Lemon Orzo Chicken Spinach (Printable)

Tender chicken, creamy orzo, and spinach combine with bright lemon in a simple, flavorful dinner dish.

# What You Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta and Grains

02 - 1.5 cups uncooked orzo pasta

→ Vegetables and Greens

03 - 3 cups fresh baby spinach
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon

→ Liquids

07 - 3.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Dairy

09 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional

→ Spices and Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 0.5 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste
12 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
13 - Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add chopped onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add orzo and oregano, stirring constantly to coat in oil and aromatics for approximately 1 minute.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 10 to 12 minutes.
05 - Return cooked chicken to the pot. Add fresh spinach, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir until spinach is wilted and all ingredients are well combined. Stir in Parmesan cheese if desired for enhanced creaminess.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed. Serve hot, garnished with extra lemon zest or Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot, which means one pot to wash and actual free time after dinner.
  • The lemon keeps it from feeling heavy, making it perfect whether it's actually spring or just feels like it should be.
  • Chicken and spinach cook together without any fussy timing—they finish at the same moment.
02 -
  • If your orzo is still crunchy when the liquid is mostly gone, add another splash of broth and keep simmering—it'll catch up within minutes.
  • Don't wait until the very end to taste for salt; you need to adjust it in stages so flavors layer properly instead of tasting one-note and salty all at once.
03 -
  • Buy chicken that's already cut into pieces if your knife skills feel shaky or your energy is low—nobody needs to earn dinner prep.
  • Room-temperature broth heats faster than cold broth and means your total cooking time stays honest instead of creeping toward thirty-five minutes.
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