You will fall in love with this Creamy Chicken Orzo with Lemon. The simplicity of the cream paired with the brightness of the lemon makes for the perfect weeknight meal!
What You’ll Need
Before you purchase everything on the ingredient list, this is your reminder to check your kitchen for any ingredients you already have! Grab your grocery list and write down the rest of the ingredients you’ll need!
- Chicken
- Orzo
- Chicken Base
- Onion
- Basil
- Lemons
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- Parmesan Cheese
- Spinach
Some items, like chicken base and onion, are kitchen staples while others may be ones you need to purchase just for this recipe, such as the heavy whipping cream. That means you should have an idea of what you can use the rest of it for! I don’t want you to have to buy something just to waste half of it!
With any additional heavy whipping cream you can make homemade whipped cream! Simply add it to a high powered mixer and add in some vanilla extract. Whip it until stiff peaks form and you’re set!
You can use this on top of a root beer float, a bowl of chopped fruit, or simply on its own!
What to Serve with Creamy Chicken Orzo?
Honestly, this is a whole meal in itself. This dish has protein, carbs, and fat. All three macronutrients!
Beyond a nutrition standpoint, Creamy Chicken Orzo will fill up your stomachs without having to consider any additional side dishes!
If you do want to add to this meal, I would opt for a greek salad, grilled crostini with olive oil, or some freshly sliced tomatoes with seasoning!
Side dishes don’t need to be complicated! By picking items that are simple, your time in the kitchen with decrease dramatically.
Craving More?
I you try this recipe I would appreciate it if you give it a 5-star rating and leave a review! It truly helps me share my recipes with others. Also, I would love to see how it turns out. Tag me in a photo on Instagram!
Try some of these other recipes, too!
- Zucchini Fritters with Mozzarella Cheese
- Refreshing Chickpea Salad
- Fall Harvest Sheet Pan Dinner
- Mini Oreo Cheesecakes
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Creamy Chicken Orzo with Lemon
Ingredients
- 1.5 Pounds Chicken Breast
- 1/3 Whole Onion
- 1 Whole Lemon
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- ~1 Tablespoon Basil Fresh or Dried
- 5 Cups Water
- 1/4 Pound Orzo
- 1 Teapoon Chicken Base
- 1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
- ~3 Cups Spinach
Instructions
- Start by adding olive oil to a large pan. Then, mince your onion and add it to the pan. Cook over medium-high heat until translucent. Cut your chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and add it to the pan.
- Using a clean cutting board and knife chop your fresh basil and add it to the chicken. Cook chicken until done. Internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once done set stove to warm. Slice half of the lemon into slices and add to the chicken then and add juice from the other half.
- In a pot heat 5 cups of water to a boil. Add chicken base and mix thoroughly. Once boiling add orzo. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add cooked orzo and 1 cup of pasta water to the chicken.
- Add spinach, heavy whipping cream, and parmesan cheese to the pan. Cover and warm on low-medium until spinach is wilted and cheese is melted.
Notes
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator
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