Description
This Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a delicious and comforting one-pot meal combining tender chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and creamy Parmesan cheese with orzo pasta. Inspired by Tuscan flavors, it’s an easy and flavorful dinner option that comes together in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 650 g skinless, boneless chicken breast (about 4 pieces), chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or oil from sun-dried tomatoes jar)
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 170 g sun-dried tomatoes (in oil), drained
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp paprika
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Dairy
- 250 g orzo pasta
- 650 ml hot chicken stock
- 150 ml double cream
- 50 g Parmesan cheese, grated
Vegetables
- 120 g spinach
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: In a large, deep frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat until hot. Carefully add the chopped chicken pieces and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all sides start to color and the chicken begins to brown.
- Sauté Aromatics and Spices: Reduce the heat to low and add the crushed garlic, drained sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and paprika to the pan. Stir continuously for 3 to 5 minutes until the garlic softens and the spices are fragrant.
- Add Orzo and Stock: Pour in the orzo pasta and hot chicken stock, season with freshly ground black pepper, and stir well to combine all ingredients. Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is nearly cooked.
- Incorporate Spinach and Cream: Lower the heat to the lowest setting and add the spinach and double cream to the pan. Stir thoroughly for 1 to 3 minutes while the spinach wilts and the cream heats through. Ensure the chicken is fully cooked by this time.
- Finish with Parmesan: Turn off the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts and blends evenly through the dish. Serve warm.
Notes
- This recipe is perfect for a quick, flavorful one-pot dinner that takes just 30 minutes.
- Using oil from the sun-dried tomato jar adds extra flavor to the dish.
- Ensure stirring occasionally during cooking prevents orzo from sticking to the pan.
- You can substitute double cream with heavy cream if preferred.
- Feel free to adjust seasoning to taste, especially with black pepper and paprika.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 790 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 776 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.02 g
- Carbohydrates: 67 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 56 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
