With recent, brilliant lemon and herbs, this one-pot meal is our favourite approach to efficiently pull off a home-cooked meal throughout the busy workweek. This simple recipe covers your whole bases—prepared in simply 45 minutes and tremendous flavorful whereas nonetheless being a lighter possibility 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 straightforward to get on the desk in about 45 minutes.
- Zesty lemon, juicy rooster, herbs, and parmesan cheese are all mixed with the convenience of orzo pasta.
Orzo pasta elevates this straightforward dish and pairs nicely with the lemon rooster, maintaining issues attention-grabbing so that you don’t need to fall again on boring, boiled pasta. If you want a fast and straightforward dinner with minimal cleanup, this Lemon Hen and Orzo is the right answer.
Ingredient Notes
- Hen Breasts: You may also use boneless thighs if you happen to desire darker meat. Simply ensure that 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 possibility permits you to greatest management the flavour. It’s an amazing chef tip.
- Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works nicely and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed at all times 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. Test the cooking time in your bundle for the most effective outcomes.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded or grated Parmesan at all times 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’ll be able to simply shred it and add it to your soup. It is a nice approach to decrease waste and provides new life to leftovers.
Hen Thighs: In the event you desire darkish meat, boneless rooster thighs are a tasty various to rooster breasts. They add a richer taste to the soup and have a tendency to remain extra tender and juicy. Sear and prepare dinner them simply as you’d rooster breasts.
Add Veggies
Simply add some coloration to this one-pot dish by incorporating recent greens. Asparagus, broccoli, and inexperienced beans are all nice choices that pair nicely with lemon, basil, and parmesan.
For asparagus, add chopped asparagus over the last 3–4 minutes of cooking so it stays tender-crisp.
For broccoli, stir in small broccoli florets about 5 minutes earlier than the orzo is completed to make sure they soften with out turning into mushy.
For inexperienced beans, lower into bite-sized items and add them over the last 5 minutes of cooking for the most effective texture.
If utilizing softer veggies like spinach or cherry tomatoes, stir them in after turning off the warmth and allow them to wilt from the residual heat.
The Proper Pan
Measurement Issues: Go for a big, deep skillet (12 inches or larger). It offers the rooster and orzo loads of room to prepare dinner evenly and retains all the pieces from spilling out once 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 downside! 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 way of.
Reheat within the microwave in parts in 30-second increments, stirring in between every, till warmed by way of.
