Lemon-Herb Marinated Mediterranean Chicken Orzo recipe
1/2
4.4(94 reviews)
RecipeLunch🟢 Easy

Lemon-Herb Marinated Mediterranean Chicken Orzo

Discover how to make Lemon-Herb Marinated Mediterranean Chicken Orzo. A delicious recipe with detailed instructions.

20

Prep Time

25

Cook Time

45

Total Time

4

Servings

⏱ Cooking Timer

25:00

Minutes : Seconds

minutes

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Discover how to make Lemon-Herb Marinated Mediterranean Chicken Orzo. A delicious recipe with detailed instructions.

Lemon-Herb Marinated Mediterranean Chicken Orzo - Step 2

Ingredients

Instructions

1

**Marinate Chicken**:

In a bowl, combine sliced chicken, 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Marinate 30 minutes at room temperature (or up to 4 hours refrigerated).

2

**Cook Chicken**:

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F/74°C internal temp). Transfer to a plate.

3

**Sauté Vegetables**:

In the same skillet, sauté red onion for 3 minutes until softened. Add orzo and toast 1 minute, stirring constantly.

4

**Simmer Orzo**:

Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 10–12 minutes until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed.

5

**Combine Ingredients**:

Stir in cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, spinach, and cooked chicken. Cook 2 minutes until spinach wilts. Remove from heat.

6

**Finish & Serve**:

Top with feta, dill, and pine nuts. Season with extra lemon juice or salt to taste.

You Must Know

  • For juicier chicken, avoid overcrowding the skillet while searing.
  • Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over low heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant to enhance their flavor.
  • Let the chicken marinate for at least 20 minutes to maximize tenderness.

Chef's Notes

For juicier chicken, avoid overcrowding the skillet while searing.

Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over low heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant to enhance their flavor.

Let the chicken marinate for at least 20 minutes to maximize tenderness.

Serving Suggestions

Pair with a crisp Greek salad or warmed pita bread. Ideal for picnics, meal prep, or alfresco dining.

Nutritional Info (Per Serving)

620

Calories

35g

Protein

55g

Carbs

28g

Fat

Tags

lemon-herbmarinatedmediterraneanchickenorzocupspastapound
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LUNCH

Lemon-Herb Marinated Mediterranean Chicken Orzo

Discover how to make Lemon-Herb Marinated Mediterranean Chicken Orzo. A delicious recipe with detailed instructions.

Servings:4
Prep:20 min
Cook:25 min

Ingredients (23)

**Marinated Chicken**:
- 1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tbsp/45ml)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
**Orzo & Vegetables**:
- 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil
- 1 medium red onion, diced (about 1 cup/150g)
- 2 cups (480ml) chicken broth
- 2 cups (340g) orzo pasta
- 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup (35g) sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup (70g) Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1 cup (30g) baby spinach, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup (50g) crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup (10g) fresh dill, chopped
- ¼ cup (35g) toasted pine nuts

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine sliced chicken, 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Marinate 30 minutes at room temperature (or up to 4 hours refrigerated).
  2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F/74°C internal temp). Transfer to a plate.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté red onion for 3 minutes until softened. Add orzo and toast 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 10–12 minutes until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed.
  5. Stir in cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, spinach, and cooked chicken. Cook 2 minutes until spinach wilts. Remove from heat.
  6. Top with feta, dill, and pine nuts. Season with extra lemon juice or salt to taste.

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