One Pan Moroccan-Inspired Chicken with Orzo

Ingredients

• Chicken thigh

  Broilers or fryers, meat and skin, raw

  6 thigh, bone removed or 564g

• Salt

  Table

  ½ tsp or 3g

• Pepper

  Spices, black

  ½ tsp or 1g

• Vegetable oil

  Natreon canola, high stability, non trans, high oleic (70%)

  2 tbsp or 28g

• Onions

  Raw

  ½ medium or 55g

• Garlic

  Raw

  4 cloves, minced or 12g

• Paprika

  Spices

  1 tsp or 2g

• Cumin

  Spices, cumin seed

  ½ tsp, ground or 2g

• Ginger

  Spices, ground

  ½ tsp or 0.9g

• Cinnamon

  Spices, ground

  ¼ tsp or 0.6g

• Turmeric

  Spices, ground

  ¼ tsp or 0.6g

• Saffron

  Spices

  ¼ tsp or 0.2g

• Orzo

  Safeway

  1 cup dry or 173g

• Chicken stock

  Soup, home-prepared

  1 ½ cup or 360g

• Lemon juice

  Raw

  1 tbsp or 15g

• Lemon zest

  1 tsp or 2g

• Olives

  Ripe, canned (small-extra large)

  ½ cup or 67g

• Parsley

  Raw

  4 tbsp or 15g

Directions

1. Generously season both sides of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
2. Heat half of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Arrange thighs, smooth side down, in the skillet. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until lightly browned, then flip and cook the other side for another 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
3. Return skillet to medium heat and add remaining oil. Add chopped onion and garlic, sauté until fragrant and starting to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes, scraping up any leftover brown bits from the chicken. Add spices and stir until onions are fully coated.
4. Add orzo and stir to coat with the spice mixture. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Place chicken thighs back in the skillet in a single layer, nestling them into the orzo.
5. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for about 8 to 10 minutes until orzo is al dente and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the largest thigh reads 165°F.
6. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and sliced olives, then remove from heat.
7. Serve warm, garnished with fresh chopped parsley.