One Pot Chicken and Orzo Recipe (with video)

Prep and salt the chicken: Trim the chicken thighs of excess skin and fat. Sprinkle both sides with a little salt. Brown the chicken thighs: Heat olive oil and melt butter on medium high heat in a large skillet (large enough to fit all of the chicken pieces) to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, pat the chicken pieces dry on both sides with paper towels and place skin-side down in the pan. Let cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken has browned on one side. Elise Bauer Elise Bauer Then turn the chicken pieces over and cook for another 4 minutes until lightly browned. Remove the chicken from the pan, set aside. Brown the orzo pasta, add onions, garlic: Add the orzo pasta to the pan. Stir to coat and let the pasta brown. Once the orzo starts to brown, stir in the chopped onions. Elise Bauer Elise Bauer Reduce the heat to medium and let cook, stirring often for 2 to 3 minutes until the onions begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook a half minute more. Stir together stock tomatoes, salt, pepper: In a large measuring cup, stir together the chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add back chicken, pour stock mixture over orzo: Place the chicken pieces skin-side up, on top of the orzo. Elise Bauer Elise Bauer Pour the stock tomato mixture over the orzo. Increase heat to medium high and let the stock in the pan come to a full boil. Cover and cook: Lower the heat to the lowest heat you need to maintain a bare simmer. Cover and let cook until the orzo has completely absorbed the liquid and the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Elise Bauer Taste for salt and pepper and add more if needed. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley to serve.