This one pot lemon orzo chicken is simple, bright, and full of flavor with a subtle Cuban twist.
The chicken is seasoned with our homemade sazón, giving it a deep, savory base with notes of paprika, cumin, and oregano. As it browns, it builds flavor in the pan that carries through the entire dish. The orzo cooks right in that same pot, soaking up all those flavors, while lemon adds just the right amount of freshness to balance everything out.
It’s the kind of meal that feels comforting but still light, but is something more. This meal is one of those rare recipes that can be made all in one pot in 30 minutes, and that is a recipe miracle.
If you love 30 Minute Meals then we have you all set in our 30 Minute Meal Round Up
A Little Sazon
If you have been on our blog for a while, you know we love a Cuban twist. In this recipe, the twist is the seasoning. The chicken is generously seasoned with Abuela’s Sazon. The sazón creates a deep, savory base, and really helps bring flavor a little coloring to the dish.
While we don’t usually believe that you need everything to be homemade- we do love making our own Sazon because it helps us control the flavor and the ingredients. We talk a lot about that in our post that breaks down all the reasons to make it. However, with all that said, feel free to sub it with whatever sazon packets you have on hand. The sazon in this dish really helps bring the chicken alive. While the lemon keeps the dish light and fresh. Then the orzo absorbs everything, bringing it all together into one cohesive dish.
Our Tips for Making Our Lemon Orzo Chicken: One Pot Wonder Meal
We really really love this one pot wonder meal. Here are a few tips to help you take it on.
A crispy chicken skin is key to this meal. Here are a few things that will help you acheive crisp perfection:
- Dry the Chicken Before Seasoning: Before seasoning, make sure you pat down the chicken with a paper towel. This will really help it get that nice brown coloring we are looking for.
- Wait for the Oil to Be Hot: let the oil heat up before adding the chicken skin side down.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan! If you are using more than 4 chickens work in batches.
Our Sazon is key for the cuban flavor, but if you don’t have any, or don’t feel like making it, then just go with whatever seasoning you like to use. We highly recommend paprika because it helps give it that nice brown coloring.
Add the spinach after the orzo has cooked through. The spinach only needs a few minutes to wilt, and the steam from the pot and heat from the orzo and chicken will be more than enough. All you wil have to do is mix it in.
Fresh parsley is a great addition to help bring this dish to life.
If you love One Pot Dinners Check out a few more of our favorites:
One Pot Lemon Orzo Chicken (Cuban-Inspired)
Course: EntreeCuisine: Cuban, MediterraneanDifficulty: Easy4
servings15
minutes40
minutesIngredients
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4–6 chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless)
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1 cup orzo
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2–2½ cups chicken broth
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1 small onion, finely chopped
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3 garlic cloves, minced
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Zest of 1 lemon
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2–3 tablespoons olive oil
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1–2 teaspoons sazón
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Juice of 1–2 lemons
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Salt + pepper
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Fresh parsley
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Parmesan
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Optional: Peas, Spinach
Directions
- Season + sear: Season chicken with salt, pepper, and sazón. Set the pan to medium high/high heat, add the olive oil, and gently lower the chicken in to sear skin side down. Allow it to really brown up, which will take 7-8 minutes depending on your stove. Flip over, and allow it to cook on the other side for about 2-3 minute and then Remove and set aside. We do not need to cook it through at this point.
- Build the Flavor: add the onions and season them with salt and pepper. Allow the onions to cook to almost transparent, and push them aside. Add the garlic and allow it to brown slightly before mixing it back in with the onions.
- Toast the Orzo: Add the orzo, and mix well. Allow the orzo to be covered with the onion/garlic mixture and toast up for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the liquids: Add in your broth, lemon juice and zest. Mix everything well and allow it to come to a good boil.
- Add the chicken: nestle your chicken back into the pan, in between the orzo. Give the bottom another good mix, make sure nothing is sticky.
- Cover and Simmer: cover the pot, bring the heat to a medium low setting, and allow it to simmer 10-12 minutes.
- Add in your cheese & extra veggies: add in your parmesan chopped spinach, peas, and parsley.
- Serve and enjoy!
