Greek Chicken With Orzo Pasta

Chicken is marinated in a zesty Greek dressing and pan fried. Served with a flavorful orzo plus veggies, olives, and feta cheese, this recipe is packed full of flavor and nutritious ingredients. You will be excited to serve this to your family!

I’m always trying to find new and delicious dishes, that are packed full of nutrients, to serve to my family. It’s so easy to get stuck on a cycle of cooking the same thing over and over. It easily becomes monotonous. 

Sometimes you just need that go-to recipe that kicks flavor into high gear and is a little different from the pizza or tacos we serve so frequently. This Greek chicken with orzo pasta does just that.

This recipe combines flavors and vegetables in a different way than I usually serve things. The mix of zesty, salty, slightly sweet, and savory are absolutely divine.

This also makes a great 30-minute meal for those busy weeknights. Prep your marinade, veggies, and chicken in advance (you can even marinate the chicken in the morning), and then all you have to do is cook up the chicken and the orzo that evening.

Double the recipe to have leftovers for lunch the next day or serve leftover chicken on some sourdough buns for a delicious Greek sandwich. Really, this dish is so yummy and versatile.

Tips:

• The honey in the chicken marinade helps the chicken to get a really nice browning on it, but it does mean it’s more susceptible to burning, so watch it closely.
• Prepare all ingredients before beginning. Once the orzo is cooking, you may need to stir it regularly to prevent it from sticking. It’s helpful to have all of your ingredients prepared prior to beginning.
• The orzo will need a lot of salt and pepper, but also keep in mind as you’re seasoning this dish that feta and olives really lend a lot of salt, as well.
• Once the chicken is cooked, you can just stir it into the pasta dish or add it to the top for a more decorative presentation.
• Make this gluten-free by substituting regular orzo for gluten-free orzo. You can usually find this at Trader Joe’s.

Do you rinse marinade off chicken before cooking?

For this recipe, since you are pan frying the chicken rather than, say, grilling it, you do not need to wipe it off. You can cook it right in the marinade.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Tools you may need:

Cast iron skillet

Cutting board

Knife

Liquid measuring cup

Meat thermometer

How To Make Greek Chicken With Orzo Pasta

Begin by combining the ingredients for your chicken marinade in a small mason jar. Shake together and set aside. 

Cut up the chicken breast into 2-inch pieces and set aside in a small bowl. 

Pour half of the marinade over the chicken and stir so it’s evenly coated. Set the other half aside to use as a dressing for the pasta. Allow the chicken to sit in the marinade while you prepare the other ingredients. 

Chop and prepare all your veggies. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and chop the zucchini and tomato into a rough dice.

Set your salt, pepper, oregano, and olives by your stove top to have them handy as you are cooking the orzo. 

In a heavy bottomed large pot or dutch oven, warm the olive oil and add the onions and cook until softened. 

Add garlic, zucchini, and tomato and cook for 3-5 minutes. 

At this stage, start cooking the marinated chicken in a separate, preheated skillet until cooked through (165 degrees F). Remove from heat and set aside. 

Meanwhile, pour the orzo into the pot with the vegetables with one cup of broth, oregano, and some salt and pepper. Stir regularly with the stove on medium low heat until the orzo has soaked up most of the broth, then add another cup of broth. Continue stirring and adding broth (or additional water, if needed) until the orzo is cooked through al dente. The orzo takes about 15-20 minutes to cook. 

At this stage, taste the dish and adjust for seasoning. Add salt, pepper, and olives. 

When ready to serve, top the pasta with chicken, extra olives, a drizzle of the reserved marinade, and a generous crumble of feta cheese. Enjoy!

Find More Flavorful Dinner Ideas:

• Pork Steaks With Creamy Onion Gravy
• Split Pea Soup
• Maple Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potatoes And Apples
• Beef Stew
• Sausage and Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone