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One Pot Mediterranean-style Chicken Orzo Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 boneless chicken thighs skin removed
• 250 g orzo
• 1 stick celery diced
• 1 carrot diced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 onion diced
• 1.5 tsp paprika
• 4 mushrooms roughly sliced
• 6 cloves garlic left whole
• 1 handful cherry tomatoes
• 1 lemon juice only
• 500 ml chicken stock made with 1 chicken stock cube and boiling water
• 1 handful flat leaf parsley leaves roughly chopped
• 1.5 tsp ground allspice
• 0.5 tsp ground turmeric
• low calorie cooking spray

Instructions

1. Step 1: Marinate the Chicken
   Begin by coating the chicken thighs with a flavorful mixture of paprika, ground allspice, turmeric, and salt. Let them sit for about 10 minutes, which gives the spices time to work their magic. This brief marination period will infuse the chicken with a warm, aromatic flavor, setting the stage for a delightful meal.

2. Step 2: Chop Your Vegetables
   While the chicken is marinating, take this opportunity to dice the celery, carrot, and onion. It's like creating a colorful palette of nutrients for your dish. A little tip: try to keep your pieces roughly the same size to ensure even cooking.

3. Step 3: Brown the Chicken
   Grab a large pan and give it a few generous sprays of low-calorie cooking spray. Heat it gently over medium heat and place the marinated chicken thighs in the pan. Let them brown nicely on one side before flipping to brown the other side. The aim is to achieve a gorgeous golden hue that locks in flavor and juices. Once done, set the chicken aside for a bit.

4. Step 4: Sauté the Vegetables
   Add a few more sprays of cooking spray to the same pan and toss in the diced onion, carrot, celery, whole garlic cloves, and roughly sliced mushrooms. Allow these veggies to mingle over the heat until the onion turns soft and translucent. This step not only builds flavor but also adds a lovely texture to the dish.

5. Step 5: Create the Base
   Introduce the cherry tomatoes, lemon juice, and a splash of chicken stock (around 100ml) to the pan. Stir everything together, letting the ingredients blend into a fragrant base. This nifty trick adds acidity and depth to the dish, brightening the overall flavor profile.

6. Step 6: Bake the Chicken
   Nestle the browned chicken back into the pan, ensuring each piece is snugly surrounded by the vegetable mix. Cover the pan with a lid or foil, then slide it into the oven preheated to 180°C (350°F). Let it bake for about 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld while the chicken becomes tender and juicy.

7. Step 7: Add Orzo and Finish Cooking
   Carefully retrieve the pan from the oven and add the orzo, freshly chopped parsley, and the remaining chicken stock. Give everything a good stir to ensure the orzo is evenly distributed. Return the pan to the oven, this time uncovered, for an additional 20 minutes. The orzo will absorb the luscious flavors, cooking to perfection.

8. Step 8: Serve and Enjoy
   Your one-pot Mediterranean-style chicken and orzo dish is now ready to delight your taste buds. Serve it up while hot, and savor the comforting blend of spices and tender chicken. Share with loved ones and watch as they dig into this heartwarming meal. Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Notes

It's easy to make a few blunders with this recipe, but don't fret! A common slip-up is not letting the chicken marinate long enough in the spices. Ten minutes might seem like a quick chore, but it allows flavors to truly infuse.

Another pitfall? Overcrowding the pan when browning the chicken. Give those thighs space to sear properly, or they might steam instead.

Also, ensure your garlic cloves stay whole. Crushing them releases too much flavor, overpowering the dish. Finally, resist the urge to peek in the oven too frequently, or the cooking temperature might drop.

Keywords: One-Pot Mediterranean Chicken Orzo, Mediterranean Chicken and Orzo, Easy Mediterranean Orzo Chicken, One-Pot Mediterranean Chicken Pasta, Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo, Simple Chicken Orzo Dish.