One Pot Chicken Orzo Recipe

white pan filled with creamy chicken orzo and parsley beside.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 35

Servings: servings

Calories: 472cal

Author: Ashley Fehr

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!

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US Customary - Metric

Ingredients

2 tablespoons oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
1½ cups dry orzo pasta (about 250 grams)
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
2 cups fresh spinach (roughly chopped)
75 grams garlic herb Boursin cheese (2.6 oz or half one package)
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.
Slice the chicken thinly and season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the skillet and brown on each side, about 2-3 minutes per side (you can do this in batches if you want them nice and golden -- they do not need to be cooked through as they will continue cooking with the orzo).
When the chicken is browned, add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
Stir in the broth, orzo (uncooked), salt and pepper. Bring back to a simmer and then cover and reduce the heat to medium-low (to maintain a low simmer).
Cook, stirring often, until orzo is al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Chicken will easily be cooked through in this time. You should still have a bit of liquid in the pan.
Stir in spinach, Boursin, and Parmesan. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.

Video

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

Chicken: I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts because they're convenient. You can swap for boneless, skinless thighs if you prefer dark meat, or crumble and cook some sausage. You can also omit for a meatless meal.

Broth: I always use low sodium broth so I can adjust the salt to our tastes. If you are using a salted broth, you may want to reduce the added salt and season as needed before serving. Vegetable broth also works well.

Orzo: a small shape of pasta will work best here, so if you need to substitute I recommend choosing a short pasta shape that is not too thick. Ditalini would be a good choice here!

Boursin: Boursin thickens our sauce and adds great creaminess and flavor. If you don't have any, you can add a bit of regular cream cheese and increase your herbs and seasonings.

Nutrition