Lemon Feta Chicken and Orzo
A delightful and easy recipe combining chicken, orzo pasta, and marinated feta cheese. Perfect for a comforting dinner.
Equipment
- Large Skillet For cooking the chicken and orzo.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.25 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1.5 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt divided
- 1 tsp black pepper divided
- 1.5 cups finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 medium red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1.25 cups dry orzo pasta
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach roughly chopped
- 4 oz feta cheese crumbled
- 3 Tbsp finely chopped fresh dill
- 3 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil for marinated feta
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice from 1 medium lemon
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with olive oil, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. black pepper. Toss well to coat the chicken evenly.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken to the pan in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown. Toss the chicken and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes until fully cooked. Transfer the chicken to a clean bowl.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and sliced bell pepper. If needed, drizzle in a little more olive oil. Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes until softened. Stir in the orzo and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to lightly toast it.
- Pour in the broth and add the remaining 1/2 tsp. of salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the orzo is al dente, about 12 to 15 minutes.
- While the orzo simmers, mix the crumbled feta, dill, parsley, olive oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.
- Remove the lid from the orzo and stir in the chopped spinach. Continue to simmer uncovered for 2 more minutes until the spinach is wilted. Add the cooked chicken back to the pan and stir to warm through.
- Spoon the marinated feta mixture over the chicken and orzo before serving. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
For added flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the orzo while it cooks. You can substitute the spinach with kale or any other leafy green you prefer.