Lemon Hen Orzo

Lemon Hen Orzo is a comforting one-pan meal made with tender hen, creamy orzo, recent spinach, and loads of zesty lemon taste. It’s a quick weeknight dinner that’s prepared in half-hour with minimal cleanup.

close up of Lemon Chicken Orzo with sliced chicken on top

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Lemon Hen Orzo

Taste: Wealthy and creamy with hen, orzo, recent spinach, and a zesty lemon that retains the flavors mild and recent.
Why Make It: This one-pan dinner cooks proper within the skillet with the broth, lemon, and cream.
Serving Solutions: Function-is or with homemade garlic bread and a fresh summer salad.

Whole Time: 30 Minutes Servings: 4 Cooking Methodology: Stovetop

Substances for Lemon Hen Orzo

spinach , oil , broth , onion , lemon , garlic , Italian seasoning , parmesan , orzo , whipping cream , chicken, salt and pepper with labels to make Lemon Chicken Orzo

Hen: Hen cutlets cook dinner shortly and evenly, making them excellent for this recipe. You possibly can slice boneless hen breasts horizontally to create your individual cutlets.
Italian Seasoning: Provides loads of savory herb taste with out the necessity to measure a number of dried herbs.
Orzo: This cooks immediately within the broth and releases starch because it simmers, making a wealthy, creamy texture.
Cream: Heavy cream provides the orzo a wealthy, silky texture. Half-and-half can be utilized, however the sauce can be a bit lighter.
Spinach: Child spinach wilts shortly and blends simply into the sauce. Chopped kale can be utilized as an alternative, however it’s going to want a number of additional minutes to melt.
Parmesan Cheese: Stir it in off the warmth or on the finish so it melts easily.

Methods to Make Lemon Hen Orzo

cooking chicken to make Lemon Chicken Orzo

Sear the hen, then put aside (full recipe beneath).

pouring broth over ingredients to make Lemon Chicken Orzo

Prepare dinner the onions, garlic, and seasoning. Then simmer the orzo with broth, lemon juice, and zest.

adding spinach and cream to ingredients to make Lemon Chicken Orzo

Simmer with cream and spinach.

Stir within the Parmesan and high with sliced hen.

Use a Massive Deep Skillet: This ensures the orzo cooks evenly and has loads of room with out crowding the pan.
Stir Usually: Stir the orzo typically because it simmers so it doesn’t stick with the underside.
Maintain Additional Broth Close by: Since completely different manufacturers of orzo can take up liquid in a different way, maintain your broth helpful and add additional as wanted.
For the Greatest Lemon Taste: Use each zest and juice. Zest provides perfume, juice provides brightness.
Add the Cream Close to the Finish: So the sauce stays clean and creamy.

Maintain leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave. The orzo will thicken because it sits, so stir in a splash of broth or cream when reheating.
Freeze leftovers for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and reheat with additional broth to loosen the sauce.

Extra Cozy Hen Skillet Dinners

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 5 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 25 minutes

Whole Time 30 minutes

Season hen with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper.
Warmth 1 tablespoon oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the hen and cook dinner 2 to three minutes per aspect or till cooked via. Switch to a plate and canopy to maintain heat.
Scale back the warmth to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and onion to the skillet. Prepare dinner onion for two minutes or till barely softened. Stir within the garlic and remaining ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Prepare dinner 30 seconds.
Add orzo, broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Simmer, uncovered for 12 minutes.
Stir within the cream and spinach, and cook dinner for a further 1 to 2 minutes or till the orzo is tender. Further broth or water may be added if wanted.
Stir within the parmesan cheese and any drippings from the hen on the plate.
Slice hen and place on high of the orzo, cowl and let sit 3 minutes.
Garnish with herbs or further lemon wedges and serve.

The orzo will thicken upon resting.
Orzo can range barely from model to model. Add extra liquid (water or broth) and alter cooking time if wanted.
Maintain leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days and within the freezer for as much as 2 months.

Vitamin info offered is an estimate and can range primarily based on cooking strategies and types of substances used.

Course Major Course

Delicacies Italian

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