Ina Garten’s Crispy Chicken With Lemon Orzo Recipe: A Zesty Delight

Crispy chicken with lemon orzo offers a delightful culinary adventure that transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Mediterranean flavors dance across your plate, promising a sensory experience that elevates weeknight dining.

Light and bright, this dish combines tender protein with zesty citrus undertones that awaken taste buds.

Delicate herb-infused notes complement the golden, crackling exterior of perfectly seasoned chicken.

Elegant yet approachable, the recipe balances simplicity with sophisticated flavor profiles that make you feel like a gourmet chef.

Pantry staples come together in a magical transformation that turns dinner into a celebration of fresh, vibrant ingredients: dive in and savor every delectable bite.

Ingredients for Crispy Chicken with Orzo

• Chicken Breasts: High-quality, skin-on chicken breasts ensure crispy, flavorful results with even cooking.
• Chicken Tenders: Extra piece to be used separately for another recipe or meal.

• Canola Oil, Butter: Provides rich flavor, helps create crispy golden exterior and delicious brown butter sauce.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates crisp, protective coating for chicken, helping seal in moisture.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning for enhancing chicken's natural flavor profile.

• Fresh Parsley: Adds bright color and fresh herb flavor to finish the dish.
• Lemon Wedges: Provides zesty, citrusy brightness and acidic contrast to rich chicken.

How to Make Chicken with Lemon Orzo

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Crank up your oven to a scorching 230°C / 450°F, ensuring it’s ready for the chicken magic.

Step 2: Create Flavor-Packed Flour Blend

• All-purpose flour
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Whisk these together to create a delectable coating for the chicken.

Step 3: Chicken Prep

Gently remove chicken tenders from underneath the breasts, setting them aside for another culinary adventure. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to ensure a crispy exterior.

Step 4: Sizzle and Coat

• Canola oil
• Butter

Wait until the butter starts dancing and sizzling. Generously coat each chicken breast in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Carefully place the chicken skin-side down in the skillet, letting it cook undisturbed for 12 minutes.

Step 5: Oven Roasting Technique

Transfer the entire skillet to the preheated oven, keeping the chicken skin-side down. Roast for 10 minutes, allowing the heat to work its transformative magic.

Step 6: Final Stovetop Sizzle

Carefully return the skillet to the stovetop (use a kitchen towel – that handle is hot!). Flip the chicken skin-side up. Add remaining butter and cook for 3-5 minutes until the butter turns a gorgeous nutty brown and the chicken reaches a perfect internal temperature of 54-60°C / 130-140°F.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the chicken. Slice each breast crosswise. Plate alongside Lemon Orzo with Feta, drizzle the brown butter generously, and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon wedges.

Tips for Crispy Skin and Tangy Pasta

• Achieve Crispy Perfection: Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring a golden, crunchy exterior that will make your dish irresistible.
• Master Cast-Iron Cooking: Choose a heavy cast-iron skillet to distribute heat evenly, creating a beautiful brown crust that locks in all the delicious flavors of the chicken.
• Space for Sizzling Success: Give each chicken piece plenty of room in the pan, preventing steaming and allowing each breast to develop a gorgeous, crisp texture.
• Brown Butter Brilliance: Keep a close eye on the butter as it transforms, aiming for a rich, nutty brown color that adds depth and complexity to the dish.
• Temperature is Key: Invest in a reliable instant-read thermometer to guarantee perfectly cooked chicken, hitting that sweet spot between juicy and safely done.

Store Chicken & Orzo Without Drying Out

• Airtight Separation: Divide chicken and orzo into distinct sealed containers immediately after cooling. Prevent moisture and flavor transfer by using individual compartments. Keep refrigerated containers toward the back of the fridge for consistent temperature and maximum freshness.
• Freezer Preservation: Carefully wrap chicken in multiple layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Double-protection prevents freezer burn and maintains crispy texture. Label containers with date and contents to track storage duration. Position wrapped chicken in the coldest section of freezer for optimal preservation.
• Strategic Reheating: Revive crispy chicken using oven method for best results. Preheat oven to 375°F, place chicken on wire rack over baking sheet. Warm for 10-12 minutes to restore crunchiness. Microwave orzo separately with sprinkle of water to prevent drying.

Try These Takes on Crispy Chicken Orzo

• Mediterranean Marvel: Replace canola oil with olive oil and add dried oregano and thyme to the flour mixture. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the chicken before serving for a Greek-inspired version.
• Spicy Southern Style: Mix cayenne pepper and smoked paprika into the flour coating. Use bacon fat instead of butter for extra richness. Top with chopped green onions for a bold, Southern-inspired dish.
• Herb Garden Celebration: Incorporate fresh chopped rosemary, sage, and thyme directly into the flour mixture. Use ghee instead of butter for a nuttier flavor profile. Garnish with fresh herb sprigs to enhance the aromatic experience.
• Garlic Lover's Dream: Add roasted garlic powder to the flour mixture and include whole roasted garlic cloves in the pan while cooking. Finish with a drizzle of garlic-infused brown butter and chopped chives for an intense garlic experience.

Orzo Wrap-Up with Lemon Zing

Southern comfort meets culinary elegance with Ina Garten’s crispy chicken masterpiece.

Mediterranean-inspired flavors dance across golden-brown chicken breasts, creating a sensational dining experience.

Her technique guarantees perfectly crisp skin and juicy meat that melts in your mouth.

Lemon orzo provides a bright, tangy accompaniment that complements the rich, nutty brown butter.

Garten’s recipe transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal that whispers sophistication.

Classic techniques merge with modern presentation, inviting you to savor each carefully crafted bite.

Readers who crave this recipe can share the deliciousness, comment with their culinary twists, and spread the love for Ina’s incredible cooking.

Why Ina Garten’s Crispy Chicken & Lemon Orzo Works So Well

• Crisp Beyond Compare: The recipe delivers an incredibly crispy chicken skin through a genius combination of stovetop and oven cooking, creating a golden-brown exterior that crackles with every bite.
• Butter Magic Technique: By browning butter during the final cooking stage, the recipe transforms simple ingredients into a luxurious, nutty sauce that elevates the entire dish with rich, complex flavors.
• Perfect Temperature Symphony: The precise cooking method – starting on the stovetop and finishing in a super-hot oven – ensures chicken that's beautifully crisp outside and incredibly juicy inside, making it foolproof for home cooks.
• Restaurant-Quality at Home: This technique mimics professional kitchen methods, allowing home cooks to create a restaurant-worthy chicken dish with professional-level technique and minimal complicated steps.

Ina Garten Crispy Chicken With Lemon Orzo Recipe

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4.8 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s crispy chicken with lemon orzo delivers Mediterranean comfort on a plate. Delicate chicken meets zesty orzo in a harmonious blend of flavors that promises a restaurant-quality meal straight from your kitchen.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts, skin-on (225g / 8 ounces each)
• 160g / ⅔ cup all-purpose flour

Seasonings:

• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Ingredients:

• 60ml / ¼ cup canola oil
• 125g / 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges

Side Dish:

• Lemon Orzo with Feta

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to a scorching 230°C / 450°F, ensuring a perfectly heated cooking environment.
2. Create a seasoned flour coating by thoroughly combining 160 grams / ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper in a wide, shallow dish.
3. Prepare the chicken breasts by gently removing the tender strips underneath, which helps guarantee uniform cooking. Reserve these strips for another culinary adventure.
4. Heat a generous 60 milliliters / ¼ cup canola oil alongside of butter in a spacious 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once the butter transforms into a sizzling golden liquid, thoroughly coat each chicken breast in the seasoned flour mixture, carefully shaking off any excess.
5. Position the chicken skin-side down in the skillet, allowing it to develop a crisp, golden crust without disturbing for 12 minutes.
6. Transfer the entire skillet to the preheated oven, maintaining the chicken’s skin-side down position, and roast for 10 minutes to ensure even cooking.
7. Carefully return the skillet to the stovetop, being mindful of the extremely hot handle. Flip the chicken skin-side up and introduce the remaining of butter.
8. Continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes, watching the butter transform into a rich, nutty brown color. Confirm the chicken’s doneness by checking the internal temperature, which should reach 54-60°C / 130-140°F.
9. Remove from heat and generously sprinkle finely chopped parsley over the chicken. Slice each breast crosswise for an elegant presentation.
10. Plate with Lemon Orzo with Feta, drizzle the aromatic brown butter overtop, and garnish with fresh lemon wedges for a bright, citrusy finish.

Notes

• Moisture matters when achieving that perfect crispy exterior, so thoroughly pat chicken dry before any coating begins.
• Invest in a cast-iron skillet for even heat distribution and stunning golden-brown crusts that make mouths water.
• Spacing is crucial: give each chicken piece room to breathe and crisp up without turning into a steamy mess.
• Brown butter adds incredible depth, but watch like a hawk to catch that magical nutty moment before burning.
• Instant-read thermometers are your secret weapon for guaranteeing juicy, perfectly cooked chicken every single time.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 of 4 servings
• Calories: 815
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 750mg
• Fat: 48g
• Saturated Fat: 16.5g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 34g
• Cholesterol: 185mg