Next Post
South Korea Part Two: Going for Gold.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
When you need something bright, cozy, and low-effort, this one-skillet chicken and orzo hits the spot. Think crispy seared chicken, caramelized lemon, and garlicky, butter-kissed orzo that soaks up all the flavor.
It’s weeknight-easy, pantry-friendly, and pretty enough to bring right to the table. Grab a lemon (Meyer if you’ve got it), a handful of greens, and let the oven finish the work.
You guys, I am not going to lie, at this point I really don’t even know what day it is. This entire time I’ve been in South Korea, I think I have asked what day it is and what the time is over and over again. South Korea is one day and sixteen hours ahead of MST, so the jet leg struggle was, and is, real. Because of work, I needed to be going back and forth between US time and Korean time and for me, it just got way too confusing.
By the time you all read this I should hopefully be home, as I am heading out in a couple of hours with a few family members along with me. I am currently writing this post while sitting in a hotel room in Seoul, trying to catch up on work…and scrolling through all the AMAZING comments, social media tags, and press from the last three days. It’s truly amazing. Thanks for the support you all are showing my brother. He’s living up this gold medal win (well sort of, the jet lag on this quick trip cannot be fun) and traveling around with my brother Malachi, doing a quick US press tour. However, they’ll both be back on a plane to South Korea in a couple of days, as Red needs to start practice for Men’s Snowboard Big Air.
Crazy, crazy ride those two are on…
I mean, did you catch Red on Jimmy Kimmel Live Tuesday night? Here’s the link if you’d like to watch.
And that’s your quick Red and Kai update for the day. Let’s talk food, because you know, that is what I do best.
While the food here in South Korea has been awesome…there’s been a lot of Korean Beef, ramen, and we had some amazing dumplings yesterday in Seoul…I must say, I’m looking forward to heading home and cooking up some of my favorite comfort meals, like this easy one skillet chicken dinner.
I made this before we left for Korea and it was the perfect easy, healthy, cozy dinner to eat the day before a long flight. Plus, it’s full of carbs, lemon, and veggies, so very much my kind of food.
The chicken is pan seared along with some fresh lemon slices and a little butter. The chicken becomes crispy, and the lemon slices caramelize, making them sweet enough to eat. I am aware that eating the whole lemon, peel and all, is still a little odd to many of you, but try it out this way. I promise, it’s so good.
The chicken and lemon alone could be an awesome recipe, classic and delicious, but me being me, I needed to add a little more to the recipe, so in came the orzo.
I mean, obviously, you have to have the carbs, you just do.
You could certainly use quinoa or another grain, but if I were you, I’d go with the orzo. It’s just fitting with this recipe and so delicious in the lemon butter sauce.
This recipe is not only delicious, it’s also super easy…one skillet, under an hour, and uses mostly pantry staple ingredients.
Cool. Cool.
It’s a crowd pleaser, and actually comes out of the oven looking relatively pretty. I threw on some fresh dill for color and served the chicken and orzo up right out of the skillet. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners or even entertaining.
Also, I get a lot of questions about what my favorite cast iron skillet is…I always, always use Staub. The ten and twelve inch are my favorites, I used the twelve inch for this recipe.
If I wasn’t getting home so late tonight, I’d for sure be making this for dinner. Instead, this will definitely be on my table as Friday night’s meal.
Can’t wait to start getting caught up on everything at home. Sorry for being MIA with comments this past week, I will be catching up soon. Thanks for all the messages!
Watch the How To Video Here:
One Skillet Lemon Butter Chicken and Orzo
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 337 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breasts or small thighs
- kosher salt and pepper
- 1 Meyer or regular lemon, sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1/3 cup white wine
- 2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 a bunch kale, roughly torn
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.2. Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven or cast iron skillet set over medium high heat. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken and sear on both sides until golden, about 3-5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet. 3. To the same skillet, add the butter and lemon slices. Sear the lemon until golden on each side, about 1 minute. Remove the lemon from the pan and add to the plate with the chicken. 4. To the same skillet, add the garlic and orzo. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and the orzo toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Add the wine to the skillet and de-glaze the pan. Add the chicken broth, kale, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over high heat and stir. Slide the chicken, lemon slices, and any juices left on the pan back into the skillet. Transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.4. Serve the chicken topped with fresh dill and lemon zest. EAT!
