Ingredients
- For the Caramelized Lemons:
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
- For the Chicken & Orzo:
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb / 400 g), sliced into cutlets
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups orzo pasta (9 oz / 250 g), uncooked
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth (600 ml)
- 1 cup heavy cream (240 ml)
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1–2 lemons)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons capers, drained
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and add lemon slices in a single layer. Sprinkle with honey or sugar. Sear for 1–2 minutes per side until golden and caramelized. Remove and set aside.
- Season chicken cutlets with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour, shaking off excess.
- In the same skillet, heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium, add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then stir in garlic and orzo. Cook for 1–2 minutes until orzo is lightly toasted.
- Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cook orzo for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until al dente and sauce is creamy.
- Stir in capers, Parmesan cheese, and spinach, letting spinach wilt. Return chicken to skillet.
- Top with caramelized lemons, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with extra Parmesan.
Notes
- Caramelized lemons add sweetness to balance the tartness—don’t skip this step for best flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Orzo can be replaced with small pasta shapes like ditalini or acini di pepe.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 2 days; reheat gently with a splash of broth or cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 763 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 940 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg
