Name: Chicken Orzo Recipe (One Pot!) at Home
Yield: 4

This one-pot Chicken Orzo Recipe is a creamy, flavorful meal with tender chicken, juicy sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and evenly cooked pasta.

author’s note

The Combo I Keep Coming Back To!

I’m obsessed with the combo of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. I’ve already worked it into Chicken Pasta, Mediterranean Pasta Salad, and Pesto Chicken Tortellini, and apparently I’m still not done with it!

This time, I added orzo and turned everything into an straightforward one-pot dinner. The orzo cooks right in the sauce, soaking up all that flavor while making the whole dish ridiculously creamy. It has major risotto vibes, but without all the stirring or effort.

This chicken orzo recipe is rich and satisfying without feeling overly heavy, and there’s no heavy cream needed. Just tender chicken, plenty of Parmesan, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach all tucked into the creamiest little bites of pasta. This is exactly the kind of dinner I want when I need something straightforward but refuse to settle for boring.

All the ingredients in this recipe are prepped for straightforward assembly, including spinach, broth, veggies, pasta, meat, seasonings, cheese, and milk.

Chicken Orzo Recipe Ingredients

Ingredient	Helpful Tip
Sun-Dried Tomatoes	Use julienne-cut tomatoes packed in oil and herbs. Save the oil for cooking the chicken and veggies.
Yellow Onion & Garlic	Finely dice the onion so it softens quickly. Fresh garlic gives the best flavor, but jarred works too.
Chicken Breast	Cut into small, even pieces for quick cooking. Chicken tenders also work well.
Butter & Flour	These form the roux that thickens the sauce and makes it creamy.
Italian Seasoning	Adds plenty of flavor without requiring several separate spices.
Chicken Broth & Whole Milk	Use low-sodium broth if you’re concerned about the dish becoming too salty. Use whole milk for the creamiest texture.
Orzo Pasta	Measure carefully and don’t use the entire box.
Parmesan Cheese	Grate a block of Parmesan using the small holes of a grater so it melts smoothly.
Baby Spinach	Chop it roughly so it wilts quickly and distributes evenly throughout the dish.

Quick Tip

Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta. It looks like rice, but it’s not and won’t work in this chicken orzo recipe. You can find orzo in the pasta aisle, and you’ll only need part of the box. Save the rest for dishes like Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup or this one-pot Creamy Orzo!

The chicken is cooking, and I’m making the cream sauce for chicken orzo.

chelsea’s recipe tips

Chicken Orzo Recipe Tips For Success

Prep ahead: Have everything chopped and ready since cooking moves quickly.
Soften the onion: Cook until fully tender since it won’t soften much later.
Finely grate Parmesan: Use the small holes of a grater when grating.
Remove from heat early: Stop when the orzo is tender but still slightly soupy, like risotto. It thickens quickly as it stands.
Adjust consistency: If too thin, cook another minute. If too thick, mix in a splash of milk.

The tomatoes, cheese, and spinach being added to the cream sauce.

What Pot To Use

Use a large (5.5 to 6 quart), nonstick pot for best results.

I tested this chicken orzo recipe in a cast iron pot, and it worked well. Just keep in mind that it cooks faster since cast iron holds more heat, so you’ll need to stir more often to prevent the pasta from sticking or clumping.

Storage

This chicken orzo recipe is best fresh, but if you need to store it, let it cool, then put it in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a little milk or broth to make it creamy again.