This quick and easy one-pot creamy chicken and orzo recipe combines browned chicken with onion, garlic, orzo, and broccoli in a creamy Parmesan sauce. I fell in love with this recipe because of its ease and creamy texture and taste.
Table of contents
Chicken and Orzo in a Creamy Parmesan Sauce
Looking for a quick and flavorful meal? This one-pot chicken and orzo recipe is the perfect option! With minimal ingredients and easy clean-up, it’s a win-win for busy weeknights
This delicious recipe is truly a family gem. How can you go wrong with chicken, onion, garlic, and broccoli in a creamy Parmesan sauce, right?
I love to make this for my family on busy weeknights when every minute counts. If you like this recipe, try chicken stroganoff, chicken and broccoli stir-fry, or lemon chicken orzo soup.
What You’ll Need
- Chicken: boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Seasonings: salt, freshly ground black pepper, fresh rosemary, or fresh thyme
- Vegetables: onion, garlic, and broccoli
- Fat: olive oil and butter
- Orzo: or substitute broken spaghetti, ditalini, Arborio rice, or small elbow macaroni
- Chicken broth: preferably low-sodium
- Parmesan cheese: freshly grated
- Heavy cream: or substitute whipping cream
How to make Creamy Chicken and Orzo
- Brown the chicken in a little fat over medium heat. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Add the onion and cook until soft. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute while stirring.
- Add the orzo and chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until the orzo is tender.
- Meanwhile, steam the broccoli in the microwave.
- Stir the Parmesan cheese, cream, and cooked broccoli into the orzo mixture. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs.
Recipe Tips
- Steam the broccoli for about 2 1/2 minutes or until just fork tender. A little structure is a good thing.
- When adding the orzo and the chicken broth, scrape the bottom of the pot to remove all those delicious brown bits.
- If you can’t find orzo, substitute broken spaghetti, ditalini, Arborio rice, or small elbow macaroni
Frequently Asked Questions
To freeze, cool the dish to room temperature or at the most for an hour. Then spoon it into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave at reduced power.
Spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, Brussels Sprouts, or cauliflower all work well. However, I saute the spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, and Brussels Sprouts before adding them.
Creamy Chicken and Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium yellow onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup orzo uncooked
- 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
- chopped fresh rosemary or thyme
Instructions
- Sprinkle the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Add the onion and cook over medium heat until soft. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute while stirring.
- Add the orzo and chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the orzo is tender.
- Meanwhile, add the broccoli to a microwaveable bowl with a 1/4 cup of water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 2 1/2 minutes.
- Stir the Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, and cooked broccoli into the orzo, over very low heat. Cook for a couple of minutes to melt the Parmesan cheese. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs.
Melissa
Great meal! Packed with flavor and easy to put together!
Candace
Orzo pasta is so versatile in its prep and recipes. This recipe is quick and easy. A new family favorite! Thnak you!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Candace!
Tammy
So delicious and delightfully comforting. I love orzo…I haven’t had it in ages so now you’ve inspired me with this dish! Perfect family dinner
Iris
This was so delicious and creamy. My husband and I loved the recipe. I am putting it in my recipe file.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Iris! I am glad that you liked it!
Sue-Tanya Mchorgh
This recipe sounds amazing! I love how it combines simplicity with rich, creamy flavors. The combination of chicken, orzo, and broccoli in a Parmesan sauce is sure to be a hit. Thanks for sharing this delightful one-pot dish!
karen
This was so so good! Your recipe is awesome, thank you.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure. Karen!
Jupiter H
As it’s summertime, I am looking for more one pot recipes instead of using our stove. This creamy pasta sounds fantastic, and I love that it has a veggie in it too.
Yasmine
Orzo is something that we only recently tried out and we love it. This recipe is super tasty with the creamy sauce, the added flavors plus the chicken and veggies. It is definitely a hit!
April
I love a good one pot meal! This one was fantastic – great flavor and easy to make!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, April! So glad that you liked it!
Janice
Oh my gosh this was soooooo good! Thanks for the recipe! We enjoyed it!
Natasha M
This recipe was delicious. I love adding veggies to rice dishes and this was perfect for summer time. I will make this again!
Sandy W
This is my new favorite meal to make! So easy yet but very delicious and filling! Perfect for busy weeknights!
Camila
I made your Creamy Chicken and Orzo for dinner last night, and it was a hit! The dish was so comforting and flavorful, with the perfect blend of creamy sauce and tender chicken.
Erica
The creamy parmesan sauce was pure comfort heaven! Plus it’s so easy to throw together yet it turned out like a restaurant quality dish! Now I’m obsessed! This is a new go to for busy weeknights!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Erica! I am so glad that you liked it!