Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Orzo (Printable)

Golden chicken and tender orzo in a rich garlic-Parmesan cream sauce

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
02 - 1 tsp kosher salt
03 - ½ tsp black pepper
04 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Aromatics & Vegetables

06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped (optional)

→ Orzo & Broth

09 - 1½ cups orzo pasta
10 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Cream Sauce

11 - ½ cup heavy cream
12 - ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Garnish

14 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
15 - Additional Parmesan cheese for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Season chicken pieces with kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, distributing seasonings evenly.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken and sear until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
03 - In the same pan, reduce heat to medium. Add butter, then sauté diced onion until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
04 - Stir in orzo pasta and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to coat with butter and develop flavor.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the pan bottom. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo reaches al dente texture and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Return seared chicken with any accumulated juices to the pan. Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Add spinach if using.
07 - Simmer gently while stirring for 2-3 minutes until sauce is creamy and chicken is heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Remove from heat. Garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means minimal cleanup when you're honestly too tired to deal with dishes.
  • The chicken stays incredibly tender while the orzo soaks up all that creamy, garlicky goodness in a way that feels almost luxurious.
  • It's restaurant-quality comfort food that takes less time than ordering delivery.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step on the chicken—those browned edges are where the real flavor lives, and you'll actually taste the difference.
  • Grate your Parmesan fresh and add it off the heat or at the very end; pre-grated cheese can clump up in hot cream, and overheating real Parmesan makes it grainy and sad.
03 -
  • Keep the heat at a gentle simmer once the cream goes in—boiling it hard can make the sauce break or the cheese separate, which is a heartbreaker after all this work.
  • If your sauce feels too thick at the end, you can loosen it with a splash of broth or even pasta water, but it'll continue to thicken as it cools slightly, so be patient.
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