Description
This Best Orzo Dinner Recipe is creamy, comforting, and packed with flavor. Tender orzo pasta is cooked with garlic, herbs, and juicy chicken, then finished with spinach and Parmesan for a restaurant-quality dinner everyone will love 🍋🍝.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups orzo pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional for creaminess)
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté onion until soft, then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in orzo and toast for 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Stir in cooked chicken, cream (if using), spinach, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning.
- Cook until spinach is wilted and dish is creamy.
- Garnish with fresh herbs and serve warm.
Notes
🍋 Tip: Add lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness. Swap chicken for shrimp or mushrooms for an easy variation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: orzo dinner recipe, creamy orzo, easy orzo recipe, one pan orzo, chicken orzo