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    Category Home » Chicken and Turkey » One-Pot Chicken with Orzo, Lemon, and Feta

    One-Pot Chicken with Orzo, Lemon, and Feta

    Published: Oct 7, 2019 · Modified: May 17, 2021 by Leigh Anderson · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This recipe for one-pot baked chicken and orzo is packed with all my favorite Mediterranean flavors like lemon, olives, fresh oregano, and feta cheese!

    a pot of orzo and chicken thighs topped with feta, olives, lemons and fresh herbs on a blue background

    This easy dinner recipe is one of my all-time favorites, golden-brown crispy chicken thighs are cooked with lemon, garlic, shallot, white wine, and orzo. The orzo soaks up all of the delicious flavors in the pot and creates a velvety risotto-like consistency without all the work of making risotto! Top it off with fresh oregano, parsley, and feta cheese and you’ve got yourself a pretty fabulous dinner if you ask me!

    The best part? Start to finish this recipe is complete in less than an hour and only requires one pot. I use my favorite Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Pot but you can use any oven-safe pot or pan that has a lid.

    Ingredients in this Recipe

    Here’s what you’ll need to make One-Pot Chicken with Orzo, Lemon, and Feta; bone-in chicken thighs, olive oil, chicken stock, orzo pasta, shallot, garlic, lemon, white wine, dijon mustard, olives, parsley, oregano and feta cheese.

    recipe ingredients individually portioned on a blue background; orzo, chicken thighs, feta cheese, lemons, garlic, olive oil, white wine, olives, and herbs

    Recipe Step by Step:

    Step 1. Brown the Chicken Skin

    Don’t rush, it takes about ten to fifteen minutes on medium heat to achieve super crispy, golden brown skin.

    left, 4 bone in chicken thighs with golden brown skin on a white plate. right, a dutch oven with sautéed shallot, lemon and garlic.

    Step 1. Saute the Aromatics and Orzo

    The flavor is infused into the orzo right at the start by sautéing it in chicken fat, garlic, and shallot.

    left: a pot with orzo, shallot, lemon and lemon slices on a blue background. 
right: a pot with orzo cooking in broth on a blue background

    Step 3. Deglaze with White Wine

    Deglaze the pot with the white wine and reduce it by half then add in the dijon mustard and chicken stock.

    left: chicken cooking in a pot with broth, orzo and olives
right: fully cooked chicken in a pot with orzo, olives and lemons

    Step 4. Bake

    In the oven, the orzo will absorb the stock and wine resulting in a creamy, risotto-like consistency. To serve top with feta and herbs for a punch of freshness!


    a large enamel dutch oven filled with orzo chicken and topped with feta, herbs and olives

    FAQs and Expert Tips:

    Can I use rice for this recipe instead of orzo?

    Yes, you can use arborio rice instead of orzo.

    What should I serve with this recipe?

    This one-pot meal is great all on its own or you can serve it alongside a simple salad like; Herb Salad with Shaved Parm or The Everyday Dinner Salad.

    Can I make this recipe without wine/alcohol?

    Absolutely, you can swap the wine for chicken stock to make this recipe alcohol-free.

    Check out more great recipes:

    • Roasted Chicken Thighs with Citrus and Fennel
    • Marinated Feta with Lemon + Olive Oil
    • Gluten-Free Olive Oil Cake
    • Creamy Tortellini Soup with Lemon and Parmesan Cheese

    I love to hear from readers and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment and/or give it a rating! Don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    a pot of orzo and chicken thighs topped with feta, olives, lemons and fresh herbs on a blue background

    One-Pot Chicken with Orzo, Lemon, and Feta

    This one-pot baked chicken with orzo is packed with all my favorite Mediterranean flavors like lemon, olives, fresh oregano, and feta cheese!
    4.91 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 586kcal
    Author: Leigh Anderson

