With recent, vibrant lemon and herbs, this one-pot meal is our favourite option to efficiently pull off a home-cooked meal throughout the busy workweek. This simple recipe covers your entire bases—prepared in simply 45 minutes and tremendous flavorful whereas nonetheless being a lighter choice that doesn’t go away you feeling weighed down.
Love Orzo previous as a lot as we do? Strive our simple and scrumptious One Pot Italian Rooster Orzo.
Why Our Recipe
- A one-pot meal that’s fast and simple to get on the desk in about 45 minutes.
- Zesty lemon, juicy hen, herbs, and parmesan cheese are all mixed with the benefit of orzo pasta.
Orzo pasta elevates this easy dish and pairs effectively with the lemon hen, protecting issues fascinating so that you don’t need to fall again on boring, boiled pasta. Whenever you want a fast and simple dinner with minimal cleanup, this Lemon Rooster and Orzo is the right answer.
Ingredient Notes
- Rooster Breasts: You may also use boneless thighs in case you favor darker meat. Simply be certain to chop them into bite-size items and trim off any fats.
- Olive Oil: Substitute with any impartial cooking oil, corresponding to vegetable or canola oil.
- Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can greatest management the flavour. It’s a fantastic chef tip.
- Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works effectively and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed all the time has one of the best 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 one of the best outcomes.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded or grated Parmesan all the time melts one of the best.
Rooster Choices
Rotisserie Rooster: For those who’re in a rush, rotisserie hen is a incredible 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 hen and stir it in throughout the previous couple of minutes of cooking.
Leftover Rooster: Acquired leftover hen 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 option to decrease waste and provides new life to leftovers.
Rooster Thighs: For those who favor darkish meat, boneless hen thighs are a tasty various to hen 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 hen 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 effectively 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 finished to make sure they soften with out changing into mushy.
For inexperienced beans, minimize into bite-sized items and add them over the last 5 minutes of cooking for one of the best 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
Dimension Issues: Go for a big, deep skillet (12 inches or larger). It provides the hen and orzo loads of room to prepare dinner evenly and retains all the things 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 attraction.
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 via.
Reheat within the microwave in parts in 30-second increments, stirring in between every, till warmed via.
