Chicken Orzo (30-Minutes, One-Pan)
Creamy chicken orzo is a quick and easy weeknight meal that takes just 30 minutes and you only need one pan. This comforting recipe features lots of veggies (cherry tomatoes and spinach) in a super-flavorful creamy sauce made with basil pesto. Make this simple restaurant-quality chicken dinner at home – and it might become a new family favorite for busy weekdays!
CourseMain Course
CuisineAmerican, Italian
Keywordchicken orzo
Prep Time10minutes minutes
Cook Time20minutes minutes
Total Time30minutes minutes
Servings4 people
Ingredients
Chicken
1.5 lb chicken breasts skinless, boneless
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
Orzo
1 cup orzo uncooked
5 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
10 oz cherry tomatoes sliced in half
2 cups chicken stock
¼ teaspoon salt
5 oz fresh spinach
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup basil pesto
Instructions
Sear chicken
Slice chicken breasts into thinner strips. Generously season the chicken with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Heat a large, high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add chicken. Cook the chicken on medium heat for about 3 minutes per side. Remove chicken to a plate.
Cook orzo
To the same, now empty, skillet, add 1 cup of uncooked orzo, 5 cloves of minced garlic, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the orzo on medium heat, stirring, for about 2 minutes until browned.
Add 2 cups of chicken stock, half of the cherry tomatoes, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 5 or 10 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pan, until the orzo is cooked through.
Add spinach and the remaining cherry tomatoes. Stir everything on low-medium heat until the spinach wilts.
Add heavy cream and basil pesto to the skillet with orzo and veggies and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Return the chicken to the skillet. Allow the chicken to simmer in the sauce to heat through and until the chicken is completely cooked through.