Description
A creamy, rich, and comforting one-pot chicken and orzo dish featuring sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. It comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces orzo pasta
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 2 cups fresh spinach, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 8oz sliced mushrooms
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, mince garlic, cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, season with salt and pepper, and grate Parmesan.
- Sear chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken in batches until golden brown and cooked through (3-4 minutes per side). Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the skillet and cook until softened (2-3 minutes). Add garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 1 minute.
- Build sauce: Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and dried basil. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Cook orzo: Add orzo to the sauce and stir to coat. Pour in heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Add cheese: Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in grated Parmesan until melted and sauce is glossy. Adjust consistency with pasta water or cream if needed.
- Combine and serve: Return chicken to the skillet and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately topped with fresh basil and extra Parmesan.
Notes
Use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for the best flavor. Grate your own Parmesan cheese to ensure a smooth sauce. If the sauce breaks, remove from heat and whisk in a splash of cold cream. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 32
Keywords: chicken orzo, sun-dried tomato pasta, creamy chicken recipe, one-pot dinner, weeknight meals, easy pasta, comfort food