Need another epic 30 minute dinner - this Lemon Pepper Chicken with Creamy Orzo is max flavor with minimum effort and will satisfy even the pickiest eater.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
I'm obsessed with anything Lemon Pepper. It runs deep in my veins and there's just no going back. If you're on instagram, you'll remember I made this Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe with Creamy Orzo in less than 30 minutes and the result is actual perfection. Perfectly seasoned chicken sliced against the grain and served on top of the easiest creamy orzo pasta. It's everything I want in a quick dinner and it's the perfect main to serve alongside my moms cucumber salad.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Dalkin&Co Lemon Pepper Seasoning, it's the best on the market, pinkie promise!
- Olive oil
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic
- Lemons
- Orzo
- Mascarpone cheese
- Kosher salt, parmesan cheese and basil to taste and garnish
How to Make
- For the Chicken: Liberally season chicken on both sides with Dalkin&Co Lemon Pepper seasoning. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large dutch oven or braiser and cook the chicken until really golden on both sides, about 5-6 minutes on each side. Remove and let rest. Once juices have redistributed, slice again the grain and set aside.
- To make the Sauce: combine the parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice and zest. Taste and season with salt as needed. Set aside.
- To make the Orzo: cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and toss with mascarpone cheese until melted. Season with salt, lemon zest and juice, parmesan, and basil. Adjust seasoning to your liking.
- To Serve: serve the sliced chicken over the orzo with a all of the sauce drizzled on top.
Tips & Tricks
This Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe is super straightforward so no tips necessary. If you want to sub out the chicken thighs for chicken breasts - please be my guest. The one caveat to that would be to pound the chicken breasts so they are about ½ - ¾ inch thick and even throughout. Then cook on both sides. Pounding the chicken a bit more flat will help yield a more even cook time and thus won't dry out the chicken breasts.
FAQ's
What is Lemon Pepper Chicken
Lemon pepper chicken is a seasoned chicken dish typically prepared by coating chicken with a mixture of lemon zest, black pepper, salt, and other herbs or spices. It is often grilled, baked, or pan-fried to create a flavorful and aromatic dish.
What makes Orzo creamy?
Butter and/or cream is typical but in this case, we are using mascarpone cheese.
Similar Recipes
Lemon Pepper Chicken with Creamy Orzo
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons Dalkin&Co Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Sauce
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 whole lemon zested and juiced
For the Creamy Orzo
- 8 ounces dry orzo
- ¼ cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 whole lemon zested and juiced
- Kosher salt, parmesan cheese and basil to taste and garnish
Instructions
For the Chicken
- Liberally season chicken on both sides with Dalkin&Co Lemon Pepper seasoning.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large dutch oven or braiser and cook the chicken until really golden on both sides, about 5-6 minutes on each side. Remove and let rest. Once juices have redistributed, slice again the grain and set aside.
To make the Sauce
- Combine the parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice and zest. Taste and season with salt as needed. Set aside.
To make the Orzo
- Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and toss with mascarpone cheese until melted. Season with salt, lemon zest and juice, parmesan, and basil. Adjust seasoning to your liking.
To Serve
- Serve the sliced chicken over the orzo with a all of the sauce drizzled on top.
So flavorful (which I love) and super quick and easy to make. The perfect weeknight meal!!
This dish is indeed perfection--I never gravitate towards lemon chicken, but Gaby's lemon pepper spice is a game changer--along with imparting a great flavor, it put a terrific "crust" on the chicken and the orzo/lemon garlic sauce put this dish over the top.
I did add some wilted baby spinach too. Will go into the rotation. Highly recommend
Is there any substitute for the marscapone cheese? Thanks
cream cheese!
Hi hi! How much olive oil is recommended for the sauce?
3 tbsp! its the leftover from the chicken! I re-worded the recipe to be easier to read
Can this be made ahead for a dinner party? and also, i live in Dubai! don't have access to your lemon pepper seasoning, what can i use instead? Thanks!
Super, super flavorful stuff…almost too much for our taste and we’re not whimps! The Dalkin lemon pepper and raw garlic packs a punch so I’ll tweak a few things when I make it again. 2 tbs of the lemon pepper is more than enough, I’ll leave the lemon out of the orzo so it’s a different flavor and a relief, and I’ll find a way to cook the garlic some. But these aren’t complaints, just small tweaks we’ll make next time to suit our taste…it’s a great dish!
This recipe is fantastic!! Great with chicken or shrimp. I also added roasted cauliflower to the orzo to get some veggie in the dish and it was perfect. Gaby has done it again! Another recipe I will repeat!
Gaby, I would only be interested in using chicken breasts. Would this be doable? Thanks.
totally!
Substitution for lemon pepper seasoning?
The PERFECT 30 minute meal!!! Love lemon pepper seasoning!