Description
This Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Orzo is a rich, flavorful, and comforting one-pan meal. It features tender chicken, orzo pasta cooked in a creamy garlic sauce, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, all finished with fresh spinach and Parmesan cheese. It’s a quick and satisfying dinner perfect for weeknights or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed, drained)
- 1 cup Orzo Pasta
- 3 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 3 cups Baby Spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry. Season generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the orzo pasta and toast for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Return the seared chicken to the skillet. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in the heavy cream and baby spinach. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the spinach wilts and the sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is creamy and well combined.
- Slice the chicken and serve it over the creamy sun-dried tomato orzo.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, substitute chicken with chickpeas or sautéed mushrooms.
- Kale or arugula can be used instead of spinach.
- If using whole wheat orzo, you may need to add a little extra broth.
- Plant-based cream or coconut milk can be used as a dairy-free alternative to heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pan Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg