This succulent and flavorful pesto hen and orzo comes collectively rapidly in only one pot and half-hour! Get pleasure from this straightforward meal with out all of the dishes.
One of many many causes I like summer time is due to the abundance of contemporary produce we’ve got rising in our backyard! Basil particularly all the time thrives within the shiny sunshine of summer time so I find yourself making some model of pesto no less than as soon as per week.
On this one pot pesto hen and orzo I’m simplifying issues by encouraging you to make use of store-bought pesto, nevertheless you possibly can very a lot use your personal freshly made basil pesto (or different kinds of pesto). Beneath I’ve included a fast recipe for pesto genovese (aka basil pesto) however once more, to maintain this one pot recipe further easy be at liberty to make use of store-bought! Let’s chat about why else it is best to make this recipe…
Why Make this Recipe?
One pot – that’s proper! All the things might be cooked in a single pot, which suggests straightforward clean-up with minimal dishes.
Full of diet – with protein from the hen and zucchini for the veggies this pesto hen makes a nicely balanced meal.
Prepared in half-hour – this recipe might be prepared in half-hour or much less!
Components Wanted:
- Olive oil – for cooking your hen and veggies.
- Hen thighs – you can even use boneless, skinless hen breasts as nicely.
- Shallot – an fragrant for taste.
- Zucchini – be at liberty to exchange with a special summer time veggie or no matter you’ve got available!
- Cherry tomatoes – You should use chopped tomatoes as nicely however I just like the bursting taste of cherry and even grape tomatoes.
- Orzo – orzo is a small pasta that cooks rapidly. Orzo means “large rice” in Italian as a result of its form is just like rice.
- Hen inventory – for cooking the orzo with a little bit added taste. Be happy to make use of a special inventory like veggie or beef when you favor.
- Pesto – You should use a 6.5 oz jar or roughly X a cup of selfmade (see recipe under)
- Salt + Pepper – you possibly can add to style.
- Parmesan cheese – you possibly can exchange with a special shredded cheese.
Find out how to Make One Pot Pesto Hen and Orzo
STEP 1: COOK CHICKEN
In a big pot add 2 tbsp of olive oil and cook dinner over medium-high warmth. Add in hen and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown on all sides for roughly 3 minutes per facet. Take away hen from pot and put aside.
STEP 2: COOK VEGGIES
Add shallot, zucchini and cherry tomatoes to pot and cook dinner over medium warmth for 3-5 minutes. Stir in dry orzo and cook dinner for 1-2 minutes.
STEP 3: COOK ORZO
Add in hen inventory, pesto and salt and pepper and produce combination to a simmer. Decrease warmth to low and stir in hen and any juices. Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, uncovered or till all liquid has been absorbed and hen is cooked via. Be sure you stir sometimes to make sure orzo doesn’t stick with backside of pan. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve heat.
Find out how to Make Basil Pesto
Right here’s my primary recipe for basil pesto:
- 2 giant garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts (pine nuts are extra conventional however walnuts are an amazing substitute)
- 2 cups of contemporary basil or 1 giant bunch
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3–1/2 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1/2 tsp salt
I like so as to add all the pieces to a meals processor and pulse into nicely damaged down or to desired consistency. Alternatively you can use a mortar and pestle which is extra conventional.
Recipe Tip
Swap in solar dried tomato pesto rather than basil pesto! Right here’s my favourite recipe.
Storage Directions
Will preserve in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Extra One Pot Recipes
One Pot Pesto Hen and Orzo
This succulent and flavorful pesto hen and orzo comes collectively rapidly in only one pot and half-hour! Get pleasure from this straightforward meal with out all of the dishes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Prepare dinner Time: 20 minutes
- Complete Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Class: Dinner
- Methodology: Prepare dinner
- Delicacies: Italian
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless hen thighs
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1 giant zucchini, chopped
- 1 dry pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups dry orzo pasta
- 2 cups hen inventory
- 1 x 6.5 oz jar pesto
- salt + pepper, to style
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- In a big pot add 2 tbsp of olive oil and cook dinner over medium-high warmth.
- Add in hen and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown on all sides for roughly 3 minutes per facet.
- Take away hen from pot and put aside.
- Add shallot, zucchini and cherry tomatoes to pot and cook dinner over medium warmth for 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in dry orzo and cook dinner for 1-2 minutes.
- Add in hen inventory, pesto and salt and pepper and produce combination to a simmer.
- Decrease warmth to low and stir in hen and any juices.
- Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, uncovered or till all liquid has been absorbed and hen is cooked via. Be sure you stir sometimes to make sure orzo doesn’t stick with backside of pan.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve heat.
- Will preserve within the fridge for as much as 5 days.