By Gary 
One Pot Lemon Pepper Chicken with Orzo
Crafting a delightful meal that brings the family together can be both fulfilling and straightforward. This One Pot Lemon Pepper Chicken with Orzo is specially tailored to feed a family of 5, ensuring everyone enjoys a comforting, flavorful dish. The harmony of tender chicken thighs with zesty lemon pepper seasoning, along with creamy orzo, makes for a quintessentially satisfying meal. Follow the guide below and savor the effortlessly integrated flavors.
Ingredients (Serves a Family of 5):
– 5 chicken thighs
– Ensure they are dry before seasoning
– 2 ½ Tbsp lemon pepper seasoning
– Liberally used on both sides of the chicken
– 1 ¼ Tbsp cooking oil
– 3 cloves garlic
– Minced
– 2 ½ cups chicken broth
– ⅓ cup chopped parsley
– Roughly chopped; divided use
– 2 cups orzo
– 3 oz. feta
– Crumbled
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Prepare Chicken Thighs:
Blot the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel to ensure a crisp sear. Season both sides liberally with 2 ½ tablespoons of lemon pepper seasoning.
Browning Chicken:
Heat a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 ¼ tablespoons of cooking oil to the skillet. Place the chicken thighs, skin side down, in the skillet. Cook them undisturbed until the skin is nicely browned, typically around 6-8 minutes for bone-in, skin-on thighs. Flip the chicken thighs to brown the other side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a clean plate, ensuring they are mostly cooked through.
Prepare Garlic and Parsley:
Roughly chop a third of a cup of parsley and mince three cloves of garlic to prepare for cooking.
Sauté Garlic:
Lower the heat to low after removing the chicken from the skillet. Add the minced garlic to the residual fat in the skillet and sauté for about a minute until fragrant.
De-glaze Pan:
Pour 2 ½ cups of chicken broth into the skillet, stirring to dissolve any crispy browned bits from the bottom of the pan. This step enhances the depth of flavor in the dish.
Combine Ingredients:
Add the orzo and half of the chopped parsley to the skillet, stirring to combine well. Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, placing them skin side up atop the orzo mixture.
Simmer Ingredients:
Cover the skillet with a lid and increase the heat to high, bringing the broth to a full boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Let the skillet simmer for about 15 minutes, or until most of the broth is absorbed and the orzo is tender. Ensure the mixture maintains a low simmer, adjusting the heat slightly if needed.
Final Preparation:
After 15 minutes, check the orzo for tenderness and ensure that most of the broth has been absorbed, leaving a slight amount of sauce in the skillet. Use a fork to gently fluff the orzo around the chicken thighs.
Serve:
Finish the dish by sprinkling the remaining chopped parsley and crumbled feta over the top. Serve this delightful one-pot meal to your family and relish in the satisfying blend of flavors and textures.
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The beauty of one-pot meals lies in their simplicity and ability to nurture both the body and soul. This recipe for One Pot Lemon Pepper Chicken with Orzo doesn’t just fill the belly but also enhances your family’s dining experience with its hearty flavors and minimal cleanup. Enjoy this comforting dish together and reap the joys of a shared meal.
Alex Harrington