Greek Hen Orzo is a one-pot marvel made with tender hen thighs, juicy cherry tomatoes, briny olives, and tangy, creamy feta cheese. This fast and simple Mediterranean-style recipe delivers a restaurant-quality meal that is certain to turn out to be a household favourite.
30-Minute One-Pot Greek Hen Orzo
What I really like most about this recipe is that it is a well-balanced meal that may preserve you full and happy. It has every part: protein (hen), veggies (cherry tomatoes and olives), carbs (orzo), and wholesome fat (olive oil and feta cheese). It is a simple Mediterranean-style major course that presents fantastically, making it superb for particular events when you may have visitors. No facet dishes are wanted—this 30-minute one-pot recipe is an entire meal by itself! The cleanup is minimal—excellent for a weeknight dinner or impressing visitors when entertaining. Easy, scrumptious, and your new go-to for busy nights! Serve it with conventional Greek salad. When you love the hen and orzo combo, you’ll want to take a look at my different recipes: creamy hen orzo with tomatoes, spinach, and basil pesto and a reader-favorite hen orzo with mushrooms and spinach.
Foremost elements
- Orzo is a short-cut pasta that appears just like rice. Cook dinner the pasta al dente for the most effective texture and rinse it beneath chilly water after cooking to stop it from changing into mushy.
- Skinless boneless hen thighs are what I used. It’s also possible to use hen breasts or hen tenders.
- Cherry tomatoes. I used 2 colours: yellow and crimson. Slice them in half.
- Olives. I used a combo of kalamata and Castelvetrano inexperienced olives.
- Feta cheese has a tender texture and briny taste.
- Minced garlic is cooked along with orzo.
- Hen inventory, broth, or water is for cooking orzo.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides a lot taste!
- Seasonings embody paprika, dried oregano, salt, and freshly floor black pepper.
- Chopped recent basil is for garnish.
How one can make Greek hen orzo
Get able to whip up a enjoyable and scrumptious Greek Hen Orzo that may have everybody asking for seconds! Begin by searing hen thighs (seasoned with paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper) in a big pan till they’re golden brown, juicy, and tender. Set the hen apart and prepare dinner orzo + garlic + hen inventory in the identical pan. Let every part simmer collectively till the orzo is completely cooked. Then, toss in a medley of vibrant tomatoes, briny olives, recent herbs, and plenty of seasonings. Nestle the hen again into the pan. Prime all of it off with tangy, creamy feta cheese. Be aware: that is the overview. The exact quantities and recipe directions are beneath, within the recipe card.
What’s orzo?
Orzo is a short-cut pasta resembling long-grain rice in form. It’s made out of flour, like typical pasta. Typically, orzo is made with semolina (durum wheat used for making pasta).
What can I exploit as an alternative of orzo?
You should use quinoa, jasmine rice, or brief pasta, reminiscent of fusilli, farfalle (bow-tie pasta), penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or orecchiette. Cook dinner these elements in a separate pot – do not prepare dinner them in the identical pan as you’ll orzo. Add them cooked.
What sort of hen to make use of?
- Skinless and boneless hen thighs are what I used. They’re juicy and tender and are fairly forgiving to prepare dinner.
- Skinless and boneless hen breasts are your subsequent most suitable option. They do are likely to dry out sooner, so you’ll want to watch your cooking instances intently, making certain that the hen is cooked throughout shortly, with out drying out.
- Hen tenders are additionally an incredible selection for this recipe. Be certain to keep away from overcooking as hen tenders are small and prepare dinner quick.
Are you able to make it gluten-free?
Make this recipe gluten-free through the use of orzo clearly labeled as “gluten-free”. Or, merely use long-grain rice as an alternative.
Are you able to make it dairy-free?
Use dairy-free, vegan feta cheese as an alternative of normal feta.
Variations
- Veggies. You’ll be able to add roasted bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes, mushrooms, or capers.
- Cheese. Use feta cheese, halloumi, mizithra, or another Greek cheese you’re keen on.
- Olives. I used a mix of calamata and inexperienced Castelvetrano olives (have you ever ever tried these? They’re the best-tasting olives ever!). It’s also possible to add black olives.
- Use both lime juice or lemon juice. Crucial factor is that it is freshly squeezed.
- Add capers, as an alternative of olives or along with them.
- Add pine nuts as a topping. I wish to toast pine nuts briefly (and thoroughly!) within the oven for a fair richer taste.
- Add different toppings, reminiscent of recent herbs (basil, thyme, or oregano), chopped inexperienced onions, or chopped chives.
- Contemporary herbs. You’ll want to add recent herbs, reminiscent of recent basil, oregano, and recent thyme.
- Spice. Add some warmth by sprinkling cayenne pepper or crimson pepper flakes over the elements.
Storage and reheating ideas
- Fridge. Retailer the leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- Freezer. Freeze it in an hermetic container for as much as 1 month.
- To reheat within the microwave oven, reheat in 30-second increments till heated by means of.
- Reheat on the stovetop. Reheat this dish in a big, high-sided skillet on the stovetop on low-medium warmth. Add a small quantity of olive oil + water or lime juice (or lemon juice) when reheating to stop the hen orzo from sticking to the underside of the pan.
What to serve with Greek hen orzo
Serve it with a recent inexperienced salad and a slice of crusty olive bread, ciabatta, or focaccia. Listed here are my salad suggestions:
- Greek-Impressed Salad with Avocado and Capers
- Arugula Salad with Lemon Zest, Parmesan, and Balsamic Dressing
- Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing
- Apple Spinach Salad with Honey-Mustard Lemon Dressing
Different Greek recipes to strive
- Greek Shrimp Orzo
- Greek Hen and Lemon Rice
- Greek Hen
- Greek Orzo Salad with Spinach, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Olives, and Feta
This scrumptious, high-protein dinner will likely be a success with the entire household. Every little thing is cooked completely on the stovetop in only one pan, taking solely half-hour—superb for busy weeknights! When you make it or have a query, please depart a remark beneath.
Greek Hen Orzo (30 Minutes, One-Pot)
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Elements
Hen
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
- 1.5 lb skinless boneless hen thighs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
Orzo
- 1.5 cups raw orzo
- 3 cups hen inventory or broth, or water
- 4 cloves garlic minced
Greens
- 8 oz cherry (grape) tomatoes crimson and yellow, sliced in half
- ½ cup kalamata olives pitted, sliced
- ½ cup Castelvetrano olives or different inexperienced olives, pitted, sliced
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Feta cheese combination
- 4 oz feta cheese crumbled or diced into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon further virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped recent basil
Directions
How one can sear the hen
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Warmth an empty massive, high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet (reminiscent of stainless-steel or forged iron) over medium warmth for 3 minutes. This enables the skillet to warmth by means of.
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Season the hen thighs on either side, utilizing 1 tablespoon of olive oil to rub within the seasonings: paprika, dried oregano, salt, and freshly floor black pepper.
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Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet. Add seasoned hen thighs. Cook dinner the hen on one facet on medium warmth for five minutes undisturbed.
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Flip the hen thighs over, cut back warmth to low-medium, and prepare dinner for about 5 extra minutes or longer till it is cooked by means of. The meat thermometer ought to register 165°F (74°C) within the thickest a part of the hen. Take away from warmth. Take away the hen from the skillet, leaving the juices in.
Cook dinner orzo
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To the identical, now empty, skillet, add raw orzo and minced garlic. Toast the orzo with hen juices for about 2 minutes on medium warmth, always stirring.
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Add hen inventory and prepare dinner for about 10 minutes, uncovered, sometimes stirring to stop the orzo from sticking to the underside of the pan. The orzo ought to take in all of the liquid and be tender in about 10 minutes. You might need so as to add some further liquid and/or prepare dinner longer if wanted.
Add veggies
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Add halved cherry tomatoes and sliced pitted olives to the skillet with cooked orzo. Add 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir and gently reheat on low warmth—season with salt and pepper.
Make feta combination
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In a medium bowl, mix cubed or crumbled feta cheese with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, dried oregano, freshly floor black pepper, and half of the chopped recent basil.
Meeting
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Add the cooked hen again to the skillet with the orzo and reheat. Prime the hen and the veggies with the feta cheese combination. Prime with the remaining chopped recent basil.
Notes
- Veggies. Add sliced cucumber, roasted bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes, mushrooms, or capers.
- Cheese. Use feta cheese, halloumi, mizithra, or another Greek cheese you’re keen on.
- Olives. I used a mix of calamata and inexperienced Castelvetrano olives. It’s also possible to add black olives.
- Refrigerate the leftovers for 3 days. When reheating, add a splash of hen inventory, lemon juice, or water to stop the orzo from sticking.
- Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta. You should use cooked rice as an alternative of orzo (cut back cooking instances accordingly).
Diet
