One-Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken and Orzo

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb Chicken breast (cut into bite-sized pieces)
• 2 tbsp Olive oil (divided)
• Salt (to taste)
• Black pepper (to taste)
• 4 clove Garlic (minced)
• 1 Shallot (finely diced)
• 1.5 cup Orzo (uncooked)
• 3 cup Chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
• 0.5 cup Heavy cream
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 2 cup Fresh spinach (packed, roughly chopped)
• 0.5 Lemon juice (from half a lemon)

Steps

1. 1

   Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat.

2. 2

   Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the hot pan and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

3. 3

   In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the diced shallot and sauté for 2 minutes until softened.

4. 4

   Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.

5. 5

   Add the uncooked orzo to the pan and toast it for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it smells slightly nutty.

6. 6

   Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.

7. 7

   Stir in the heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese until the sauce is creamy and well combined.

8. 8

   Add the fresh spinach and stir until it has wilted into the pasta.

9. 9

   Return the cooked chicken to the pan and squeeze the lemon juice over the top. Stir to combine and heat through for 1-2 minutes.

10. 10

    Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

If the orzo absorbs the liquid too quickly before it is tender, add an extra splash of broth or water. For a lighter version, you can substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, though the sauce will be less thick.

Nutrition per serving

• main dish
• one-pan
• chicken
• orzo
• dinner
• creamy
• garlic
• easy recipe