Creamy Orzo with Chicken, Mushrooms and Red Peppers
User Reviews
4.8
30 reviews
Excellent
Creamy Orzo with Chicken, Mushrooms and Red Peppers
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Balanced, flavorful, and enjoyable—this recipe has it all.
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Ingredients
- 1 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1 to 1 ½ pounds, cut into chunks
- 1-2 1-2 red bell peppers cut into ½-inch pieces
- 8 8 ounces white button mushrooms quartered
- 1 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 1 pound orzo pasta
- 8 8 ounces cream cheese softened (can use 1/3 less fat cream cheese)
- 1 1 cup reserved pasta water
- ½ ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
- Squeeze of fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon
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Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package directions until tender. When the orzo is ready, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water (ladling it into a small bowl is my method) and then drain the orzo and set aside.
- While the orzo cooks, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the hot oil and brown on all sides. When nicely browned (but not all the way cooked through), add the peppers, mushrooms and thyme. Stir and let cook for about 5 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the mushrooms and peppers have softened and browned and most of the liquid has evaporated. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- In the skillet over medium heat, add the softened cream cheese (if you forgot to let the cream cheese soften at room temperature, no worries! Pop it in the microwave for one minute on 40% power) in bite sized chunks and stir so that the cream cheese melts and coats the chicken and vegetables. Add the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. Add ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Stir. Add the orzo, Parmesan, lemon juice and fresh parsley. Stir to combine and heat through. Garnish with additional Parmesan and parsley.
Notes
- Serve Immediately: this pasta is best served immediately as it tends to get less creamy as it sits at room temperature – so serve warm right as it finishes cooking! (Incidentally, it heated up just fine the next day in the microwave on low power.)
Nutrition Information
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Serving
1 Serving
Calories
613kcal
(31%)
Carbohydrates
62g
(21%)
Protein
41g
(82%)
Fat
22g
(34%)
Saturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Cholesterol
120mg
(40%)
Sodium
589mg
(25%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 613 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 Serving | |
| Calories | 613kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 62g | 21% |
| Protein | 41g | 82% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 120mg | 40% |
| Sodium | 589mg | 25% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
30 reviews
Excellent
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