Marry Me Chicken Orzo (Dumbed Down)

Ingredients

• 1.75 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (whole; 1.5–2 lbs)
• 1 cup dry orzo
• 2.75 cup chicken broth
• 3 clove pre-minced garlic
• 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil (lightly drained)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 0.5 tsp salt (plus more for chicken)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 6 oz cream cheese (cubed)
• 1.5 handful fresh spinach (optional; 1–2 handfuls)
• lemon juice (optional; small squeeze)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. 2

   Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

3. 3

   Add the dry orzo, chicken broth, minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, and 1/2 tsp salt to the baking dish.

4. 4

   Stir the mixture well and let it sit for 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Nestle the whole chicken thighs on top of the orzo mixture.

6. 6

   Season the chicken thighs with additional salt and black pepper.

7. 7

   Scatter the cubed cream cheese around the dish. Do not stir it in yet.

8. 8

   Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.

9. 9

   Remove the foil and stir the orzo around the chicken pieces.

10. 10

    Cover the dish again with foil and bake for another 15–20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

11. 11

    Remove from the oven and let the dish rest, covered, for 5 minutes.

12. 12

    Stir everything together until the cream cheese fully melts and incorporates into a smooth sauce.

13. 13

    Add the fresh spinach and a small squeeze of lemon if desired; stir and let sit for 1–2 minutes until the spinach is wilted.

Notes

This is a 'Dumb Dinner' designed for easy cleanup and minimal active work. Ensure the foil is tight to prevent the broth from evaporating too quickly, which ensures the orzo cooks through.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• one-pan
• baked
• chicken
• easy
• weeknight