One Pan Chicken and Buttery Orzo

These days I'm all about dinner that I can make in one pan. Paddy appreciates it more because he's the one who cleans up. This is from Bon Appetit and is super easy. A great use of Grandma's old cast iron pan, which she used for her famous roasts of all kinds :)

4-6 skin on chicken thighs (you could also use a couple of bone in breasts)
3 tbsp butter, divided
1 fennel bulb, chopped
1 leek, chopped
8 oz orzo
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 400. Pat dry chicken and season with salt and pepper.

2. Heat 2 tbsp butter in a large cast iron pan or other oven safe skillet. Nestle chicken skin side down and cook until meat is opaque around the edges and skin is a deep golden brown (6-8 mins). Turn chicken skin side up and bake uncovered until cooked through 10-15 mins. Transfer to plate and keep warm.

3. Place fennel and leek in skillet, season with salt and pepper and cook until soft and golden. Add orzo and stir until darkened and smells toasty. Pour in wine and cook until evaporated. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth at a time and let it absorb like you're making risotto. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, zest and remaining butter. Serve with chicken.