Description
Creamy, hearty, and hands-off, this Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo layers tender shredded chicken, juicy tomatoes, and silky spinach in a rich Parmesan-cream sauce. The orzo cooks right in the pot for a comforting, one-bowl meal finished with a bright pop of fresh basil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning; sear 2–3 minutes per side until lightly browned. Transfer to slow cooker.
- Build flavor: In the same skillet, sauté garlic 30–60 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Transfer liquid to the slow cooker.
- Add vegetables: Scatter cherry tomatoes and spinach around the chicken.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2–3 hours, until chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Shred: Remove chicken to a board and shred with two forks.
- Finish with orzo and cream: Stir orzo, heavy cream, and Parmesan into the slow cooker. Return shredded chicken and mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH 25–35 minutes, stirring once halfway, until orzo is tender and creamy. If too thick, add 1/4–1/2 cup hot broth or water.
- Serve: Spoon into bowls and garnish with fresh basil. Season to taste.
Notes
- Orzo absorbs liquid quickly add warm broth or water as needed for a silky, risotto-like finish.
- For richer flavor, increase the Parmesan to 3/4 cup.
- Use low-sodium broth to help control the salt level.
- If your slow cooker runs hot, start checking the orzo at 20 minutes to prevent overcooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Dinner, Main Course, One-Pot
- Method: Slow Cooker (with stovetop sear)
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired, Tuscan-Style
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of the recipe)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: slow cooker tuscan chicken orzo, creamy crockpot chicken, parmesan orzo, one-pot meal, weeknight dinner