Cozy, creamy, and packed with nourishing ingredients, this One-Pan Creamy Chicken Orzo is comfort food made lighter. Seasoned, tender chicken breast simmers with tender orzo pasta in a velvety, herb-infused sauce - all without the heavy cream. Fresh veggies for a pop of color keep every bite vibrant and satisfying. Best of all? It comes together in just one pan for an easy, wholesome meal that's perfect for busy nights.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- One pan dinners: These kinds of dinners are my absolute favorite because they mean less time doing dishes and more time relaxing after work. This creamy chicken orzo comes together using just one pan for a super-easy clean up.
- 30-minute Meal: This deliciously easy meal is done under 30 minutes and requires minimal prep, which makes it perfect for a weeknight meal when you are in a rush to get something healthy on the table.
- Family-Approved Flavors: Mild, creamy, and flavorful enough to please even picky eaters.
Ingredients You Will Need
Chicken Breast: I like to ensure my chicken is organic and doesn't have antibiotics. Chicken breasts are a great source of lean protein.
Orzo: a mild, slightly nutty flavor with a tender, chewy texture that easily absorbs surrounding flavors. Nutritionally, it provides carbohydrates for energy, a small amount of protein, and some B vitamins.
Chicken Broth: When looking for chicken broth, be sure you are checking the ingredients and the source from which it comes. I prefer to buy one with no extra preservatives, sugar, coloring, and that is organic.
Olive Oil: It is really important to get a high-quality olive oil and one that is 100% olive oil and single origin. The food industry likes to cut corners when it comes to oils, so be sure you check your labels.
Butter: has a rich, creamy flavor with slightly sweet and savory notes that enhance both sweet and savory dishes. I always prefer to look for grass-fed butter to get the most nutrients possible (I get nine at Costco).
Frozen Peas: a fantastic source of plant-based protein, aiding in muscle repair and growth, while their high fiber content supports digestive health and helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Mushrooms: one of the very few foods that are a good source of Vitamin D, which helps with bone health and immune function. Outside of that, mushrooms are also known to reduce the risk of chronic disease, too!
Shallots: rich in antioxidants and compounds like quercetin, which have anti-inflammatory properties and contribute to heart health
Garlic: known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It helps fight many diseases like the common cold, heart disease, and others.
Italian Seasoning: Italian seasoning is typically a mix of thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, and marjoram. With all these spices, it has tons of flavor and lots of health benefits because each herb has its own healthy properties!
Sage: an aromatic herb that has many health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can help with digestive health, oral health, and skin health.
Parmesan Cheese: Has a rich, nutty, and umami-packed flavor with a slightly salty and tangy finish. It is high in protein, a source of probiotics, and low in lactose, too!
Recipe Variations
- Gluten-free Orzo: If you are gluten-free, you can easily swap in your favorite gluten-free orzo. Personally, I like Banza pasta orzo best!
- More Veggies: If you are looking to get some more veggies in this meal, I love adding baby spinach, red bell peppers, or even artichoke hearts to this meal.
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet and add chicken breast to the pan. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook for 8 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and add the mushrooms and shallots, and saute for 5 minutes.
- Then add the peas, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian Seasoning, and sage to the pan. Then add butter and saute for 2 minutes or until the butter is melted.
- Add the orzo to the pan and toast for about a minute. Then add chicken broth to the mix and bring to a boil. Once the broth is boiling bring turn the heat down to medium, cover, and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- Uncover the pan and stir the orzo, making sure nothing is sticking to the bottom (if it is sticking, you can add a little more broth and keep stirring).
- Add the Parmesan cheese to the pan and stir in. Continue to stir the orzo slowly until all the liquid is absorbed and the orzo is al dente.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Rotisserie Chicken: To make this One-Pan Creamy Chicken Orzo even easier, feel free to use rotisserie chicken to cut back on the time spent cooking chicken breast. They are usually seasoned great and will add lots of flavor to the creamy orzo.
Storage Tips
This Creamy Chicken and Orzo can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container, which makes it great for meal prepping for the week.
What To Serve It With
- Sides: Crispy Broccoli, Air-fried Asparagus
- Salads: Steakhouse Wedge salad, Fall Kale salad, Kale Caesar Salad, Grapefruit and Avocado Salad
FAQs About One-Pan Creamy Chicken Orzo
The measurement in this recipe is based on dry orzo prior to cooking.
You can always add some cream to this recipe, however, I personally don't think that it is needed.
This recipe is creamy because of the starches from the orzo, the butter, and the parmesan cheese, all coming together to make a creamy sauce.
Did you make this recipe?! If so, do me a huge favor and leave me a review and a rating below! This helps my small business continue providing free recipes.
One-Pan Creamy Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 1.5 cup Orzo
- 1 tablespoon Olive OIl
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 3 cups Chicken Broth
- .5 cup Frozen Peas
- 1 cup Mushroom diced
- 1 Shallot finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- .5 teaspoon Sage
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large fry pan and add chicken breast to the pan. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook for 8 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and add the mushrooms and shallots and saute for 5 minutes.
- Then add the peas, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian Seasoning, sage and red pepper flakes to the pan and butter saute for 2 minutes or until the butter is melted.
- Add the orzo to the pan and toast for about a minute. Then add chicken broth to the mix and bring to a boil. Once the brother is boiling bring turn the heat down to medium, cover, and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- Uncover the pan and stir the orzo, making sure nothing is sticking to the bottom. Add the Parmesan cheese to the pan and stir in. Continue to slow stir the orzo until all the liquid is absorbed.
- Add the chicken back to the pan. Then serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Gluten-free Orzo: If you are gluten-free, you can easily swap in your favorite gluten-free orzo. Personally, I like Banza pasta orzo best!
- More Veggies: If you are looking to get some more veggies in this meal, I love adding baby spinach, red bell peppers, or even artichoke hearts to this meal.
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