Description
A delightful dish combining tender chicken, creamy orzo pasta, and fresh spinach, enhanced with the zesty flavors of lemon.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken breast (diced)
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 cups spinach (fresh)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Cook the diced chicken for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Simmer by lowering the heat and adding the orzo pasta; cook for around 10 minutes.
- Incorporate heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest into the pot.
- Add the fresh spinach and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and combined.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve warm, optionally garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs.
Notes
Use fresh ingredients and avoid overcooking the orzo for the best texture. For a lighter dish, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: chicken, creamy pasta, orzo, lemon, quick dinner