Lemon Orzo with Chicken and Parmesan

Name: Lemon Orzo with Chicken and Parmesan
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter (1 tablespoon butter, divided); 1 tbsp Olive Oil (1 tablespoon olive oil, divided); 1 piece Yellow Onion (1 onion, diced); 3 cloves Garlic (3 cloves garlic, minced); 1 piece Red Pepper (1 red pepper, diced); 2 cup Baby Spinach (2 cups packed baby spinach); 1 ½ cup Orzo (1 1/2 cups dry orzo); 2 ½ cup Chicken Broth (2 1/2 cups chicken broth); 1 tbsp Thyme (1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)); ½ tsp Table Salt (1/2 teaspoon salt); ½ tsp Black Pepper (1/2 teaspoon pepper); 2 tbsp Lemon Juice (2 tablespoons lemon juice (1 large lemon)); 1 tbsp Lemon (1 tablespoon lemon zest (1 large lemon)); 1 cup Green Peas (1 cup peas (optional)) — optional; ¾ cup Parmesan Cheese (3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese)

Lemon Orzo with Chicken and Parmesan - Main Course (Italian)

30 minItalian

Servings6

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Vegetarian
Pescatarian
Egg Free

Steps

1Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter and 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat.
2Add the chopped chicken to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink.
3Add the onion, garlic, and red pepper and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
4Add the baby spinach and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until it starts to wilt, and the chicken is cooked through.
5Remove the chicken and vegetables to a plate.
6Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of butter and olive oil to the pan, and stir in the dry orzo. Saute the orzo for 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly.
7Add the chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper, and bring the liquid to a boil over medium heat.
8Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to a simmer, and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
9Add back the chicken and vegetables, along with the lemon juice, lemon zest, and peas, and cook over medium heat for another 1-2 minutes until everything is heated through.
10Stir in the parmesan cheese and serve.