One Pan Tuscan Orzo with Chicken
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 518cal
This amazing One Pan Tuscan Orzo with Chicken recipe is perfect for making a healthy, filling, quick, and easy dinner the whole family will love on busy weeknights!
Print Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lbs
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Orzo pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes drained and sliced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups uncooked orzo pasta 250 grams
- 1½ cups fresh spinach roughly chopped
- ¼ cup Parmesan freshly grated
Instructions
Chicken
- Place chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin to pound the thick ends so they are an even thickness.
- Preheat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add the oil.
- Stir together the salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, and pepper and sprinkle over both sides of the chicken.
- Sear chicken on both sides until golden brown. Remove and keep warm.
Orzo pasta
- To the same skillet, add the tomatoes and cook 3-4 minutes until they start to blister.
- Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Stir in chicken broth, cream, sun dried tomatoes, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
- Stir in the orzo, and add the chicken back on top of the orzo. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until the orzo is al dente.
- Stir in spinach and Parmesan before serving. *Note that it may look quite thin right after you finish cooking but it will thicken considerably in the first 10 minutes as it sits off the heat.
Video
Notes
Ingredients and Substitutions:
chicken: you can easily swap the chicken breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs and continue with the recipe as written! Italian sausage, smoked sausage, or almost any other protein can also be subbed in here -- just make sure it is browned before continuing with the recipe. White beans are a great vegetarian protein!
tomatoes: I love blistered cherry tomatoes and the do add some tomato-y flavor to the sauce. If you don't enjoy tomatoes you can leave them out, or you can add in extra vegetables and just give them a saute before adding the liquid.
chicken broth: I always choose low sodium chicken broth and add salt as needed. Feel free to adjust the salt based on your tastes and which broth you have.
cream: heavy creamy makes for a very rich and flavorful sauce. A lighter cream will not thicken the same way, so if you do use a lighter cream I recommend reducing the broth by 1/4 cup. orzo: almost any short pasta will work here! Storage:
tomatoes: I love blistered cherry tomatoes and the do add some tomato-y flavor to the sauce. If you don't enjoy tomatoes you can leave them out, or you can add in extra vegetables and just give them a saute before adding the liquid.
chicken broth: I always choose low sodium chicken broth and add salt as needed. Feel free to adjust the salt based on your tastes and which broth you have.
cream: heavy creamy makes for a very rich and flavorful sauce. A lighter cream will not thicken the same way, so if you do use a lighter cream I recommend reducing the broth by 1/4 cup. orzo: almost any short pasta will work here! Storage:
- Store: Store this dish cooked and cooled in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in portions in the microwave, or cover an oven-safe dish with foil and reheat in the oven until piping hot.
- Freeze: Store in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm with a splash of broth in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Nutrition
Serving: 421grams | Calories: 518cal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 896mg | Potassium: 1098mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1744IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 3mg