Chicken dinner for the win…or the GOLD?! I dunno, but clearly I am still way too excited that my brother is an Olympic Gold Medalist. No big deal or anything…
This post was originally published on February 15, 2018
A perfect easy dinner for any weeknigh!! Can’t wait to try! Glad you’ve enjoyed your time in Seoul!
Thank you Kasey!
That looks so good and simple. I bought some Meyer lemon the other day but was not sure how I would use them. Now I have a plan!?
Perfect! I hope you love this Angela! Thank you!
I’m amazed that you can even write a post like this. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate with a famous gold-winning brother around! Congrats again and again. Hope he kicks ‘you know what’ in the Big Air.
Haha thank you Dean! I hope he does too!!
Did you use bone in skin on chicken breasts or boneless/skinless?
I used boneless, skinless. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Hopefully you will be back on track soon – jet lag is no fun. Congratulations to your family – what an amazing achievement and I will be cheering Red on his next event.
Thank you so much Kathi!
I love this type of dinner,too, Tieghan. And, lemon is always welcome! I’ll be making this one soon. Thanks,
Welcome back!
Thank you Joyce!
Tieghan, I just want to give you the gold for your incredibly hard work and diligence. You have amazing energy, and it’s obvious that your work is your passion. I hope you are able to set yourself the boundaries you need when you need some rest, because when you’re on, you’re a TIGER! Thanks for this great-looking recipe. It’s bookmarked, for sure.
This is so sweet Betti! I am so glad you enjoy my blog and recipes, it really means a lot to me! Thank you!
Relatively pretty is an understatement! The sear on the chicken and lemon looks amazing and I love that it’s a one pan dish. I’m always looking for more chicken recipes. Red has certainly captured the nation with his charm and talent. Looking forward to watching the Big Air event. Hope you get a bit of down time. Traveling is fantastic but exhausting, especially the trip you’ve just had! You deserve a chance to let it all soak in. Congratulations, again, to Red and all the Gerards and good luck to him and team USA through the rest of the week.
Thank you so much Jean! We are really proud of him, and I am excited to watch Big Air as well!
Ironically I just bought orzo yesterday. This will be our dinner tonight! Yeah!
Congrats to Red! What an exciting time for him and for your family..
Looking forward to your Korean inspired dishes.
Welcome home.
Thank you so much Suzanne! I hope you love this!
I loved seeing Red on Jimmy Kimmel. In fact after being a fan of yours for so long, I felt that I had a connection to him and your family. How lucky you all were to have such a wonderful experience.
Thank you so much Eileen! It is so nice to hear that the people who love my blog also cheer on the rest of my family! ?
I loved loved loved the interview with Jimmy Kimmel! Red seems to be such a loveable kid and sooo chill. Congrats to him on his gold ? (and beating our two Canadians…however, he well deserved it). As always tieghsn, love ❤️ your blog
Thank you so much Kelly! Couldn’t be more proud of him!
I watched Red on Jimmy Kimmel! He is just adorable! We will be cheering him on in the Big Air event next week! Congratulations again to the entire Gerard Famly! Just want to say also that I agree with one of your reader’s comments, you should also receive a gold medal for all your delicious recipes that absolutely work every time! When is your new cooking show airing on television?!?!
Awh thank you so much Donna! I am so glad you watched him, I think he did great as well!
This looks delish!! Do you use boneless chicken?
Yup! I used boneless chicken. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Is it skinless too?
Yes! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Welcome back Tieghan! Get some rest. The comment replies can wait. I loved watching Rec. He definitely has the adorable factor going.
Congratulations to him and all the Gerards!
Thank you so much Susan!
I have to say I’m not a huge fan of orzo, but this dish looks so scrumptious I’m willing to give it a try!!
Thank you so much Ruth! I hope you love this!
Hi Ruth – not sure if you like quinoa, but if you do, I found this to be a great substitute! The quinoa really picks up all the juices and does not get dry. It is delicious.