Lemon Chicken with Spinach Orzo is a Flavor Explosion

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Add a burst of flavor to your dinner with this mouth-watering Lemon Chicken with Spinach and Orzo recipe. It’s perfect for any night of the week!

I wanted lemon chicken. I know the hubs isn’t a huge fan of citrus that doesn’t involve lemonade, margaritas, or his own chicken piccata. So, I was treading in some pretty shallow water. Walking a really thin line. And all those glorious clichés. If you hadn’t guessed, I had to be careful with the amount of lemon I used.

I thought there was the perfect hint of lemon. He disagreed with me. I thought it was the perfect amount of lemon flavor, but he stated it was not a “hint” of lemon as I had anticipated. I just think he’s too sensitive to lemon and/or acidic foods. Sometimes the thinks his piccata has too much lemon, but sometimes it just has too many capers making it acidic.

What is orzo and how is it different than rice?

Orzo is a barley shaped pasta that’s about the size of a large grain of rice. Rice is a grain that’s grown and not something that is made. Since orzo is made with semolina flour, it has slightly chewy texture similar to rice. It has a unique shape that holds up well in salads, soups, and is the perfect base for this lemon chicken with spinach and orzo.

What are some tips for cooking perfect pasta?

When it comes to cooking pasta, first you want be sure to cook the pasta al dente. Al dente means it should be tender but still slightly firm to the bite or to the tooth. Overcooked pasta is mushy and falls apart when mixed with the chicken and spinach.

Make sure to choose the right shape for your dish. For this lemon chicken with spinach I opted for a sturdy variety like orzo. It holds the chicken and spinach perfectly and the sauce coats all the pieces or orzo perfectly.

You should flavor or salt the water when you’re cooking pasta. Actually, you should do that with rice and potatoes, too. And, honestly, we used to do that when I was growing up. We would have a roast and use that broth to cook noodles. And they were the best noodles ever.

I’m not sure why I stopped doing that. Well, I sort of do. We use the broth for gravy. It’s been decades since I’ve had noodles cooked in roast beef broth. I should change that. I used some of the broth from the chicken to cook the pasta, but saved the rest to make the delicious sauce.

What’s the difference between this lemon chicken and chicken piccata?

While they both have chicken and lemon in them, they’re vastly different. Chicken piccata is typically dredged in flour and pan fried. Then it’s simmered in a lemon and white wine sauce. Capers are stirred in at the end for a nice briny bite of flavor.

This lemon chicken recipe is made in the slow cooker and has layers of lemon on top of the chicken. This allows the lemon juice to slowly flavor the chicken as it cooks in the slow cooker. There’s no wine or butter sauce. And there’s no capers. There’s just spinach.

Is chicken and spinach good combination?

Chicken and spinach are a classic pair. The lean chicken and earthy greens complement each other. The tender, juicy chicken adds a savory element. The spinach has a slightly bitter and vibrant flavor. Together, they create a well-rounded dish that not only tastes delicious but is a nutrient rich combination.

What ingredients do you need for this Lemon Chicken with Spinach and Orzo?

To create this delectable Lemon Chicken with Spinach and Orzo dish, you’ll need some chicken, some herbs and spices, lemons, spinach, chicken broth, and orzo. I used boneless and skinless chicken thighs in this recipe. You can use chicken breast, but I find it can get dry in the slow cooker.

For me, chicken and rosemary go together. And chicken and thyme go together. So, both of those herbs go into the slow cooker with the chicken and lemons. There’s some garlic salt and pepper and finally some chicken broth. All of these ingredients are staples in our house. They’re not ingredients you’ll use once and then not know what to do with the rest. I do not like when recipes call for specific ingredients for that specific recipe. I try to make recipes that use something you have on hand or use all the time.

Do you wash fresh spinach before cooking?

Even though most baby spinach comes in a bag, you should wash it. You should always wash your produce before eating it. You never know if it’s been washed before it gets to you. And there’s all those other people at the store who might have touched that piece of produce. It’s always safer to just rinse the spinach off before you stir it into the pot.

How do you make this lemon chicken with orzo recipe?

This is a slow cooker recipe, but you can easily convert it to an InstaPot or pressure cooker. Place the chicken (thighs or breasts) in the liner of your slow cooker. If I was making this in my pressure cooker, I would use that to brown the chicken first. I don’t brown chicken when I slow cook it. I don’t want to have to clean another pan in this process.

Arrange the lemon slices on top of the chicken and sprinkle with the garlic salt and black pepper. Remove the leaves from the rosemary and thyme and coarsely chop them before sprinkling them on top of the lemon slices. Pour the chicken broth on top and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours. If using a pressure cooker, cook on high for 20 minutes or low for 30 minutes and naturally release the pressure.

Cook the orzo according to package directions while the chicken is cooking. Combine the water with the cornstarch and set aside. When the chicken is cooked, then stir in the spinach and the cornstarch slurry. Continue to simmer until the sauce thickens. Place the chicken on top of the orzo and drizzle with the sauce before serving.

The chicken is tender and has a light lemon flavor throughout. The spinach adds a nice earthy touch and vibrant color. The sauce has a light lemon flavor with hints of rosemary and thyme. And the orzo is the perfect pasta to stand up to the thighs and holds the sauce. And it’s fun to eat!

This recipe is easy to throw together before work or quickly cook up in your InstaPot for those busy weeknights. And with the lean chicken and nutritious spinach, it’s a meal you’ll love to serve your family time and time again.

Luscious Lemon Recipes

• Frosted Lemon Cookies from Hezzi-D’s Recipe Box
• Giada’s Lemon Spaghetti from Jen Around the World
• Greek Meatball Soup from Art of Natural Living
• Lemon Chicken with Orzo from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Tuna Steaks with Lemon Caper Sauce from That Recipe

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