Description
Discover the ultimate weeknight dinner with Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken, a one‑pot marvel that marries tender chicken, al dente orzo, and a velvety Parmesan‑infused cream sauce. This recipe delivers restaurant‑style richness in under 30 minutes, using simple pantry staples like chicken broth, heavy cream, butter, and fresh garlic. Perfect for families craving comfort food, it’s easy to scale, reheats beautifully, and makes leftovers a coveted lunch option.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound chicken breast, diced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken, season, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5‑7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for one minute.
- Add orzo and chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10‑12 minutes until orzo is tender.
- Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan, mixing until sauce is creamy. Return chicken to the pan, season with salt and pepper, and heat through.
- Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- For a lighter version
- substitute half‑and‑half for heavy cream. Add red pepper flakes for heat or smoked beef strips for a different protein twist. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One‑pot
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken, easy chicken dinner, one pot chicken orzo, quick creamy pasta, family dinner recipes, chicken Parmesan orzo, comfort food chicken