Description
Indulge in the rich flavors of this Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Orzo, a delightful one-skillet meal that brings the essence of Mediterranean cuisine straight to your dinner table. This dish features tender chicken breasts seared to perfection, enveloped in a luscious creamy sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and orzo pasta. With its vibrant colors and comforting textures, it’s an excellent choice for both cozy weeknight dinners and elegant gatherings. Ready in just 35 minutes, this recipe is perfect for those who want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 4 small)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F/75°C internal temperature). Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add butter.
- Sauté minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add orzo to the skillet; cook for 1–2 minutes while stirring until lightly golden.
- Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and chicken broth into the skillet.
- Bring to a simmer; cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Pour in heavy cream; stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
- Add chopped spinach; stir until wilted.
- Return cooked chicken to the pan; spoon some sauce over the top.
- Simmer for an additional 2 minutes to heat through.
- Garnish with extra Parmesan if desired; serve warm.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 578
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 121mg