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Marry Me Chicken Orzo Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 135 reviews

Delicious Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy, flavorful one-pan dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken breast pieces seared and simmered with sun-dried tomatoes, aromatic spices, and orzo pasta. Finished with fresh spinach and Parmesan cheese, this recipe offers a perfect balance of savory and comforting flavors ideal for a quick and satisfying dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Flavor Base

  • 1.5 lb chicken breast, cut into 1-inch bite-sized chunks
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, freshly minced
  • 6 oz sun-dried tomatoes (julienne cut)
  • 1.5 tsp oregano
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Orzo and Sauce

  • 9 oz orzo pasta
  • 2.75 cups chicken stock
  • Black pepper, to taste

Finishing Ingredients

  • 6 fl oz cream
  • 4 oz fresh spinach
  • 2 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Sear the Chicken and Build the Flavor Base: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken chunks and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown on the outside but not fully cooked through. Add minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until the spices are fragrant and the garlic turns golden, blooming the spices to create depth of flavor.
  2. Add Orzo and Build the Sauce: Pour in the chicken stock and add uncooked orzo directly to the pan. Stir well to evenly distribute and prevent pasta from sticking. Season with black pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. Leave some liquid slightly thin as cream will be added next.
  3. Finish with Cream, Spinach, and Parmesan: Reduce heat to low and stir in cream until fully incorporated. Add spinach in handfuls, stirring gently until wilted (1-2 minutes). Remove pan from heat and fold in freshly grated Parmesan until melted and coating the orzo. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional black pepper if needed before serving.

Notes

  • Use freshly minced garlic and freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and texture.
  • Do not fully cook the chicken during searing; it will finish cooking during simmering.
  • Leaving some liquid in the sauce before adding cream helps achieve a smooth, creamy consistency.
  • Use julienne-cut sun-dried tomatoes for even distribution and texture.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred level of heat.

Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, Orzo recipe, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, quick chicken dinner, one-pan chicken meal

Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/marry-me-chicken-orzo-recipe/