Description
Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a comforting one-pot dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and creamy double cream. The orzo pasta absorbs rich chicken stock and flavorful spices, then is finished with Parmesan cheese for a deliciously creamy texture. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that combines Italian-inspired flavors with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 650 g Chicken breast (about 4 pieces), skinless and boneless, 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
Orzo and Liquids
- 250 g Orzo pasta
- 650 ml Hot chicken stock
- 150 ml Double cream
Finishing Ingredients
- 50 g Parmesan cheese, grated
- 120 g Spinach
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped chicken pieces carefully. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all sides begin to brown and color.
- Sauté garlic and spices: Lower the heat and add the crushed garlic, drained sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and paprika to the pan. Stir and cook for 3-5 minutes until the garlic softens and the flavors meld.
- Add orzo and stock: Stir in the orzo pasta, hot chicken stock, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly, then cover the pan with a lid. Let it cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is nearly cooked through and has absorbed much of the liquid.
- Add spinach and cream: Reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Add the spinach and double cream to the pan, stirring well. Continue cooking for 1-3 minutes until the spinach has wilted and the cream is warmed through. Ensure the chicken is fully cooked at this stage.
- Finish with Parmesan: Turn off the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until fully incorporated and creamy. Serve immediately for best taste and texture.
Notes
- Use chicken stock that is hot to speed up the cooking process of the orzo.
- If unavailable, sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil can be substituted with rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes plus additional olive oil.
- Stir occasionally during the orzo cooking to prevent sticking or burning at the bottom of the pan.
- Ensure chicken is cooked through with no pink inside before serving.
- This recipe can be doubled but may require a larger pan and slightly increased cooking time.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh basil or extra Parmesan cheese for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Keywords: Chicken orzo recipe, one pot chicken pasta, creamy chicken dinner, sun-dried tomato chicken, easy stovetop meal
