Name: One Pot Chicken Orzo
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cubed); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided); ½ cup diced yellow onion; 2 cups chopped fresh asparagus; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 8 ounces dry orzo; 2 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth; 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme); ⅓ cup half and half (or milk); ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan; 2 cups fresh spinach; Chopped parsley for garnish

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One Pot Chicken Orzo: The Cozy Dinner You Didn’t Know You Needed

Ever stared into your fridge like it’s a black hole and thought, “What am I even gonna make?” Yeah, we’ve all been there. This is the dish that saves you from the chaos. One pot, tons of flavor, and basically no cleanup. 🙌

Main dish photo — *The finished dish — looks amazing, right?*

Okay, Let’s Talk Ingredients

So, first thing’s first—shopping! You need to grab:

– 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or tenders, whatever you find!)
– Garlic powder—just a teaspoon
– Salt (¼ teaspoon) & black pepper (½ teaspoon)
– Red pepper flakes (that’s ½ teaspoon)
– Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
– A yellow onion (just get a medium one, chop it up)
– 2 cups of fresh asparagus (or whatever veggies you have lying around)
– A tablespoon of minced garlic (that’s about 3 cloves, but honestly, who’s counting?)
– 8 ounces dry orzo (it’s pasta, but tiny)
– Low sodium chicken broth (2 ½ cups, please)
– Fresh thyme (2 sprigs! But dried is fine in a pinch)
– ⅓ cup half and half (or milk, if you’re feeling fancy)
– ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan (yes, please!)
– 2 cups fresh spinach (because, health)
– And don’t forget the parsley for garnish—gotta make it look cute!

So Here’s Why I Make This Constantly

Okay, picture this: it’s a rainy Tuesday, you’ve had a long day, and suddenly the fridge is a void of “nothing.” I stumbled upon this recipe during one of those moments. I threw everything together, and OMG—it was like a warm hug in a bowl. 🥹 My kids were like little vacuums, devouring it! Now, it’s a staple in our house. Plus, it’s super easy to adjust based on what’s in my fridge.

I mean, once I even added broccoli because it was about to go bad. No biggie. It turned out amazing!

(Another beautiful shot because we can’t get enough!)

Another beautiful angle of the dish — *Just as gorgeous from this angle too!*

The One Trick That Changes Everything

Alright, listen up—don’t skip toasting the orzo. It takes, like, 3 minutes, but it totally makes a difference! You just toss it in with the garlic until it’s slightly golden. This little step adds nutty flavor that’s a total game-changer. Seriously, you’ll thank me later.

Don’t Mess This Up (My Top Tips)

1. Check the chicken: If you’ve got thick pieces, they might need more time. Just poke it with a fork and make sure it’s not pink. Nobody wants food poisoning, right?

2. Don’t overcook the asparagus! You want it crisp-tender, not soggy. Aim for about 2 minutes max.

3. Stir, but don’t overdo it: You wanna scrape the bottom to get all those flavors but don’t be too wild about it.

4. Microwave your broth before adding—seriously, it speeds things up and keeps the whole thing simmering nicely, so no one’s waiting forever.

How to Keep Them From Disappearing (Or, How to Store Them)

So, if by some miracle you have leftovers (which, let’s be honest, is rare), just pop it into an airtight container and stash it in the fridge. It lasts about 3-4 days. When you reheat, add a splash of broth or water to revive that creamy goodness.

If You Liked This, You’ll Probably Like These Too

Okay, so if this jazzes you up, you might also love my:

– Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta (easy and so comforting!)
– One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken & Veggies (literally no mess!)
– Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Shells (for when you feel a bit fancy)

Alright, what’s your go-to recipe when you’re in a pinch? Let’s swap ideas! 🍽️

One Pot Chicken Orzo

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One Pot Chicken Orzo is a delightful, creamy dish that brings together tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and al dente orzo in a single pot for effortless cooking. This quick and healthy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, offering rich flavors without the hassle of multiple pans. In just 45 minutes, you can enjoy a comforting meal that warms the heart and satisfies the palate.

Author: XXXXX
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: Serves 4
Category: Main Course
Method: Cooking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cubed)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
½ cup diced yellow onion
2 cups chopped fresh asparagus
1 tablespoon minced garlic
8 ounces dry orzo
2 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
2 sprigs fresh thyme (or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme)
⅓ cup half and half (or milk)
⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan
2 cups fresh spinach
Chopped parsley for garnish

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Instructions

In a bowl, mix chicken with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned (10-12 minutes). Remove and set aside.
In the same pan, add remaining olive oil and sauté asparagus for 2 minutes. Set aside with chicken.
Sauté onion in the pan until softened (about 3 minutes). Add orzo and minced garlic; toast for another 3 minutes.
Pour in chicken broth and simmer while stirring occasionally for about 7 minutes until liquid is mostly absorbed.
Stir in cooked chicken, asparagus, half and half, parmesan, spinach, and thyme. Heat through until spinach wilts (1-2 minutes).
Serve immediately topped with parsley and extra parmesan.