Marry Me Chicken Orzo

5 from 3 votes

Marry Me Chicken Orzo

This Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy one-pan dinner made with tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and orzo simmered in a rich, savory sauce. Finished with Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon, it’s cozy, flavorful, and perfect for an easy weeknight meal.

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Total Time35

Course: Orzo recipes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: marry me chicken and orzo, marry me chicken orzo

Servings:

Author: Tatiana

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil or oil from the sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor
1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons paprika or smoked paprika
½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4-5 cloves garlic minced
¾ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained and chopped
1 cup orzo
2 cups chicken broth
½ cup heavy cream or coconut milk
3-4 cups fresh spinach or 1 full bag
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Juice of 1 lemon to finish
Fresh basil to garnish

Instructions

Heat the olive oil (or sun-dried tomato oil) in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, season with Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper, and cook for 4–5 minutes until lightly golden and just cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium. Add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to the same skillet and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
Stir in the orzo and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to lightly toast it and coat it in the flavorful oil.
Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir well, bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Stir in the spinach and Parmesan cheese until the spinach wilts and the sauce becomes creamy. Return the chicken to the pan and stir to combine.
Remove from heat and squeeze in lemon juice to taste. Adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh basil. Serve warm with extra Parmesan on top.

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