Easy Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Lemon Chicken Orzo

When you’re looking for a bright, comforting dinner with minimal fuss, this slow cooker 5-ingredient lemon chicken orzo is a total weeknight savior. The combination of citrus and chicken with pasta creates a dish that’s light and fresh but also satisfying and comforting. Plus, with the slow cooker doing most of the work, you don’t have to spend your evening standing over the stove.

This is such a great recipe because the pasta is cooked right in the chicken juices, eliminating the need to cook anything else. The slow cooker allows the flavors of the bright lemon and rich chicken broth to meld together, creating incredibly tender and delicious chicken thighs. It’s pretty hard to mess up and it’s sure to have your family coming back for more.

If you’re trying to feed a family of hungry soccer players or looking for some good leftovers to enjoy later, this is a great option. You just throw the chicken into the slow cooker, pour over the broth, and let the slow cooker do its magic. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to make this delicious, cozy meal.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

What I love most about this simple meal is that it’s portioned nicely and makes cleanup a breeze. The orzo cooks in the slow cooker with the chicken for the last bit of cooking time, allowing it to absorb all those tasty, lemony meat juices. There’s no need to boil a separate pot of water on the stove to cook the pasta; the orzo cooks perfectly right in the slow cooker.

The ease of this recipe makes it a go-to for nights when you don’t want to do any dishes. You can get the chicken and broth prepped in the morning and then add the pasta right before you eat. When you’re done, you just have the slow cooker to wash. The rest of the kitchen stays nice and clean.

The Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this recipe:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are ideal for this recipe because dark meat holds up well to long cooking times without becoming dry. As they cook, they also release their flavorful juices which help to create the perfect cooking liquid for your pasta. If you’d like to use chicken breast instead, that works too, but just make sure to check on it early so it doesn’t become dry and tough.

Dry Orzo Pasta

Orzo is a pasta that looks similar to rice but is actually a pasta that cooks up tender and plump in the hot slow cooker broth. Adding it completely dry for the last 30 minutes lets the orzo absorb all of the tangy lemon and chicken goodness right into the noodle itself. Not a fan of orzo? Try a small soup pasta like ditalini or mini stars instead.

Fresh Lemons

Real, fresh lemons make the difference between a bland slow cooker meal and this bright, refreshing recipe. Use the fresh juice plus a little fresh zest to balance out the richness of the chicken broth. Avoid using bottled lemon juice since many of them have strong preservatives that can become bitter when slow cooked. Fresh citrus only!

Chicken Broth

Chicken broth gives you the liquid needed to slow cook the chicken and to plump up the dry pasta in the end. A low sodium version gives you the most control over how salty the finished dish ends up being, especially since the broth reduces as the dish cooks. Don’t have chicken broth on hand? Use one tablespoon of chicken bouillon paste mixed with warm water in place of it.

How to Make It

Here’s how to put together this bright and comforting pasta dish in just a few easy steps.

Prep the Chicken

Lightly grease the inside bottom of the slow cooker pot. Lay the chicken thighs in a single layer on the bottom of the insert and season with salt and pepper.

Add the Liquids

Pour the chicken broth and the lemon juice over the chicken thighs. Sprinkle the fresh lemon zest over the chicken broth and stir to combine.

Cook Low and Slow

Cover and cook on LOW for about 4-5 hours or until the chicken is very tender and cooked through.

Stir in the Orzo

About 30-40 minutes before serving, uncover the slow cooker and stir in the orzo. Stir well to make sure the orzo is completely submerged in the liquid.

Finish and Serve

Cover and cook on HIGH for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until the orzo is nice and plump. Stir, top with some fresh grated parmesan cheese, and serve.

My Top Tips for Success

Don’t add the dry orzo right at the beginning of the cooking time because it will become mushy and disintegrate. Adding it in the last 30 minutes will keep it firm but allow it to soak up plenty of that delicious chicken and broth.

If the orzo seems to have absorbed all the liquid but is still a little hard, don’t worry. Just add an additional 1/2 cup of warm broth or water and continue to cook for 10 more minutes or until the orzo is tender.

Shred the chicken thighs slightly with 2 forks right before serving. Shredding up the chicken means every bite is packed with both chicken and orzo.

Storage and Reheating

• Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days; the flavors are even better the next day.
• Do not freeze this recipe because the orzo becomes very mushy and grainy upon thawing.
• Microwave bowls of chicken and orzo for a minute or two, adding a small amount of chicken broth to rehydrate the pasta if necessary.

What to Serve it With

• With a simple green salad dressed in a tangy vinaigrette.
• With steamed green beans or asparagus.
• With warm crusty bread to soak up the lemony sauce.
• Top with extra parmesan and cracked black pepper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chicken breasts instead?

Chicken breasts can be used but they are much leaner than thighs, so keep an eye on the chicken at the 3 hour mark so they do not dry out in the slow cooker.

Can I add vegetables to the slow cooker?

Yes! Add a handful of fresh spinach or frozen peas right at the end when the orzo is done for added color and nutrition.