Description
Savor a delightful dish with our High Protein Mediterranean Chicken Orzo, where tender chicken meets zesty olives, fresh vegetables, and creamy feta cheese. This easy-to-make recipe blends the rich flavors of the Mediterranean into a nourishing meal perfect for weeknight dinners or special gatherings. Packed with protein and healthy ingredients, this dish is both satisfying and nutritious. In under an hour, you can serve a vibrant one-pot meal that’s versatile enough to adapt to your favorite seasonal veggies or proteins.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups orzo pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the orzo in salted boiling water according to package instructions (8–10 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and half of the dried herbs. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken for about 6–7 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from heat and let rest before slicing.
- In the same skillet, sauté diced onion until translucent (3–4 minutes), then add garlic for another minute.
- Stir in cherry tomatoes and cook until softened (2–3 minutes). Add spinach and olives; stir until spinach wilts.
- Pour in chicken broth; simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes until reduced slightly.
- Combine cooked orzo and sliced chicken into the skillet; mix well.
- Finish with crumbled feta and lemon juice; adjust seasoning as needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-pot
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (350g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg