Serve this frisky Mixed Olive Tapenade with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta antipasto to really get the tastebuds tingling in anticipation. Searching for week night dinner inspo can be a bore and chore! But this recipe for a sharp and zingy chicken and pasta combo will have the plates licked clean, bellies full and vitamin levels restored. Don’t give it another thought.
Why you’ll love it
Where to start?? This easy lemon chicken orzo dish is a naughty little triple threat: delicious, convenient, nutritious. Let’s start with delicious: a powerful line up of olives, pesto, lemon, Parmesan, Tuscan kale (Cavolo Nero) and chicken. It’s a flavour festival and this orzo recipe is your ticket in! Convenient: in under 40 minutes you can have a square meal on the table using standard shopping list ingredients. No need to hunt for exotic items. It’s a quick and easy one pan dinner. Nutritious: skinless chicken and fresh leafy greens ensure your family is fuelled and well-fed. And although we often think of citrus with seafood, a bit of lemon is amazing with chicken too. Check out my Lemon Pepper Chicken for more of this goodness!
What is orzo?
Stay with me here. This puzzling pasta looks like rice, it’s made from semolina flour, its name translates as ‘barley’ but it’s classified as pasta. Got that? Phew! But what you really need to know is that orzo pasta can be cooked in two ways. Either quickly in salted boiling water then drained, like pasta. Or more slowly beginning in cold water and not drained, like rice. The results are very different! The first making the orzo firm and al dente, ideal for soups and salads like this Greek Orzo Salad. The second yields a rich creamy consistency, similar to a risotto, which is what we’re aiming for here. Another good example of this creamy goodness is Orzo Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash; a vegetarian dish that has all our fans raving! Or Creamy Chorizo and Spinach Orzo for a meatier option.
Storage and leftovers
Leftovers can be frozen. But bear in mind the texture of the orzo might change from velvety smoothness to a little mushy! However, the completely cooled chicken orzo pasta bake can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Or cover and keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat on the hob with a splash of water to loosen.
Favourite one pan dinner recipes to try
Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta with Chicken and Pancetta One Pan Greek Chicken and Orzo Spanish Style Baked Chicken and Potatoes Baked Penne alla Vodka with Meatballs
