Description
A cozy, creamy, and comforting one-pot chicken orzo dinner perfect for two, ready in about 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 12 oz / 340g)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 100g)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 3/4 cup orzo pasta (135g)
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth (600 ml)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (120 ml)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Optional add-ins: 1 cup baby spinach, 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions
- Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Grate the Parmesan cheese. Trim and season the chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and mostly cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Add diced onion to the same pan and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and dried thyme, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- Add orzo pasta and stir to coat with oil and aromatics. Pour in chicken broth, scrape bottom of pan to loosen bits, and bring to a gentle boil.
- Return chicken breasts to the pan, nestling into the orzo. Cover with lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently for 10-12 minutes until orzo is tender and chicken is cooked through. Stir once or twice to prevent sticking.
- Remove chicken breasts. Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan until sauce thickens and becomes creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice chicken and place back on top.
- Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish. Optionally drizzle with olive oil. Serve immediately.
Notes
[‘Do not skip searing the chicken to lock in juices and add flavor.’, ‘Use low heat when simmering to avoid mushy orzo.’, ‘Stir orzo occasionally to prevent sticking.’, ‘Save a splash of broth to loosen sauce if too thick.’, ‘Use freshly grated Parmesan for best melting and flavor.’, ‘For extra richness, stir in a tablespoon of cold butter off heat at the end.’, ‘Add baby spinach in the last 2 minutes of simmering for a veggie boost.’, ‘To make a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce Parmesan to 1/4 cup.’, ‘Vegetarian version: replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit chicken, add extra veggies.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe (1 ser
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 40
Keywords: one-pot, chicken, orzo, creamy, easy dinner, quick meal, comfort food, weeknight dinner