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Chicken Shawarma Orzo Skillet with grilled chicken, tomatoes, olives, herbs, and crumbled feta cheese in a cast iron pan.
Linda

Chicken Shawarma Orzo Skillet

Weeknight magic: tender spiced chicken and toasty orzo cook together in one skillet with garlicky yogurt and fresh herbs.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Calories: 485

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tbsp shawarma seasoning store-bought or homemade blend
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
For the Orzo
  • 1.5 cup orzo
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 cup chicken broth low sodium
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
For Serving
  • 0.5 cup Greek yogurt full-fat
  • 0.25 cup fresh dill chopped
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped

Equipment

  • 12-inch oven-safe skillet or braiser
  • Microplane or fine grater

Method
 

Prep
  1. Toss chicken thighs with shawarma seasoning and 1 tablespoon olive oil until evenly coated. Let sit at room temperature while you prep the remaining ingredients.
Cook the Chicken
  1. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 4 minutes until deeply browned. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate; chicken will not be fully cooked through yet.
Build the Orzo Base
  1. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion to the skillet and cook 3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits, until softened. Add garlic and orzo; toast for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until orzo turns golden and smells nutty.
  2. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, stirring to combine. Nestle the partially cooked chicken and any accumulated juices into the orzo. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 12-14 minutes until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
Finish and Serve
  1. Fluff the orzo with a fork. Dollop Greek yogurt over the top and sprinkle with fresh dill and parsley. Serve directly from the skillet, dragging the yogurt through each portion.

Notes

For deeper flavor, make your own shawarma blend: 1 teaspoon each cumin, coriander, and paprika plus 1/2 teaspoon each turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne. The orzo continues to absorb liquid as it rests, so do not overcook - it should still look slightly loose when you remove it from heat. Leftovers reheat beautifully with a splash of broth to loosen the orzo.