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Summer’s here and it’s time to fire up the grill. We have a flavorful mediterranean-inspired dinner that is quick to cook and sure to impress everyone at your next patio party!
Tangy Mediterranean grilled chicken, over a bed of tomato orzo sprinkled with feta cheese crumbles and served with an herby green sauce. It is packed with bright summer flavors and makes for a beautiful display on the table!
Even amateur grillers (like us!) can make this super simple meal. There is something so “summer” about having a backyard party and grilling out. Although we are beginners, we have some tips that we’ve learned to make sure chicken is perfectly cooked.
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken & Tomato Orzo
Mediterranean Grilled chicken & tomato orzo
Green Herb Sauce
Chicken Breasts …. 4
Orzo …. 16 oz
Diced tomatoes …. 1 can
Garlic …. 3 cloves
Lemons …. 2
Dijon Mustard …. 1 tbsp
Paprika …. 2 tsp
Salt and pepper for seasoning
Yogurt …. 1 cup
Feta …. 4 oz
Olive oil …. 1/4 cup
Onion powder …. 1 tsp
Fresh Dill …. 1 bunch
Fresh Parsley…. 1 bunch
Lemons …. 1
Recipe Snapshot
- Make marinade for chicken. Marinade and let chicken chill in fridge for for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Grill/bake marinaded chicken until cooked.
- Make tomato orzo.
- Make green herb dressing.
- Serve chicken over serving of rice and drizzle with green sauce.
Tips for Grilling Chicken
Grilling can actually be pretty fun! We are still pretty new to cooking on a grill but have had some practice under our belts. Here is what we recommend if you are new to grilling or want to make sure your chicken doesn’t get too dry when cooking.
- Preheat to a medium-high heat. We have found 400ºF is a sweet spot for grilling chicken.
- Clean your grill every time you cook. Using a wire brush, scrape any burned bits off the grates to make a clean surface for cooking the chicken.
- If you don’t have a stiff-wire brush to clean your grill, you can use aluminum foil. Crumple a sheet of aluminum foil in a ball. Grab the aluminum ball with a pair of tongs and rub it on the pre-heated grill to remove any extra bits.
- Cook chicken for about 4-5 minutes on each side. This will get the nice char marks. But remember to check the temperature of the chicken before removing it from the grill. It will be done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- Use a meat thermometer. When the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF, it is done. We use this meat thermometer one from Thermopro.
Can I bake the chicken instead of grilling?
Yes, of course!! You just follow all the same steps to marinade the chicken. But if you are cooking the chicken in the oven, preheat oven to 425ºF, place chicken in a sheet pan and cook for 18-20 minutes until chicken reaches na internal temperature of 165ºF.
Make the Perfect Patio Table
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken & Tomato Orzo
Tangy Mediterranean grilled chicken, over a bed of tomato orzo sprinkled with feta cheese crumbles and served with an herby green sauce
Ingredients
2 lb chicken breasts
16 oz orzo
4 cups chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
Chicken Marinade
1/4 cup olive oil
1 lemon juiced and zested
1 tbsp dijon mustard
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
Green Herb Sauce
1 cup yogurt
4 oz feta
1/3 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic
1 tsp onion powder
1 bunch dill
1 bunch parsley
1 lemon juiced
Salt and pepper to season
Toppings
Feta cheese
Cucumbers
Cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Make marinade for at least 1 hour. The longer the better, so overnight is ideal.
- After marinating, either grill chicken on the grill or bake in oven. See instructions for each below.
- If you are grilling, cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. If you are cooking chicken in oven, see notes below.
- While chicken is cooking, start making rice. In a skillet over medium heat, Add tbsp oil and garlic. Sauté for several minutes until fragrant. Add 2 cup chicken broth until bubbling. Then add tomatoes and orzo. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring frequently. Half-way through cooking the orzo add the last 2 cups of chicken broth to the skillet and stir. Once cooked, remove from heat.
- Make green sauce. Add all green sauce ingredients into a blender or food processor. Blend on high until smooth. Pour into a bowl for dipping or drizzling over bowls.
- Once chicken is done, let it cool for 5 minutes and slice before serving. Scoop portion of rice into bowl, top with sliced chicken, feta crumbles, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, lemon slices.
Notes
Not Grilling? Follow these steps to bake the chicken.
- Follow steps to marinade chicken.
- Preheat oven to 425ºF, place marinaded chicken on a sheet pan and cook for 18-20 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
