Description
Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy, flavorful one-pan skillet meal featuring tender seared chicken breasts simmered in a luscious sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, parmesan, and orzo pasta. This comforting dish comes together in about 40 minutes, making it perfect for a delicious weeknight dinner that feels special.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce & Pasta
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil or parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Slice chicken breasts in half if they are thick to ensure even cooking. Pat them dry thoroughly and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear for 4 to 5 minutes per side until they develop a beautiful golden-brown crust. Once seared, remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and sun-dried tomatoes: Reduce the heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute to release their flavor.
- Add chicken broth and simmer: Pour the chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon to incorporate all the flavors. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Cook the orzo in the creamy sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and orzo pasta. Continue to simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until the orzo is cooked through and tender.
- Finish the sauce and reheat chicken: Add grated parmesan cheese to the pan and stir until it melts into the sauce. Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to allow flavors to meld and chicken to warm through.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle red pepper flakes if desired for a touch of heat and garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley. Serve the dish warm and enjoy your creamy, comforting Marry Me Chicken Orzo.
Notes
- For thicker chicken breasts, slicing them in half helps them cook evenly and quickly.
- If sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, drain them well before chopping and adding.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but it will be less rich.
- Feel free to use fresh herbs of your choice, such as thyme or oregano, as alternatives to basil or parsley.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently on the stovetop to prevent the cream from breaking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, Creamy Chicken Orzo, Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken, One-Pan Chicken Dinner, Easy Weeknight Italian
