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    Home > Recipes > Chicken

    Chicken and Orzo with Lemon and Olives

    Published: Oct 13, 2011 · Modified: Jun 10, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 5 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    a silver serving spoon in a pan of chicken and orzo

    This past weekend was one of those rainy weekends perfect for curling up on the couch with a glass of wine and a dinner that basically makes itself. The rain in Thailand has been cause for great concern. People have lost their homes, and the water keeps coming. The government is scrambling to keep the flood waters out of Bangkok, but at the end of the day, no one can stop the rain. And so on Sunday night, we did the only thing we could do. We stayed inside and watched the storm. Thunder rolled over the city, from one side to the next. Lightning flashed, literally horizontally, across the sky outside our apartment. Horizontally. It was a spectacular show. 

    fresh oregano and lemon slices on a white countertop

    As I watch the seasons change from afar, I am doing my best to seek out the sensation that fall brings with it. Trying to slow down a bit, to make our home a bit more cozy and keep it full of delicious smells from the oven, to spend a bit more time together just talking and catching our breath. I’m on the hunt for a pumpkin-scented candle to go with the local kobucha squash I found to bring a little harvest décor to our apartment.  Halloween with an Asian twist.

    I had been eyeing this charming, homey recipe for weeks when I got the perfect inspiration for it in the mail. The recipe calls for orzo, but if you can get your hand on this Trader Joe's fall mix, I can assure you that you will be delighted with the result. 

    an opened bag of orzo on a wooden tabletop

    As this dish cooks, the orzo turns smooth and creamy. The entire dish requires just one pan and is a thing of beauty when it reaches the table. This is worthy of serving to guests, but with a nice glass of wine and a brilliant display of lighting outside, it did our little kitchen proud on a plain old, Sunday night. 

    serving chicken and orzo into white bowls

    More One Pan Meals

    • One Pan Chicken and Orzo with Spinach
    • One-Pan Italian Turkey Meatballs with Marinara
    • One Pan Huevos Rancheros
    • Chicken and Chickpea Stew with Roasted Red Peppers

    Favorite Tools

    • Global Chef's Knife
    • Dutch Oven or Stockpot
    Print Recipe
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    Chicken and Orzo with Lemon and Olives Recipe

    As this Chicken and Orzo with Lemon and Olives cooks, the orzo turns smooth and creamy. The entire dish requires just one pan and is a thing of beauty when it reaches the table.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time55 mins
    Course: Main Dish
    Keyword: chicken dinner, Chicken Recipe, easy dinner, one pan meal
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 613kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $10.00

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven or Oven-Safe Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 4 Whole Chicken Legs
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 ½ cups orzo
    • 3 cups chicken broth
    • 1 large clove Garlic, minced
    • 1 small Lemon, cut into 8 wedges
    • 1 teaspoon Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
    • ¾ cup pitted Kalamata Olives
    • 1 large Bay Leaf
    • 3 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Oregano, divided (substitute 1 tablespoon of dried oregano)

    Instructions

    • Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the chicken legs well on all sides with 1 ½ teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
    • In a Dutch oven or large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the legs well on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan.
    • Add the orzo, chicken stock, garlic, lemon wedges and juice, olives, bay leaf and 1 tablespoon of the oregano.
    • Stir to combine all the ingredients, then return the chicken to the pan.
    • Cover and transfer to the oven.
    • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the chicken is done (the meat will be firm and its juices will run clear).
    • Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, sprinkle with the remaining oregano and serve.

    Notes

    Recipe shared by The Wednesday Chef.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 613kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 1162mg | Potassium: 518mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 293IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 3mg

    Related

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Corey @ Learning Patience

      October 13, 2011 at 12:22 am

      Saving this one now...sounds perfect for a dinner party! thanks a bunch...Hope all the rain goes away soon!
      xoxo from Trinidad

      Reply
    2. Claire @ Claire K Creations

      October 13, 2011 at 4:55 am

      I love anything that cooks itself but this one looks nice and easy on the prep too. I hope you're staying dry!

      Reply
    3. MM

      October 13, 2011 at 5:21 am

      Glad my impulse buy came in handy! I'll have to go back to T. J.'s and get some for myself as it looks really good.

      Reply
    4. Kristin F.

      November 10, 2019 at 12:34 pm

      This looks delicious, and I'm excited to try it, 🙂 but in the picture the starch looks like pearl-sized couscous, not orzo (which is rice-shaped). Although they're both pasta, I wonder if this would affect cooking times?

      Reply
      • Jess

        November 10, 2019 at 3:55 pm

        Hi Kristin! Yes - you're exactly right. As I noted in the post, I actually used a Trader Joe's fall mix which has orzo, pearl couscous and a few other types of pasta. For some reason the pearl couscous rose to the top, but the orzo is in there somewhere. Orzo, pearl couscous, or any other small shape pasta should work just fine.

        Reply

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