Description
A rich, 30-minute comfort dish combining tender chicken, garlic, and a velvety Parmesan-cream sauce with al dente orzo and fresh spinach in a single skillet.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
1.5 cups uncooked orzo pasta
2 cups fresh baby spinach
3 cups chicken broth
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried thyme
Salt and black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
Sear chicken pieces 3-4 minutes per side until golden; remove and set aside
Sauté garlic in the same skillet 1 minute until fragrant
Add chicken broth, thyme, and herbs; simmer 5 minutes
Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan until sauce is thickened
Toss cooked, drained orzo into the pan
Return chicken to the skillet
Add spinach and cook until wilted
Season with salt and pepper
Cook 2-3 more minutes until orzo is tender
Notes
Use chicken thighs for juicier texture
Substitute arborio rice or small pasta if orzo is unavailable
Add lemon zest for brightness
Leftovers keep up to 3 days refrigerated
Contains dairy; use vegan Parmesan for vegan version
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: chicken
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approx. 1.5 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 140mg