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Home » Main Dish

Published: Aug 23, 2021 by Kathy

Creamy Chicken Orzo

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Chicken breasts in a pan with pasta and spinach.

A one pan dish made with chicken, orzo pasta and spinach smothered in a creamy parmesan sauce. This Creamy Chicken Orzo is a tasty comfort food that can be ready in just 30 minutes.

Just add a green salad and some crusty french bread and you have a meal!

A pan filled with chicken, orzo and spinach.

Delicious one dish meal

Creamy orzo pasta with chicken is a delicious dish with a creamy sauce and fresh spinach. The creamy sauce and orzo pasta are reminiscent of risotto but without all the work.

This is a one-pan dish that can be whipped together in just 30 minutes but will have you thinking you are eating a gourmet meal! A one-pan dish means cooking and cleanup is a breeze!

Rich, filling and so satisfying, this tasty recipe is one you'll keep coming back to again and again.

Key ingredients

Ingredients for making a chicken and pasta dish.
  • Chicken - boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Spinach - fresh baby spinach
  • Orzo - rice-shaped pasta
  • Chicken broth - homemade or store-bought
  • White wine - use a dry wine like a chardonnay or pinot grigio
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh herbs - Basil, thyme and parsley

Step by step directions

  • Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise or butterflied so you have 4 equal-sized breasts
Cutting a chicken breast in half.
Four chicken breasts on a plate.
  • Sprinkle both sides of each breast with salt
  • Lightly dredge each breast in flour, shaking off any excess
  • Place floured chicken breasts in a preheated pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Cook each side for 3-5 minutes, until golden brown
Floured chicken breasts in a pan.
Browned chicken breasts in a pan.
  • Remove chicken from pan. It's okay if the chicken isn't cooked through, they will finish cooking when you return them to the pan.
  • Using the same pan, add an additional tablespoon of olive oil if needed. Add chopped onions and cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
  • Stir in garlic and then stir in orzo pasta. Stir well for 1 minute until the pasta is well coated with the oil.
Onions in a saute pan.
Orzo pasta in a pan.
  • Add white wine and stir pan to deglaze pan and remove all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Add chicken broth and cook over medium-low heat until orzo is cooked al dente
  • Add spinach
Pasta simmering in a large fry pan.
Spinach in a pan with pasta and a creamy sauce.
  • Stir in chopped thyme and parsley and add heavy cream and parmesan cheese
  • Add chicken breast back into the pan and continue cooking over low heat for 3-4 minutes until chicken is fully cooked
  • Remove from heat and add fresh basil

Recipe tips

  • Taste the orzo to determine when it's done. If needed, cook a bit longer.
  • If your liquid disappears before your orzo is done cooking, add ½ cup of additional broth or water.
  • Be certain to stir occasionally while orzo is cooking
  • Double check chicken to make certain it is cooked through
  • Garnish with additional fresh herbs and a sprinkling of parmesan

Variations

  • Eliminate white wine and use all chicken broth
  • Use dried herbs instead of fresh ones. Reduce dried herbs by half the amount called for fresh herbs.
  • Add an additional ½ cup of cream to make an even creamier dish.

Recipe Faqs

How do I reheat leftovers?

Any leftovers should be refrigerated in a covered container. To reheat, place in a microwave container and reheat for one minute.

Serving suggestions

This can be a meal all in itself, but it's also delicious with these side dishes:

  • Breadsticks
  • Cheesy Pesto Garlic Bread
  • Green salad with a lemon vinaigrette
  • Tomato Salad

More chicken dishes

  • Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
  • Cast Iron Chicken Thighs
  • Baked Chicken and Rice
  • Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Chicken, Broccoli and Rice
  • Crispy Chicken Tenders
A chicken breast alongside some creamy orzo pasta.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

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A pan filled with chicken, orzo and spinach.

Creamy Chicken Orzo

Kathy Berget
Chicken breasts cooked with a creamy orzo.
4.98 from 44 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 685 kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Saute Pan
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 chicken breasts (cut in half lengthwise )
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup onion (finely diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 2 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 2 cups fresh spinach (cut into ½ inch strips)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (leaves removed from stem)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped)

Garnish

  • 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh herbs (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Sprinkle both sides of each breast with salt
    2 chicken breasts, ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • Lightly dredge each breast in flour, shaking off any excess
    ¼ cup flour
  • Place floured chicken breasts in a preheated pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil
    2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Cook each side 4-6 minutes, until golden brown
  • Remove chicken from pan. It's okay if the chicken isn't cooked through, they will finish cooking when you return them to the pan.
  • Using the same pan, add an additional tablespoon of olive oil, if needed. Add chopped onions and cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
    ¼ cup onion
  • Stir in garlic and then stir in orzo pasta. Stir well for 1 minute until the pasta is well coated with the oil.
    2 cloves garlic, 1 cup orzo pasta
  • Add white wine and stir pan to deglaze pan and remove all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan
    1 cup white wine
  • Add chicken broth and cook over medium low heat until orzo is cooked al dente
    2 ½ cups chicken broth
  • Add spinach
    2 cups fresh spinach
  • Stir in chopped thyme and parsley and salt and add heavy cream and parmesan cheese
    1 tablespoon fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, ½ cup parmesan cheese, 1 cup heavy cream, ½ teaspoon salt
  • Add chicken breast back into the pan and continue cooking over low heat for 3-4 minutes or until chicken is cooked through
  • Remove from heat and add fresh basil
    1 tablespoon fresh basil
  • Before serving sprinkle with additional fresh herbs and parmesan cheese
    1 teaspoon fresh herbs, 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese

Notes

  • Taste the orzo to determine when it's done. If needed, cook a bit longer.
  • If your liquid disappears before your orzo is done cooking, add ½ cup additional broth or water.
  • Be certain to stir occasionally while orzo is cooking
  • Double check chicken to make certain it is cooked through
  • Garnish with additional fresh herbs and a sprinkling of parmesan
Variations
  • Eliminate white wine and use all chicken broth
  • Use dried herbs instead of fresh. Reduce dried herbs by half the amount called for fresh herbs.
  • Add additional ½ cup of cream to make an even creamier dish.

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1breastCalories: 685kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 37gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 1366mgPotassium: 842mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2562IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 255mgIron: 3mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cristina says

    January 30, 2024 at 3:45 pm

    5 stars
    Just a few small adjustments but delicious recipe!! I used boneless skinless chicken thighs in place of chicken breast because it’s what I had on hand. I used all chicken stock because I didn’t have a bottle of white. And I used coconut cream in place of heavy cream. The flavor was delicious! I did notice that I had way more liquid remaining after the al dente orzo cooking time (I only used a total of 3 cups instead of the written 3.5 cups because it’s what I had left…wondering if the first cup would have evaporated had I used white wine?) so I simply brought the heat up to high and cooked it off within a few mins. Will absolutely make this again! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      January 31, 2024 at 5:55 am

      Hi Cristina,
      Thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. Swapping out equal amounts of wine for broth should not have made a difference. I do allow that first cup to evaporate some as it's deglazing the pan. The difference could have been from different brands of orzo. Pasta will vary on cooking times needed. I sounds like cooking it a bit longer worked perfectly.
      Thanks!
      Kathy 🙂

      Reply
  2. Darlene says

    September 17, 2023 at 5:45 pm

    5 stars
    Terrific single dish meal and a great way to use fresh herbs from my garden.

    This recipe was a hit with my family. However I used skinless chicken thighs instead of breast meat and it works out well. Rather than white wine I used apple juice with a splash of lemon juice.

    As I have an abundance of small tomatoes I sliced them in half and grilled them; then added them as a garnish along with the Parmesan Cheese and herbs.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 18, 2023 at 4:07 am

      Thanks so much! I'm so happy your family loved this dish! Sounds like you made just the right changes for them. Those tomatoes sound delicious!

      Reply
  3. Betsy G says

    March 07, 2022 at 5:24 pm

    4 stars
    Just made this - flavor is great, 5/5 stars. It was so liquidy though, followed directions as written, used peas instead of spinach. Added about 1/4 cup flour & water to try to thicken up. Ended up slightly too much liquid. Used Trader Joe’s orzo. Felt there was easily 1 cup too much liquid - 4/5 stars for that. Will try again with less liquid! Even upped stove temp to get some liquid out.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 08, 2022 at 5:24 am

      Hi Betsy,
      Thanks for your comment. I'm wondering why yours turned out so liquidy. The orzo should have absorbed the broth while it was cooking, leaving just a bit left. I do like your idea of adding peas instead of spinach. It's a nice way to change it up!
      Kathy 🙂

      Reply
  4. Aasimar says

    March 05, 2022 at 11:46 am

    I have made this a few times now and loved it. The first time I follow the recipe skipping breading the chicken the 2nd time I used dark meet. I have also made it with beef and loved it that way too. Its also good with rotisserie chicken meet.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 05, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      Thanks for your tips and suggestions!

      Reply
  5. Dru says

    February 28, 2022 at 3:32 pm

    I love dill in orzo. What are your thoughts for adding dill to this recipe?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      February 28, 2022 at 6:24 pm

      Hi Dru,
      I think you could add dill, but I think I'd omit the basil.
      Enjoy,
      Kathy 🙂

      Reply
  6. Debora says

    January 22, 2022 at 7:58 am

    5 stars
    This is one of the best recipes I have ever made. Making it for the 3rd time tomorrow. I tenderize my chicken into smaller pieces & they cooked perfectly. The only problem I had the 1st time was that the orzo wasn't cooking but I just added more stock until it was done. Easy & so delicious!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      January 22, 2022 at 8:04 am

      Hi Debora,
      Thanks so much!!! I really appreciate your comment and your tips! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
      Kathy

      Reply
  7. Diana says

    October 04, 2021 at 7:27 pm

    This meal had a great flavor. However, the chicken was not cooked all the way through and I had to put it back on the stove for a while. This is even after I cooked each side on medium for 5 minutes. Next time, I will thoroughly cook the chicken before doing all of the other steps.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      October 04, 2021 at 7:35 pm

      Hi Diana,
      I'm sorry you had issues with the chicken. Did you cut the breasts in half to create smaller medallions first or did you leave them whole. Whole breasts will take much longer to cook. I'm glad you were able to get them fully cooked.
      Thanks,
      Kathy

      Reply
      • Diana says

        October 04, 2021 at 7:50 pm

        5 stars
        No need to apologize! I bought thinly sliced chicken breasts but maybe next time I just need to cut them myself to make them thinner. The dinner was really delicious and I will definitely make it again!

      • Kathy says

        October 05, 2021 at 4:57 am

        Thanks, Diana! 🙂

  8. Valentina says

    August 30, 2021 at 7:14 am

    Kathy, this is the ultimate comfort food. The creamy sauce, the soft orzo, and the hearty chicken. Yum, yum and yum! I'm in. 🙂 ~Valentina

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      August 31, 2021 at 6:20 am

      Thank you!!!

      Reply
  9. David @ Spiced says

    August 24, 2021 at 5:42 am

    5 stars
    This looks like the ultimate comfort food! I love creamy pasta dishes, so of course this one is calling my name. And the fact that it is cooked in one skillet? So easy! This sounds like a great meal for an early fall day when the night starts to get a little chilly!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      August 24, 2021 at 5:55 am

      Thanks, David!!! And you're right, total comfort food! 🙂

      Reply
4.98 from 44 votes (38 ratings without comment)

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I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

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