Description
Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy, flavorful one-pot dish featuring tender chicken thighs or breasts simmered with orzo pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. This easy-to-make stovetop recipe blends Italian-inspired seasonings with wholesome ingredients, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner that’s both satisfying and elegant.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce & Orzo
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Vegetables & Garnish
- 1/2 cup baby spinach (optional)
- Chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Season and Sear Chicken: Season the chicken thighs or breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté Aromatics and Tomatoes: Lower the heat to medium. In the same pan, add butter, minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and the garlic is lightly golden.
- Toast the Orzo: Add the uncooked orzo to the pan and stir frequently, toasting it for about 1 minute. This brings out a nutty flavor in the pasta.
- Add Liquids and Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir thoroughly and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Leave uncovered and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the sauce begins to thicken.
- Finish the Sauce: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and baby spinach if desired. The spinach will wilt quickly in the warm sauce.
- Reheat Chicken with Sauce: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Spoon sauce over the chicken and let everything simmer together for another 2 to 3 minutes to reheat the chicken and marry the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh basil over the top before serving. Serve the dish warm, enjoying the creamy, garlicky, and slightly spicy flavors.
Notes
- For extra vegetables, add mushrooms or peas during the sauce cooking step.
- Swap chicken for shrimp for a delicious seafood variation.
- Use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for the best flavor and texture.
- This dish reheats beautifully and makes great leftovers for the next day.
- To make the recipe gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free orzo pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
