Description
Hearty One-Pot Chicken Orzo blends Mediterranean flavors with comforting simplicity. Weeknight dinners become effortless when you combine tender chicken, creamy orzo, and aromatic herbs in a single skillet.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 ½ cups orzo pasta
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 cup fresh spinach (optional)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (for freshness)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with a potent blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, ensuring complete coverage.
- Chicken Searing: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil, expertly sear chicken until golden and fully cooked, approximately 5-6 minutes per side, then transfer to a holding plate.
- Aromatic Base: Reduce heat, melt butter, and sauté finely chopped garlic and onion until their fragrant essence fills the kitchen, creating a rich foundational layer.
- Orzo Preparation: Introduce orzo to the skillet, gently stirring to coat with buttery essence and encourage a light, golden toasting.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour chicken broth, sprinkle Italian seasoning, and simmer gently, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking until orzo becomes tender and liquid reduces significantly.
- Creamy Transformation: Blend heavy cream into the skillet, fold in Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and fresh spinach leaves, creating a luxurious, velvety texture.
- Final Assembly: Reintroduce seared chicken to the skillet, nestling pieces into the creamy orzo landscape, then brighten with a fresh lemon juice squeeze.
- Serving Finale: Garnish with chopped parsley and an additional Parmesan cheese dusting, presenting a comforting, one-skillet culinary masterpiece ready to be served immediately.
Notes
- Optimize Seasoning Technique: Massage seasonings directly into chicken for deeper flavor penetration and more even coating, ensuring every bite bursts with robust taste.
- Prevent Orzo Sticking: Stir frequently during cooking and add small amounts of extra broth if pasta begins clumping, maintaining smooth, separate pasta grains with creamy consistency.
- Temperature Control is Critical: Use medium-low heat when adding cream to prevent curdling, creating a silky smooth sauce without separating or breaking the delicate mixture.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version, use gluten-free orzo for celiac-friendly adaptation, or replace chicken with tofu for vegetarian alternative while maintaining recipe’s core flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg