Description
A quick, healthy, and flavorful Mediterranean chicken orzo dinner ready in 30 minutes, featuring lean chicken, whole orzo pasta, fresh veggies, and tangy feta cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup orzo pasta (whole wheat or regular)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: kalamata olives, pine nuts
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, and half the oregano. Mince garlic, halve cherry tomatoes, and crumble feta.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add chicken in a single layer and cook without moving for 3 minutes. Stir and cook another 3-4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium and add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add orzo and stir to coat with oil and garlic. Toast orzo briefly for nutty flavor.
- Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping browned bits from the pan. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook about 10 minutes until orzo is tender and liquid mostly absorbed. Stir occasionally.
- Stir in cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, cooked chicken, remaining oregano, and half the feta. Cook 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts and tomatoes soften. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve warm topped with remaining feta and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with fresh lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
[‘Toast the orzo before simmering for enhanced flavor and texture.’, ‘Use low-sodium broth to control saltiness.’, ‘Fresh lemon juice brightens the dish better than bottled.’, ‘Cook chicken in batches if needed to avoid steaming.’, ‘Vegetarian option: swap chicken for chickpeas or beans and use vegetable broth.’, ‘Reheat leftovers gently with a splash of broth or water to loosen sauce.’, ‘Do not freeze leftovers as texture of orzo and spinach changes.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 420
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Mediterranean chicken, orzo recipe, healthy dinner, quick dinner, one-pan meal, chicken orzo, weeknight dinner