Description
A one-pan Mediterranean dish combining tender herb-infused chicken meatballs with creamy, lemony orzo pasta. The dish features aromatics like lemon, dill, and oregano, capturing the essence of Greek cuisine with a perfect balance between hearty and refreshing flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken (preferably dark meat)
- 1 medium shallot, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp finely chopped dill
- 2 tbsp half-and-half or whole milk
- 1 large egg
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Orzo:
- 3 ¾ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups dried orzo pasta
- 3 oz crumbled feta
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp chopped dill
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix zest, shallot, egg, garlic, breadcrumbs, herbs, milk, oregano, salt, pepper. Add chicken; mix gently.
- Form ~20 meatballs.
- Heat olice oil in skillet; brown meatballs 12-15 mins until cooked (165°F). Transfer to plate.
- Add broth & salt to skillet; bring to boil. Stir in orzo; cook until nearly al dente.
- Off heat, stir in feta, lemon juice, dill.
- Return meatballs to pan; cover 1-2 mins to warm through.
- Garnish with extra dill; serve hot.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for juicier meatballs.
- Don’t overmix to avoid tough meatballs.
- Save some feta to sprinkle on top before serving.
- Add sautéed spinach or cherry tomatoes for extra veggies.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Greek / Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: Greek chicken meatballs, orzo with feta, lemon chicken meatballs, Mediterranean meatballs, one-pan chicken orzo, chicken orzo skillet, easy Greek dinner