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Creamy chicken and orzo pasta in a skillet, a comforting one-pot meal.

Easy Chicken Orzo

A cozy and creamy chicken orzo recipe that requires minimal cleanup and is perfect for a weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 to 1.5 pounds Chicken, cut into bite-size pieces Thighs are extra juicy, breasts work great too
  • 1 to 1.5 cups Orzo pasta Looks like rice but is pasta
  • 1 small Onion, diced
  • 3 to 4 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 3 to 3.5 cups Chicken broth
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup Heavy cream Or half and half for a lighter option
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated Plus extra for serving
  • a couple big handfuls Spinach Optional but recommended
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons Olive oil or butter
  • Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, pinch of paprika
  • 1 Lemon, for squeezing Adds brightness to the dish

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Heat your pot over medium heat and add olive oil or butter.
  2. Toss in the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until mostly done and lightly golden.
  3. Remove chicken onto a plate.
  4. In the same pot, add the onion and soften for a few minutes, then add garlic and stir for about 30 seconds.
  5. Add the orzo and stir for about a minute until nutty.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring often, until orzo is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed (about 8 to 10 minutes).
  7. Lower the heat, stir in the cream and Parmesan, and add the chicken back to warm together.
  8. Toss in spinach at the end until wilted, then finish with a squeeze of lemon.

Notes

This meal gets better overnight. For storage, keep in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. To reheat, add extra liquid to maintain creaminess. Can freeze but texture may change.