Description
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo is a flavorful dish combining tender chicken, creamy sauce, orzo pasta, and the bold flavors of sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. It’s a quick and satisfying weeknight meal that’s both comforting and indulgent.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (6 oz) sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 cup orzo pasta
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
1 cup baby spinach, chopped
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, basil, and oregano. Cook for 6-7 minutes per side until browned and fully cooked through (165°F/75°C). Remove from skillet and slice into strips.
- Sauté the onion and garlic: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the sun-dried tomatoes and orzo: Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and orzo, cooking for 2-3 minutes, allowing the orzo to lightly toast in the skillet.
- Make the creamy sauce: Pour in chicken broth, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10-12 minutes, until the orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
- Add cream and spinach: Stir in heavy cream and chopped spinach, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the spinach wilts and sauce thickens. Stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the sliced chicken back into the skillet and toss everything to combine. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra spice, add red pepper flakes when sautéing the garlic.
- You can substitute orzo with other small pasta like penne or fusilli.
- Use coconut cream or a dairy-free alternative to make the dish dairy-free.
- Frozen spinach works fine; just thaw and drain it before adding it to the sauce.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half and reduce the cheese slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 85mg