Creamy Chicken Orzo

We love one-pot dishes, but there are two conditions:

  • It should be easy to prepare
  • And it must be full of flavour

This dish is ideal to make on a weeknight (especially a Monday) when it’s been a hectic start to the new week and no one wants to spend hours in the kitchen getting dinner on the table.

Put it on the table:

This dish’s two main ingredients are chicken and orzo. The rest is really your choice – we usually look at what’s in our fridge and pantry and use what’s available.

Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Orzo

2 chicken breasts, cut into small pieces

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

½ cup whole kernel corn

2 tablespoons sundried tomato, chopped

1 onion, finely diced

4 garlic cloves, finely diced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 cup orzo pasta

3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (plus extra to serve)

¼ cup cream

1 cup chicken broth/stock

Butter, to fry

Olive oil, to fry

2-3 teaspoons Portuguese chicken spice (or Cajun seasoning for an extra spicy flavour)

Salt & pepper, to taste

As usual, when we use mushrooms in our dishes, we first fry them in a little butter and oil until brown. Remove from the pot and set aside.

Fry mushrooms until brown

Combine chicken pieces, Portuguese chicken spice (or Cajun seasoning) and salt and pepper. Heat the butter and oil in the same pot as the one used for the mushrooms and pan fry the chicken until it starts to colour.

Mix chicken with spices and pan fry

Add the onion and fry for a minute. Add the garlic and fry for another minute.

Add onion and garlic

Add sundried tomatoes and tomato paste and stir to combine. Cook over low heat for five minutes. Remember to stir frequently to prevent burning.

Add sundried tomatoes and tomato paste

Stir in the orzo, cook for a minute and then add the chicken broth/stock. Bring to the boil and cover the pot. Cook for about 20 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently.

Tip: The orzo absorbs the liquid quite easily, so keep an eye on the pot and add a little extra water if the dish gets too dry.

Add orzo and chicken broth/stock

Dish after 20 minutes

After 20 minutes, stir in the fried mushrooms and whole kernel corn. Also add the grated parmesan cheese and stir through.

Add fried mushrooms and whole kernel corn

Add grated parmesan cheese

Finally, it’s time to stir in the cream that transforms this dish into the perfect creamy meal it’s supposed to be.

Add cream

Gently stir in the cream and let it heat up just for a minute or two. Now it’s time to forget about all the stress of the blue Monday while you indulge in this delicious plate of food.

Creamy Chicken Orzo

Leftovers will keep in the fridge for a few of days … although I doubt there will be any left over.

A spoon full of deliciousness