Description
Indulge in this luxurious, restaurant-quality meal that combines tender seared chicken, vibrant sun-dried tomatoes, and perfectly al dente orzo in a single, creamy pot. This effortless Italian-fusion dinner uses the pasta’s natural starches to create a velvety, flavor-packed sauce, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when you want gourmet results with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs Chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized pieces
1.5 cups Orzo pasta
0.5 cup Sun-dried tomatoes, chopped and oil-drained
3 cups Low sodium chicken broth
0.5 cup Heavy cream or coconut cream
0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated fresh
4 cloves Garlic, minced finely
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add seasoned chicken pieces to the pan in a single layer.
Cook the chicken until golden brown on all sides and fully cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
Lower heat to medium and add minced garlic to the skillet, sautéing until fragrant.
Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to release the flavor bits.
Stir in the dry orzo pasta and Italian seasoning.
Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until the orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
Stir in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, stir to combine and heat through.
Serve warm.
Notes
Ensure you scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly when adding broth to incorporate the fond; this is key to the depth of flavor. If the sauce becomes too thick before serving, add a splash of extra broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Baking
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 115mg