Description
Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy, flavorful one-pan dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to perfection, served over orzo pasta in a luscious sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, spinach, Parmesan cheese, and a hint of spice. This easy-to-make stovetop meal is perfect for weeknight dinners and guarantees a comforting yet elegant dinner experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
Sauce & Pasta
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup orzo pasta, uncooked
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach
Garnish
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Season and Cook Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomatoes: In the same skillet, melt the butter and add the minced garlic. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using, to build flavor.
- Cook the Orzo: Add the uncooked orzo to the skillet and toast it for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Then, pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes or until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Add Cream, Cheese, and Spinach: Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, and baby spinach. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the spinach to wilt and the sauce to become creamy and well combined.
- Combine and Heat Through: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, nesting them on top of the creamy orzo mixture. Let everything heat together for about 2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh basil or parsley over the top before serving to add a fresh, aromatic finish.
Notes
- For extra flavor, sear the chicken in the olive oil used for soaking the sun-dried tomatoes.
- You can substitute boneless chicken thighs for the breasts for a juicier result.
- This dish reheats well; add a splash of chicken broth or cream when warming leftovers to maintain creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with orzo
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
