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Creamy Chicken Orzo Recipe with Spinach and Parmesan
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Diet: General
Description
This Creamy Chicken Orzo with Spinach and Parmesan is a comforting and easy weeknight main course. It combines lean chicken, tiny orzo pasta, fresh spinach, and rich Parmesan cheese for a flavorful, healthy, and family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 1.5 cups orzo pasta
- 5–6 oz fresh spinach
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 1 small onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients: Dice 1.5 lbs chicken, chop 1 onion, mince 3 cloves garlic. Measure broth and cream.
- Brown Chicken: Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high. Add chicken; cook 5-7 minutes until lightly browned. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Saute Aromatics: Add onion to the skillet; cook 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Cook Orzo: Pour in 3 cups broth and bring to a simmer. Add 1.5 cups orzo; cook 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until al dente and liquid is mostly absorbed. (Add 1-2 Tbsp extra broth if it looks dry).
- Creamy Finish: Reduce heat to low. Stir in 0.5 cup heavy cream and cooked chicken. Mix until heated through, about 2-3 minutes.
- Wilt Spinach: Add 5-6 oz fresh spinach in batches, stirring quickly until just wilted, 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan: Remove from heat. Stir in 0.5 cup grated Parmesan until melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Season to taste. (Avoid adding Parmesan over high heat to prevent clumping).
Notes
For a lighter sauce, use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream. Prep chicken and vegetables earlier in the day to make dinner even faster. Avoid adding Parmesan over high heat to prevent clumping. For a heartier meal, stir in some cooked cannellini beans.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (350 g)
- Calories: 580 calories
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
Keywords: easy dinner, weeknight meal, creamy chicken, orzo, spinach, parmesan, skillet meal, family friendly, comfort food, healthy chicken
