Description
A creamy, one-pan sun-dried tomato chicken and orzo dish that comes together in 30 minutes. It features juicy chicken thighs, tender orzo pasta, and a rich, savory sauce made with Parmesan and fresh basil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup orzo pasta (150g)
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil (70g), chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream (240ml)
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (120ml)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, mince garlic, grate Parmesan, and roughly chop sun-dried tomatoes.
- Heat butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then cook in a single layer for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F). Remove chicken to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning, stirring for 30 seconds. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Stir in orzo and heavy cream. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes, until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. Return chicken and any juices to the pan, stirring gently to combine.
- Serve immediately, topped with fresh basil and extra black pepper.
Notes
Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for best flavor. Do not skip scraping the fond (brown bits) from the pan for depth. Stir frequently to prevent orzo from sticking. Remove from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: chicken orzo, creamy pasta, sun-dried tomato, one-pan dinner, weeknight meals, easy chicken recipe, summer recipes