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Golden chicken thighs with orzo, peas, and spinach in a rustic skillet for a cozy one pot meal.

Cozy Chicken & Orzo Skillet – Healthy One Pot Dinner


  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

This one pot dinner features tender chicken thighs, creamy orzo, spinach, and peas for a simple, nutritious weeknight meal. Ready in under 40 minutes, it delivers comforting flavor with minimal cleanup.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 3 cups baby spinach
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)

  • Instructions

    1. Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt, pepper, and dried thyme.

    2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken until golden, about 4–5 minutes per side, then transfer to a plate.

    3. Add chopped onion to the same skillet and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened, then stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant.

    4. Stir in orzo and toast for about 1 minute, coating it in the oil and aromatics.

    5. Pour in chicken broth, return chicken to the skillet, bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes until orzo is tender.

    6. Fold in frozen peas and spinach, cover, and cook 2–3 minutes until the greens wilt and peas are heated through.

    7. Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice, adjust seasoning, and sprinkle with parmesan if desired before serving.

    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Category: dinner
    • Method: skillet
    • Cuisine: american

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 450
    • Sugar: 4
    • Sodium: 600
    • Fat: 15
    • Saturated Fat: 4
    • Unsaturated Fat: 10
    • Trans Fat: 0
    • Carbohydrates: 40
    • Fiber: 5
    • Protein: 35
    • Cholesterol: 85

    Keywords: chicken orzo, one pot dinner, healthy chicken orzo, chicken and orzo skillet, quick dinner, comfort food, skillet meal