Description
This One Skillet Creamy Orzo Chicken is a cozy, weeknight-friendly dinner that delivers big comfort with minimal effort. Tender bites of chicken, creamy Parmesan orzo, and fresh spinach all cook together in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. It’s rich, satisfying, and ready in about 30 minutes perfect for busy nights when you still want something homemade and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add the diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits, until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
- Stir in the orzo pasta and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, to lightly toast the orzo and coat it in the oil and aromatics.
- Pour in the chicken broth and stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and chopped spinach. Return the cooked chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet, stirring to combine. Cook for another 2–3 minutes, until the spinach is wilted and the sauce is creamy.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Let the dish sit for 1–2 minutes to thicken slightly, then garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm straight from the skillet.
Notes
- If the orzo absorbs liquid too quickly and is still firm, add a splash of extra broth or water and continue simmering until tender.
- For a slightly lighter version, you can use half-and-half in place of heavy cream, though the sauce will be a bit less rich.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese and gives the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop, One Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
Keywords: one skillet creamy orzo chicken, creamy chicken orzo, one pan chicken dinner, skillet orzo, easy weeknight meal