meal prep win: Store in airtight containers; keeps for 3–4 days in the fridge.
• Double batch idea: You can easily double this for larger families or leftovers just use a bigger skillet!

Sonia’s Kitchen Wisdom: “Always taste your broth before baking if it tastes good on the spoon, it’ll taste even better after the oven does its thing.”

One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo

A zesty, comforting one‑pan meal featuring juicy chicken thighs, tender orzo, asparagus, and a lemon‑parmesan sauce easy enough for weeknights, flavorful enough for company.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mediterranean

Servings 6 servings

Calories 336 kcal

Equipment

• Cast‑iron skillet or oven‑safe pan
• Knife
• Cutting Board

Ingredients

  

• 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp paprika
• to taste salt & pepper
• 1 tbsp butter
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 cup uncooked orzo
• 1/2 cup white wine or vinegar
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
• 1 bunch asparagus trimmed & cut into pieces
• 1 lemon sliced + juice to taste

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Season chicken thighs with oregano, paprika, salt & pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium‑high and sear chicken until browned, about 4 mins per side; transfer to plate.
• In same skillet, add butter, onion and garlic; sauté until fragrant, ~2–3 mins. Add orzo and toast briefly, about 1 min.
• Deglaze with white wine or vinegar, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in chicken broth, asparagus, parmesan and lemon juice.
• Nestle chicken back in skillet, top with lemon slices. Bake uncovered for ~15 mins, until orzo is tender and chicken cooked through.
• Garnish with extra parmesan and fresh lemon juice if desired before serving.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3–4 days. Reheat with a splash of broth. Chicken breasts or rice can be substituted, adjust cooking time accordingly.

Keyword Asparagus, Chicken, Lemon, One‑Pan, Orzo

FAQs

Pin, print, or save this One Dish Lemon Chicken Orzo recipe and if you’re into seasonal meals, check out our spring dinner ideas with asparagus. It’s fast, flavorful, family-tested, and absolutely weeknight-approved.

Save it for later on Pinterest: Pinterest