One-Pot Lemon Herb Chicken & Orzo with Spinach

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A single-pot meal with tender chicken, orzo, and spinach in a zesty lemon-herb sauce—ready in 25 minutes. This American-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, orzo pasta, chicken broth for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 390 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 American cuisine 390 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb, cut into 1-inch cubes chicken breasts
1 cup orzo pasta
2 cups chicken broth
1, zest and juice lemon
2 cloves, minced garlic
1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
4 oz, fresh spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb cubed chicken breasts and season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Sear for 4 minutes until golden brown on all sides, then remove from pot.
Step 2: Add 2 minced garlic cloves to the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 1 cup orzo pasta, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 tbsp chopped thyme, 1 tsp lemon zest, and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Bring to a simmer.
Step 3: Return chicken to the pot, cover, and cook for 12 minutes until orzo is tender and chicken is cooked through. Stir in 4 oz fresh spinach and cook for 1 minute until wilted. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.