Description
This creamy chicken and orzo dish is a rich and comforting meal, with perfectly cooked boneless chicken breasts served alongside tender orzo pasta in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It’s an easy one-pan meal that will become a family favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken (scaled 1X, 2X, 3X):
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (8 for 2X, 12 for 3X)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (4 tbsp for 2X, 6 tbsp for 3X)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (2 tsp for 2X, 3 tsp for 3X)
- 1 teaspoon paprika (2 tsp for 2X, 3 tsp for 3X)
- Salt and pepper to taste (increase as needed for scaling)
For the Orzo (scaled 1X, 2X, 3X):
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (2 tbsp for 2X, 3 tbsp for 3X)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (2 small onions for 2X, 3 onions for 3X)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced (6 for 2X, 9 for 3X)
- 1 cup orzo pasta (2 cups for 2X, 3 cups for 3X)
- 2 cups chicken broth (4 cups for 2X, 6 cups for 3X)
- 1 cup heavy cream (2 cups for 2X, 3 cups for 3X)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (1 cup for 2X, 1 ½ cups for 3X)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (2 tsp for 2X, 3 tsp for 3X)
- Salt and pepper to taste (adjust as needed for scaling)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (4 tbsp for 2X, 6 tbsp for 3X)
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the chicken breasts with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Orzo:
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the orzo pasta and cook for 1-2 minutes, lightly toasting it.
- Make the Creamy Sauce:
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
- Once simmering, add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer again, stirring occasionally.
- Cook the orzo in the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the orzo is tender and the sauce thickens.
- Finish the Dish:
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Slice the cooked chicken breasts and place them on top of the orzo.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can use chicken thighs if preferred for a juicier cut of meat.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- You can add vegetables like spinach or peas to the orzo for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Comfort Food