One Pot Chicken and Orzo
User Reviews
4.7
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
35 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
6
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Calories
467 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
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Cuisine
American
One Pot Chicken and Orzo
Description
The One Pot Chicken and Orzo recipe features bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs seared to lock in juices and seasoned with salt and seasoning salt. The pan is then enriched with butter, onions, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and red pepper flakes, which develop a savory base for the orzo. The orzo is cooked directly in the skillet with chicken broth, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese, creating a creamy, slightly tangy grain that complements the succulence of the chicken.
The cooking method emphasizes retaining the flavorful browned bits in the skillet to infuse depth into the sauce. The final dish balances the richness of cream and cheese with subtle heat from red pepper flakes and fresh brightness from basil stirred in at the end. The chicken cooks together with the orzo allowing flavors to meld while keeping the meat tender and thoroughly cooked.
This meal is best served warm as a standalone dinner or alongside a light green salad. Leftovers keep well when refrigerated or frozen, making it practical for making ahead and enjoying later. Monitoring the internal temperature of the chicken ensures full doneness without overcooking.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 chicken thighs with skin and bone in
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt or to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup tomatoes chopped, sun dried
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup orzo uncooked
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup basil chopped
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Season the chicken thighs with seasoning salt on both sides. Place the chicken thighs in the skillet and fry on both sides until no longer pink inside, about 5 min per side, but each cooktop is different so you'll have to watch it.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Drain the leftover oil from the skillet but do not scrape the brown bits, leave those for the sauce.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter and melt over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes and cook for about 5 minutes, just until the onion is soft and translucent. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen all the brown bits.
- Add the orzo, heavy cream, chicken broth and Parmesan cheese to the skillet and stir everything together. Bring to a boil, taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper as necessary.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet, reduce heat to low, cover the skillet with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes or until the orzo is cooked and most of the sauce has been evaporated or absorbed by the orzo. Make sure to stir every few minutes or so to ensure orzo doesn't stick to bottom of pan.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with fresh basil.
Notes
- Scrape the pan bottom thoroughly when cooking onions and garlic to capture all the flavorful browned bits in the sauce.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) before serving for safe consumption.
- Leftovers can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
- This dish freezes well; transfer to airtight containers and freeze up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 467 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 467kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 26g | 9% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 14g | 70% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 165mg | 55% |
| Sodium | 599mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 638mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 877IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 109mg | 11% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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