Chicken Piccata Casserole

This protein-packed chicken casserole brings all the flavors of classic chicken piccata together in one dish. It’s the easiest piccata you’ll ever make—no dredging or sauce required! Cooking the lemon slices in butter mellows their bite and helps jump-start the lemony flavor of the dish while helping the butter get a little brown, bringing some nuttiness to the dish.

Prep/Cook Time: 30 Minutes, Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• ¾ teaspoon salt, divided
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 lemon, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 cup whole-wheat orzo
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• ⅓ cup dry white wine
• 1½ cups unsalted chicken broth
• 8 cups chopped stemmed curly kale
• 2 tablespoons drained non-pareil capers, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Toss chicken in a medium bowl with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until coated. Add the chicken to the pan; cook until golden on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. (Do not wipe the pan clean.)
3. Add butter and lemon slices to the pan. Cook until lemon is golden on both sides, about 1 minute. Transfer the lemon to the plate with the chicken. (Do not wipe the pan clean.)
4. Add orzo and garlic to the pan. Cook, stirring often, until the garlic is fragrant and the orzo is lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until mostly absorbed, about 1 minute. Add broth, kale, capers and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; stir. Return the chicken, lemon slices and any accumulated juices to the pan.
5. Transfer to the oven and bake, uncovered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest piece of chicken registers 165°F and the orzo is tender, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

© Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission.