Easy Chicken Orzo Recipe

This Easy Chicken Orzo Recipe is loaded with tender bites of chicken, orzo, and spinach all held together with the best creamy sauce. Boursin is my not-so-secret ingredient that sends this dish over the top. It’s an easy orzo pasta recipe that the whole family loves!

Check out more of my favorite easy orzo recipes like this Garlic Parmesan Orzo Recipe, One Pan Chicken Meatballs with Orzo and Sun Dried Tomato and Spinach Orzo.

One Pan Chicken Orzo is a favorite dinner recipe of mine! It’s something simple, creamy and protein-packed that I know my family will eat and love every time.

From start to finish, you can have this creamy orzo recipe ready in about half an hour. It’s great for those busy weeknights when you need something homemade and delicious without the hassle!

Boursin, parmesan, garlic, and just a little salt and pepper create the best creamy consistency and savory flavor. If you’d like to add anything else, go for it! Scroll down to check out some of my recommended variations and substitutions.

Why we love this Easy Chicken Orzo Recipe:

• One Pan: Easy to make and even easier to clean up. Yes, please! One pan/pot recipes are always a huge hit in my kitchen.
• Kid Friendly: This recipe is a great way to get some spinach and protein onto the plate of any picky eater.
• Creamy: The garlic herb Boursin cheese holds everything together beautifully with a thick, creamy consistency.

Easy Chicken Orzo Ingredients Needed:

• Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are my favorite cut of meat for this easy orzo recipe, but you could swap for boneless chicken thighs as well.
• Broth – In most of my recipes, I recommend using low sodium broth. That gives you the power to control exactly how salty the final product is. Both chicken and vegetable broth work well in this recipe.
• Orzo – You can really swap this with any type of small pasta. Ditalini works well!
• Parmesan – Freshly grate the parmesan yourself for the very best flavor and consistency.
• Spinach – The spinach will cook down to a smaller size. However, you can always use baby spinach or cut the leaves in half prior to cooking if you’re concerned about the size of the spinach leaves.
• Garlic – Measure with your heart! Just keep in mind that garlic has a tendency to overpower other ingredients.
• Boursin – Garlic herb Boursin is used to create that amazing creamy sauce.

How to make Easy Chicken Orzo Pasta:

Creamy Chicken Orzo is SO easy to toss together in just one pan! Scroll down to the recipe card for more info about this quick process.

• Cook the chicken in a skillet with a little oil over medium-high heat until golden brown on all sides. Add garlic.
• Stir in the broth, uncooked orzo, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring often, for about 8-10 minutes.

• Stir in the spinach, Boursin and parmesan.
• Let the cheese warm through and stir together to combine.

Variations and Substitutions

• Change the chicken: You can easily swap the chicken breasts with thighs if you’d prefer.
• Add a little spice: A dash of crushed red pepper flakes will add some great flavor! Just be careful because a little goes a long way.
• Different Boursin flavor: Garlic and herb is my favorite Boursin flavor to use in this orzo recipe. However, there are plenty of other flavors – play around and see what you like best.

How to store Easy Chicken Orzo

Store any leftover creamy chicken orzo you have in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Add a splash of broth or cream, and reheat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave, stirring each time it stops, until warmed all the way through.

Can I freeze Easy Chicken Orzo?

Sure thing! Just let it fully cool to room temperature before transferring to a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve it, first let it slowly thaw in the fridge for a few hours before reheating.

Keep in mind that pasta will have a softer texture after freezing. If you’re an “al dente only” kind of person, this might not be best for you.

Serving suggestions:

This easy chicken orzo recipe is a well rounded meal all by itself. If you wanted to pair it with something on the side, consider some Garlic Bread (because I always love a good excuse to slather garlic butter on things)!

Or, plate it with something a little lighter like Cheesy Baked Asparagus, Roasted Carrots or Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Broccoli to add even more veggies to the menu.

More One Pan Dinner Recipes You’ll Love

• One Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Noodles — better than takeout!
• One Pan Tuscan Orzo with Chicken — if you love orzo as much as we do 😉
• One Pan Sausage and Rice — full of flavor!
• One Pan Sausage, Potatoes and Green Beans — with plenty of veggies.
• Chicken and Noodles Recipe — healthy comfort food!