    Ingredients

    • 4-6 bone in chicken thighs
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • 2 medium shallots peeled and thinly sliced
    • 2 large cloves garlic, smashed, peeled, and roughly chopped
    • 1 lemon thinly sliced
    • 2 c orzo pasta
    • 2 tbsp dijon mustard
    • ½ c dry white wine
    • 3 c chicken stock
    • 1 heaping cup pitted green olives like castelvetranos
    • 2 sprigs fresh oregano plus extra for serving
    • 1 bunch fresh parsley
    • 8 oz feta cheese

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350. Heat your largest sauté pan over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to the pan and then place the chicken thighs into the pan skin side down. Cook the chicken for 10-15 minutes undisturbed until the skin is a deep golden brown then take the thighs out of the pan and set aside.
    • Turn the heat to low and add in the garlic, shallot, and sliced lemon. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until aromatic then add in the orzo and a pinch of salt. Stir the orzo until it is evenly coated with the fat, garlic, lemon, and shallot.
    • Next, add the dijon mustard and white wine. Let the wine reduce until it's almost completely evaporated, then place the chicken back into the pan along with the olives, oregano, and chicken stock. Bring the stock to a simmer then cover and bake for 20 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the orzo is tender and creamy.
    • To serve, top the chicken and orzo with chopped parsley, oregano, and crumbled feta. Serve immediately!

    Notes

     
    Ingredient Notes + Substitutions: 
    • Chicken Thighs: You could use bone-in chicken breast or legs.
    • Orzo: Arborio rice will work instead of orzo.
    • White Wine: Use extra chicken stock if you prefer no alcohol.
    • Feta: Goat Cheese, or omit for dairy-free. 

    Storing and Reheating Leftovers:
    • Leftovers can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350 or on the stovetop over medium heat. Add a splash of water or extra chicken stock to loosen up the orzo and chicken while it reheats. 

    Equipment Used:
    Lodge Enamel Dutch Oven 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 586kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 995mg | Potassium: 525mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1452IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 330mg | Iron: 3mg
    Did you make this recipe?Share a picture on Instagram and tag me: @Craving_California and use the hashtag: #CravingCalifornia!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brittany

      December 09, 2021 at 8:10 am

      5 stars
      This was absolutely AMAZING. Definitely going into the favorites to be made again and again. Really in love with how easy and delicious it was to make this. Can’t wait to cook this for friends and family and pass the recipe along! Such a good staple recipe, as I have most of those ingredients already at home. Thanks so much!

      Reply
    2. Cara

      June 06, 2021 at 12:24 pm

      Hello!
      Any reason not to cook this on the stove? I cannot remember is my large sauté pan is oven safe. Looks yummy! Thank you.

      Reply
      • Leigh Hyatt Anderson

        June 06, 2021 at 1:23 pm

        Hi Cara! As long as your large sauté pan doesn’t have a plastic handle it should be ok to go in the oven. Than being said, you can cook this on the stove top, just cook it over low heat and stir periodically to make sure the bottom doesn’t scorch. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Michelle

      December 29, 2020 at 6:34 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and it was delicious! I had to tweak a couple of things but it still was so flavorful. I used bone in chicken breast & for some reason they were all huge. I didn’t have fresh Oregano or parsley, so I used dried. I also used Kalamato olives & cut back on them because my kids don’t like olives. Next time, I’ll put the whole cup though & they can pick them out. As for cooking time, I cooked them longer on the stove since they were bigger and after 20 minutes in the oven, I removed the breast & put them on a sheet pan & cooked them for an additional 14 min till the temp read 180. I also threw in the Feta in the Orzo instead of putting it on top. Pure laziness on my part.
      Yum! Big hit!

      Reply
      • Leigh Hyatt Anderson

        December 30, 2020 at 10:41 am

        Hi Michelle! I’m so happy you and your family enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for sharing all your tips for substituting chicken breast. Happy New Year!

        Reply
    4. Judi

      May 12, 2020 at 6:52 am

      5 stars
      I made the Greek lemon chicken orzo. The only thing I did differently was I chopped green and calamata olives and used chicken breasts. Delicious recipe, thank you!

      Reply
      • Leigh Hyatt Anderson

        May 12, 2020 at 6:09 pm

        So glad you liked it Judi! <3

        Reply

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