Description
A delicious and nutritious dish featuring tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and orzo, all coated in zesty lemon and black pepper flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups small broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Toss the chicken pieces in a bowl with the black pepper, half the lemon zest, and ½ teaspoon of salt until they are evenly coated.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the chicken to turn lightly browned. After that, remove the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
- Add the diced onion to the same skillet and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently until it softens. Then, add the minced garlic and cook it for another 30 seconds.
- Stir in the orzo pasta into the onion mixture and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth and add the remaining salt. Put the chicken back into the skillet, then bring the whole mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Let it simmer for about 8 minutes, allowing the orzo to cook thoroughly.
- Add in the broccoli florets. Cover it again and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until the broccoli becomes crisp-tender and the orzo is al dente.
- Fold in the butter, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, and the remaining lemon zest. Stir everything together until it becomes melted and creamy.
- Transfer everything to serving bowls and garnish with freshly chopped parsley.
Notes
Perfect for busy weekdays or special gatherings. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken, pasta, broth, lemon, broccoli, family recipe, weeknight dinner