Description
Win everyone over with One-Pan Marry Me Chicken Orzo! This quick and easy recipe features tender chicken breasts cooked with orzo pasta in a creamy, flavorful sun-dried tomato sauce infused with garlic, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Finished with parmesan cheese and fresh basil, this comforting dish is perfect for a delicious dinner that never disappoints.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Flavoring & Sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup half-and-half, more if needed
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Season and cook chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes until cooked through and no longer pink.
- Add spices and sun-dried tomatoes: Stir in minced garlic, paprika, Italian seasoning, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Cook orzo: Add dry orzo pasta and chicken broth to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 10-12 minutes until orzo is tender.
- Add half-and-half: Pour in half-and-half and stir to combine. Add more half-and-half if the orzo absorbs the liquid too quickly.
- Finish with cheese and basil: Stir in grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil until cheese melts and basil wilts. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use chicken broth with low sodium to control salt levels.
- If you prefer a thinner sauce, add extra half-and-half gradually.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil can add more richness; drain well before chopping.
- Substitute half-and-half with heavy cream for a richer dish or with milk for a lighter option.
- Fresh basil can be replaced with 1 teaspoon dried basil if fresh is unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
