Creamy chicken orzo is a comforting, one pan meal that's ready in 30 minutes or less. Shredded rotisserie chicken, veggies, and orzo pasta are coated in a creamy, savory sauce.
If you love one pan meals like my cheesy chicken broccoli orzo and creamy chicken and mushroom skillet, you'll want to give this recipe a try.
Creamy chicken orzo has a savory, comforting flavor reminiscent of a classic chicken noodle soup. It's filled with mild, savory notes thanks to the mirepoix base (made with onion, carrot, and celery), chicken broth, and thyme.
The entire recipe comes together in a single sauté pan on the stove top. The best part? It can be ready in 30 minutes or less thanks to the help of a shredded rotisserie chicken.
Creamy chicken orzo is comforting, hearty, and flavorful - sure to be hit with the whole family! Perfect for weeknight dinners or anytime you're looking for a filling and warming comfort meal.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Olive oil - Can be substituted with any cooking oil you have on hand.
- Onion, carrot, and celery - These three vegetables create a mirepoix, which is a savory flavor base. I don't recommend omitting these three ingredients. To save on prep time, chop your veggies a day or two ahead, or use a frozen mirepoix blend.
- Garlic - Adds flavor to your skillet meal. If needed, two cloves of garlic can be substituted with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Add garlic powder along with the other seasoning.
- Broth - I highly recommend using a standard chicken broth (not low sodium) for best flavor. If you must substitute with a low or no sodium broth for health reasons, I recommend adding additional herbs, like thyme, oregano, parsley, and/or a bay leaf.
- Orzo - Orzo is a tiny pasta that's shaped like rice. Orzo can be substituted with other small pasta like ditalini or small elbow macaroni if needed. Use the same amount of pasta by weight (gram measurements are included in the recipe card).
- Seasoning - Salt, pepper, and dried thyme add a mild, savory flavor to your skillet meal. Thyme can be substituted with an Italian seasoning blend if desired.
- Heavy cream - Can be substituted with half & half if needed. I don't recommend using milk because your sauce will turn out thin.
- Chicken - One shredded rotisserie chicken can be substituted with about 16 ounces of any cooked, lightly seasoned chicken.
Tips and tricks
If you've never made a pasta skillet meal before, here are a few of my favorite tips for success:
- To make dinner prep easier at night, chop your veggies a day or two ahead of time. Chopped onions, carrot, and celery will keep for several days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
- Use regular chicken broth, not low/no sodium. Much of the savory flavor in this dish comes from the chicken broth. If you need to use low or no sodium broth for health reasons, consider adding extra dried herbs like thyme, oregano, and parsley.
- It is important to properly measure your liquids and pasta for this recipe. Everything is cooked in a single pan, so you'll need an exact amount of liquid to cook the pasta. Too little pasta or too much liquid will result in a runny sauce.
- If substituting orzo for another pasta, use the weight measurements listed in the recipe card. Orzo can be measured in a dry measuring cup because it's small and compact. Larger pasta sizes aren't measured easily using cups and need to be measured by weight instead.
- Your sauce will look a little thin when you're done cooking. Allow the pan to sit for 5 minutes, uncovered and undisturbed, before serving. The pasta continues to absorb liquid as it stands, which helps thicken the sauce.
What to serve with chicken orzo
Chicken orzo makes a great meal on its own - simply serve it in a bowl and enjoy. If you'd like to add another side or two, which can help stretch this meal further, here are a few of my favorites:
- Freezer garlic bread
- Strawberry walnut salad
- Buttery stovetop biscuits
- Roasted potatoes and carrots
- Parmesan roasted frozen broccoli
- Cheese stuffed biscuits
Leftovers
Leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Creamy chicken orzo reheats well in the microwave or in a pot over medium-low heat on the stove top.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Creamy Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 celery rib, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 18 ounces (510 g) chicken broth
- 1 cup (200 g) orzo, uncooked
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup (113 g) heavy cream
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded, bones and skin discarded
Instructions
- In a sauté pan over medium heat, add olive oil. When hot, add diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.
- Add chicken broth, orzo, thyme, salt, and pepper to pan, stirring to incorporate. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook according to your pasta's package directions for al dente pasta (for example, Barilla brand pasta cooks for 9 minutes). Remove lid.
- Add heavy cream and stir to incorporate. Add shredded chicken and stir to incorporate.
- Remove pan from heat and allow to set, undisturbed, for 5 minutes. This allows the sauce to thicken.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
- Rotisserie chicken can be substituted with about 16 ounces of cooked, lightly seasoned chicken.
- If using a low or no sodium broth, you'll want to add more herbs to make up for the lost flavor, like thyme, oregano, Italian seasoning blend, or a bay leaf.
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