Published: by Wendie · 3 Comments
Jump to Recipe
Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice Pilaf is made with tender chicken that's covered in a zesty lemon and herb garlic butter, served on a bed of flavored rice, orzo pasta, and veggies to make the perfect dinner recipe.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission. Thank you! Read our disclosure policyhere.
It's light, refreshing, and a pretty healthy meal overall. Perfect for filling your belly after a long day without having to clean a pile of dishes later.
If you're all about the light and refreshing flavors, you will love myLemon Garlic Parmesan Orzo with Roasted Asparagus. And, if you're a huge orzo fan like me, you must try myCheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzodish.
Why this dinner recipe works
This is a flavorful chicken andrice dishthat thewhole familywill enjoy. It's an easy recipe that uses simple pantry ingredients and the leftovers are even better the next day.
Ingredients needed
- Chicken breasts: with bone-in and skin-on
- Butter: melted
- Herbs and spices: fresh thyme, minced garlic cloves, fresh chopped rosemary, kosher salt, and black pepper
- Lemon: for both zest andlemon juice
- Orzo pasta
- Veggies: diced onion and carrots
- Garlic cloves: diced
- Long grainrice
- Chicken stock: Low sodium
How to make lemon herb chicken and rice pilaf
- Step 1: In a mixing bowl, combine melted butter, garlic, herbs, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Step 2: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place chicken breasts on it. Brush lemon butter mixture on the chicken and bake until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Step 3: In a deep,large skillet, melt butter. Add carrots and onions, cook until slightly soft.
- Step 4: Add in garlic, rice, and orzo. Cook until the rice and orzo start to brown.
- Step 5: Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until rice is tender.
- Step 6: Turn off heat and let the mixture stand in the hot skillet for a bit before fluffing it with a fork.
- Step 7: Remove chicken from the oven.
- Step 8: Place chicken ontop of thericepilafand garnish with parsley, before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Store leftovers in anairtight containerfor up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Keep leftovers longer by freezing in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
- When reheating leftovers, you may find it easier to add a splash ofchicken brothorchicken stockto help keep it moist while reheating.
- Add some heat to the dish by adding cayenne pepper andred pepper flakes.
- Serve thisgreat recipewithlemon slicesfor a nice garnish.
- If you don't havefresh herbs, you can use dried options.
Recipe Faq
Can I use boneless skinless chicken breasts?
Sure thing! Cut down the baking time to only 15-20 minutes, or a meat thermometer reads 165F when inserted into the chicken.
Can I swap the chicken breasts for chicken thighs?
Of course. As you'll be using bone-inchicken thighs, they'll have a similarcook time to this recipe. But, as always, use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked through for food safety purposes.
What other ads can I try with this chicken and rice dinner?
While I love this the way it is, thebest part about enjoying one of your favorites is changing things up to find new favorites. Try adding in some diced tomatoes, some peas, or some smallgreen beans in therice mixture to help stretch it out a bit further. Sprinkle on some freshly gratedparmesan cheese for even more flavor.
More Chicken Recipes
- Texas Roadhouse Chicken Fried Steak
- One Pan Honey Mustard Chicken with Potatoes and Broccoli
- Cheez-It Chicken Tenders
- Crispy Chicken Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing
MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST FOR ALL MY LATEST RECIPES.
Lemon Herb Chicken Breasts with Rice Pilaf
Wendie
Lemon Herb Chicken andRice Pilafis made withtender chickenthat's covered in a zesty lemon and herb garlic butter sauce and is served on a bed of flavored rice, orzo pasta, and veggies to make the perfect dinner recipe.
4.82 from 65 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Course Entrees
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 320 kcal
Ingredients
Lemon Herb Chicken
- 4 bone-in skin-on chicken breasts 2 1/2 pounds
- 5 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary chopped
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Rice Pilaf
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1/2 onion diced
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic diced
- 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- handful fresh parsley chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Place chicken on a baking sheet.
Mix melted butter, garlic, herbs, lemon zest, and juice. Brush on chicken breasts.
Place baking sheet on the middle rack and roast for 35-40 minutes or until chicken reaches 165 degrees and juices run clear.
Heat a a 12-inch deep skillet with a lid on medium-high heat, melt the butter and add carrots and onions, cook 1-2 minutes just until slightly soft, and then add in garlic, rice, and orzo and cook 2-3 minutes just until rice and orzo starts to get a little brown. Add chicken stock, and bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed 15-20 minutes. Turn off heat let stand for 10 minutes fluff with a fork and add fresh parsley.
Place cooked chicken breasts into the rice pilaf and serve.
Notes
Chicken thighs will also work here.
You can use boneless chicken breasts and cut the cooking time down to 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Keep leftovers longer by freezing in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 8gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 789mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4g
Keyword chicken breast, lemon chicken, rice pilaf
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
« Texas Roadhouse Chicken Fried Steak
Broiled New York Steak »
Reader Interactions
Comments
WendieIt's in the ingredients Sydne, 2 cloves of garlic is needed.
- Sydne Gilbert
For the chicken mix, how much garlic? Garlic is not on the ingredients list. Thanks!
- Wendie
It is definitely one of my favorites. Let me know what you think 🙂
