Description
Pistachio Chicken with Lemon Orzo is a fresh and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken crusted with pistachios, paired with bright and zesty lemon orzo for a balanced and elegant meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup shelled pistachios
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a food processor, pulse pistachios until finely chopped. Mix with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Dip chicken breasts in beaten eggs, then coat with the pistachio mixture, pressing to adhere.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken for 2–3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Transfer to a baking dish and bake for 15–20 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Meanwhile, cook orzo in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and return to pot.
- Add butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper to the orzo. Stir well to combine.
- Serve the pistachio-crusted chicken over the lemon orzo and garnish with extra parsley or lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
- Use a meat mallet to flatten thick chicken breasts for even cooking.
- Substitute quinoa or rice for orzo if preferred.
- Add sautéed spinach or asparagus to the orzo for extra veggies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with orzo
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: pistachio chicken, lemon orzo, crusted chicken, Mediterranean dinner, healthy chicken recipe