This creamy AIP/Paleo One-Pan Chicken and Orzo with spinach recipe makes a hearty weeknight dinner. Juicy skillet chicken thighs bake together with grain-free orzo for a comforting one-pot meal that’s dairy-free and gluten-free.

AIP/Paleo One-Pan Chicken and Orzo
This savory gluten free chicken thighs with orzo and spinach dish is a cozy and delicious one-pan meal!
I used grain-free orzo pasta for an AIP/paleo and gluten-free version of this classic dish. Cassava orzo is rice-shaped like traditional orzo made from semolina, and adds a similar, creamy and starchy texture.
Like my baked gluten-free One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Apples, the trick to getting these crispy skillet chicken thighs juicy and tender on the inside is to first pan-sear them on the stovetop, then bake them in the oven. You’ll need to use a cast iron skillet or another oven-safe pan that can safely transfer from the stove and withstand high heat.
The spinach, cassava orzo and herbaceous, crispy chicken are cooked in a mixture of apple cider vinegar, chicken bone broth, and coconut milk which lends a rich creaminess, without the dairy! Don’t worry, it doesn’t impart a strong coconut flavor. A squeeze of fresh lemon over the entire dish adds a bright and refreshing final touch!

Ingredients for AIP/Paleo One-Pan Chicken and Orzo
Chicken
- bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs – for the most flavorful, crispy and juicy chicken.
- olive oil
- seasonings – a blend of dried oregano, dried thyme, dried basil, sea salt, garlic powder and onion powder. If substituting dried with fresh herbs, double the amount listed in the recipe card.
Orzo
- yellow onion and garlic
- sea salt
- apple cider vinegar
- coconut milk – adds creaminess in lieu of cream or butter. I recommend full-fat coconut milk, from a can.
- chicken stock or bone broth – if following AIP, ensure ingredients are compliant. Note that I use sodium-free bone broth, so keep this in mind when adding the salt called for in this recipe. Or, learn how to make your own gluten-free bone broth.
- grain-free orzo – this gluten free pasta keeps this recipe paleo and AIP-compliant.
- spinach – or substitute with another leafy green like kale or chard. Frozen spinach will release too much water so I don’t recommend this substitution.
- lemon juice
- fresh herbs to garnish (optional)


how to make gluten-free chicken and orzo
Making one-pan AIP/paleo chicken and orzo is simple once you follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Prepare the chicken and preheat oven
Marinate chicken thighs with olive oil, herbs and spices. While chicken marinates, preheat oven to 400F.
Then, add olive oil to skillet and sear chicken on both sides. Remove from pan.



Step 2: Prepare the orzo and spinach
- Sauté aromatics.
- Add liquid ingredients and let simmer.
- Stir in orzo and spinach leaves, then bring to a boil.



Step 3: Bake chicken thighs and orzo in oven
Return chicken to pan and nestle on top of the orzo and spinach. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165F) and liquid is absorbed.
Finally, squeeze lemon over entire baked dish and garnish with fresh herbs (optional).


Chicken and Orzo Tips
- Shorten the marination time.
- If you’re really pressed for time, marinate the chicken for less than the recommended 20 minute minimum. Of course, the longer it marinates, the more flavorful it will be! If you’ve got the time, marinate it overnight and keep it in the fridge!
- Use a cast iron skillet or other type of oven-safe pan that can transfer from stove to oven, and withstand high heat.
- Prepare and serve this dish immediately.
- This dish is best served hot, fresh from the oven. I don’t recommend refrigerating or freezing it because it won’t reheat well.
- If you don’t plan to make and serve this right away, cook the orzo separately from the chicken so that you can undercook the orzo so it won’t be mushy when reheated.
- Squeeze additional lemon juice on individual servings to sharpen the flavors and adjust salt to taste.
how to serve this dish
These one-pan chicken thighs with cassava orzo and spinach are a complete one-pot meal, and are a great lunch or dinner main dish.
If you’d like, add a seasonal side salad like this Herbed Cauliflower Salad or this Refreshing Cucumber Salad. Or, pair with more vegetables like this Grilled Asparagus with Orange or these AIP Sautéed Tatsoi Flowers.

Recipe FAQs
What is Orzo?
Orzo is a small, oval, rice-shaped pasta traditionally made from flour like semolina. The orzo in this recipe is made from cassava flour and is a gluten-free and grain-free version of traditional orzo that is AIP and Paleo.
Can I substitute the orzo with another type of grain and gluten-free pasta?
I haven’t tested this AIP/Paleo Chicken and Cassava Orzo recipe with another type of grain-free pasta and don’t recommend substituting it. The ingredient amounts and cook times are tailored to using orzo. If you’re looking for other grain-free pasta recipes, try my Balsamic Mushroom Pasta or my AIP Pasta Carbonara.
Can I use chicken breasts for the skillet chicken?
I haven’t tested with other variations of chicken but if you do substitute them, note that the cook times will vary. Ensure chicken is cooked through by checking the internal temperature is at least 165F.
Can I make this chicken and orzo with frozen spinach?
Frozen spinach will release a lot of water which may affect the overall texture of the dish. If substituting fresh spinach, use another leafy green like swiss chard, kale or baby bok choy. Other vegetables like asparagus, broccoli and mushrooms can be added to this dish.
Can I freeze this dish?
This dish is best prepared and served fresh. I don’t recommend freezing this dish.
You’ll love these other One-Pan Gluten-free Chicken Recipes
- Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Sheet Pan Paleo Sweet and Sour Chicken and Vegetables
- Gluten-free Chicken Piccata (AIP, Paleo)
- Easy One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Spring Vegetables
- Paleo Crispy Orange Chicken
More AIP/Paleo and Grain-free Pasta Dishes to enjoy
- AIP Sweet Potato Lasagna
- Spaghetti and Meatsauce
- Sweet Potato Gnocchi
- AIP Hand Rolled Pasta
- Sweet Potato and Spinach Ravioli
- Leek and Fennel Risotto
If you loved this AIP/Paleo One-Pan Chicken and Orzo recipe I would appreciate it if you would give it a rating and review. Be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious and using the hashtag #healmedelicious.
Print
Gluten-free One-Pan Chicken and Orzo (AIP, Paleo, dairy-free)
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This creamy AIP/Paleo One-Pan Chicken and Orzo with spinach recipe makes a hearty weeknight dinner. Crispy and juicy skillet chicken thighs bake together with grain-free orzo for a comforting one-pot meal that’s dairy-free and gluten-free.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 6 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
- 4 TBSP olive oil, divided
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Orzo
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1.5 TBSP apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup full fat coconut milk
- 2 cups chicken stock or bone broth (sodium-free)
- 1 cup grain-free orzo
- 3 cups spinach, roughly chopped
- squeeze of lemon juice to finish
- fresh herbs (to garnish, optional)
Instructions
- To a large bowl, add chicken thighs, 2 TBSP olive oil, dried herbs, salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix well to coat chicken in herb marinade.* Let chicken marinate for at least 20 minutes.**
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet (or other oven-safe skillet) to medium heat with remaining 2 TBSP olive oil.
- Once oil is hot, place chicken skin side down and sear on both sides until golden brown (approx 3-4 mins per side). Remove from heat and set aside.
- To the same skillet, add diced onion, garlic and salt, and sauté until onions turn translucent (approx 5-6 mins). If necessary, add a splash of water to the pan to loosen any brown bits.
- Add apple cider vinegar, coconut milk and chicken stock or bone broth and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in orzo and spinach and bring to a boil.
- Re-add chicken to the pan onto the orzo and spinach mixture. Transfer to the oven to bake, uncovered for 20-22 minutes or until thermometer inserted into chicken reads 165F.
- Finish with squeeze of fresh lemon juice and fresh herbs (if desired).
Notes
*Alternatively, in a small bowl, whisk together 2 TBSP olive oil with dried herbs, salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Add chicken to a large bowl and coat chicken in herb marinade for at least 20 minutes.
**Marinate chicken the night before or during meal prep to make this recipe quicker. Or, shorten the marination time if necessary.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Mains
- Method: Baked, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Just made this for supper with leftover grilled chicken breast, regular orzo (all I had on hand), and fresh herbs from the garden. I also added frozen broccoli to the onions while they were cooking because I didn’t have spinach. It was delicious! Thank you!
Delicious and easy to make. The chicken is so tender and Flavorful .This is a staple recipe in our house now. I use boneless skinless thighs.
This has to be one of my absolute favourite AIP recipes I have tried. It’s easy to put together and so delicious. The grain-free orzo is an absolute game-changer. Thank you! 😊
Im visiting in USA from Australia and went straight to the health food shop to buy this orzo as we don’t have it back home, and was excited to cook this recipe !
Yum! Just devoured a serve, thank you for a great recipe as always 😀
this is such a truly delicious recipe! so warming / comforting + feels like a treat. the farm where I source my chicken no longer sells thighs (just quarters) so I have been adapting this recipe to receive my leftover roast chicken by skipping to the orzo directions and adding the leftover chicken (with the called-for herbs) before sticking everything in the oven. I think I made this once a week for a few months after this recipe was published by I am only now looping back to leave a comment to say so. this is a DO NOT MISS recipe!
Such a delicious and easy recipe. This is going to be a staple for my family now!
Very tasty and oh so easy
This was insanely good. Completely filled the chicken and rice void in my tummy. Probably one of my favorite recipes of yours. Thanks for sharing!