Lemon Chicken Orzo pasta with parmesan is made with a creamy lemon sauce, rotisserie chicken, and fresh basil on top for a pop of flavor!
Lemon chicken and orzo pairs well with some cheesy toasted Soft Fluffy French Bread. I have a Creamy Orzo with Roasted Asparagus made with boursin cheese, so I made lemon orzo with chicken and parmesan cheese to mix it up a little.
On weekends I like to get a rotisserie chicken and make meals like BBQ Bacon Chicken Pizza. but when I'm short on time I make lemon chicken orzo with basil or Lemon Chicken Gnocchi, another super easy lemony chicken pasta recipe. It's super easy, only uses ONE pan, and BONUS, it comes together in less than 20 minutes!
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What To Expect
- Ease: It's an easy one skillet lemon butter chicken and orzo recipe, it really doesn't get any simpler.
- Taste: A combo of simple seasonings help the lemon flavor shine! No thickeners like flour or cornstarch, in this creamy lemon sauce, the parmesan in the orzo does most of the work.
- Time: I use rotisserie chicken to make it even faster.
🛒 Ingredients
- Orzo pasta - used because of it's size, it's easy to switch out with other pasta if you wish!
- Garlic - fresh minced for flavor, you can also use half the amount if using dried.
- Onion Powder- adds more flavor without making it too heavy tasting or too garlicky.
- Chicken bouillon - adds needed salt and also a little extra seasoning to the sauce.
- Chicken - cooked and shredded, rotisserie chicken works great. You could also use sliced grilled or baked chicken breast or chicken thighs.
- Milk - whole preferred since it's so creamy, but 2% will work as well.
- Parmesan Cheese - make sure you use fresh shredded and not pre-shredded because of the anti-caking additives that can make the sauce grainy.
- Lemons - we're using both the juice and the zest!
- Basil - fresh is best but a few sprinkles of dried on top is also delicious.
See the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and quantities.
✏️ Substitutions & Variations
- Butter can be switched out with olive oil.
- Chicken bouillon can be swapped out for vegetable bouillon.
- Some readers have added a few handfuls of fresh spinach at the end for a nice little lemon orzo with spinach.
- Orzo pasta can be switched out with another small pasta such as ditalini or small shells.
- No chicken? Use pre-cooked tail-off shrimp or even canned white beans for a different protein option that is delicious!
- More veggies? Toss in some steamed green peas or broccoli to make it a complete meal!
🧑🍳 Instructions
Step 1. In a medium cooking pot (or large frying pan with lid), melt butter over medium heat and add minced garlic. Stir and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
Step 2. Add orzo pasta, water, salt & pepper, chicken bouillon, and onion powder and mix well. Cover and simmer 8-10 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
Step 3. Make it creamy! Turn to low heat and add in milk and parmesan cheese and mix well.
Step 4. Add in lemon juice and shredded chicken and mix in gently.
Step 5. Sprinkle the lemon zest and chopped basil over top of pasta for both garnish and flavor and serve warm. Enjoy!
📌 Top Tips For Success
- Fresh! Use fresh parmesan for the sauce FOR SURE. Using a pre-shredded variety can make the texture of the sauce grainy due to the anti-caking additives in pre-shredded cheese. Fresh basil and fresh lemon zest and juice are always recommended because FRESH.
- MORE CHEESE?? You can substitute (or add to) the parmesan with freshly shredded gouda or white cheddar for an equally delicious pasta sauce!
- Wait to add the lemon juice and lemon zest until the end, it helps to preserve the lemony flavor!
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Lemony orzo pasta can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Pop it in the microwave for a minute or two. You can add a Tablespoon or more of milk to make it creamier, since the pasta tends to absorb moisture over time.
Freezing: You can freeze this pasta, but it noodles can change texture when frozen and reheated. Once cooled, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before reheating.
It's a type of pasta that is small and shaped like rice, but is not rice.
You could adjust the recipe to use rice, but it may need more water than is called for in the recipe.
I use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, but cooked boneless chicken breasts or thighs would work as well.
🍗 More Easy & Delicious Chicken Recipes
These are some of our tried and true family favorite chicken dinner recipes, some of which use rotisserie chicken like the lemon chicken orzo skillet. The Chicken Pot Pie with Frozen Veggies is super easy and we have it often!
Did You Try This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Make sure to leave a star rating and a comment below the recipe card. I love hearing from you, and it is so helpful to other readers! Better yet, share it with family and friends. Thank you!!
📝 Printable Recipe
Lemon Chicken Orzo
Equipment
- 1 Cooking Pot
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon butter, salted
- 1 Tablespoon miced garlic
- 8 oz orzo pasta, uncooked
- 2 cups water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup whole or 2% milk
- 1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- lemon, zest and juice of (about ¼ cup juice & 2 teaspoons zest)
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- In a medium cooking pot (or large frying pan with lid), melt butter over medium heat and add minced garlic. Stir and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
- Add orzo pasta, water, salt & pepper, chicken bouillon, and onion powder and mix well. Cover and simmer 8-10 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Turn to low heat and add in milk and parmesan cheese and mix well.
- Add in lemon juice and shredded chicken and mix in gently. Last sprinkle lemon zest and chopped basil over top of pasta and serve warm. Enjoy!
Anne D says
Delicious! I swapped oat milk for regular milk for my lactose intolerant family and added a little extra butter to compensate. I also added in a bunch of fresh spinach at the end.
Sara says
Yum! Love the idea to add spinach.
Analynn Berry says
Oh boy oh boy I just barely learned how to brine lemons for storing and needed a savory recipe to try them in, this is perfect!