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One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo

One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo brings juicy, marinated chicken together with tender, brothy orzo for a bright yet comforting bite. Warm spices, paprika, and a hint of honey balance the citrusy tang, while parsley and lemon zest keep it fresh. Ideal for a cozy weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend meal when you want big flavor in a single skillet.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook45 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyMedium
One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

46 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
55 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
13 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy Density
71 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
1 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

37
Heart Health
71
Metabolic
36
Digestive
23
Inflammatory
39
Performance
43
General Wellness
  1. 1

    In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, honey, paprika, herb seasoning, cumin, coriander, black pepper, and salt; add the chicken thighs and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

  2. 2

    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

  3. 3

    Place a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and heat olive oil and butter together until the butter melts.

  4. 4

    Remove the chicken from the marinade, let the excess drip off, and place the chicken skin side down in the skillet; discard the marinade.

  5. 5

    Cook until the skin is golden, about 8 minutes, then transfer the chicken to a plate and keep warm.

  6. 6

    Add the onion to the skillet and sauté until translucent and softened, about 5 minutes.

  7. 7

    Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  8. 8

    Stir in the parsley, orzo, chicken broth, and lemon zest.

  9. 9

    Nestle the chicken, skin side up, on top of the orzo and cover the skillet with a lid.

  10. 10

    Bake in the preheated oven until the orzo is tender, about 30 minutes.

  11. 11

    Squeeze a little lemon juice over the top and serve immediately.

About This Recipe

One Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo is made with 18 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 1 hr and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Butter, Chicken Bone Broth, and Chicken Thigh. Each serving provides about 631.82 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo made of?
The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Butter, Chicken Bone Broth, Chicken Thigh, Diced Yellow Onion. The full list of 18 is above.
How long does it take to make One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo?
About 1 hr in total: 15 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 631.82 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 18 ingredients and 11 steps.
Is One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo healthy?
One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Orzo has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 631.82 calories and 30.03 g of protein, or 60% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 321.85 mg (14% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.42 g (47% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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