Description
Looking for a delicious dinner idea? Try this flavorful Chicken and Orzo recipe. Discover a tasty and simple meal to try tonight!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half
- ½ chicken bouillon cube
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon EACH: onion powder, garlic powder, parsley
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
- Salt/Pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- ⅓ cup dry chicken or vegetable broth
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- ¾ lb. orzo
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Note: You may choose to make 1 lb. of orzo for this recipe, but I only use ¾ lb. as the orzo absorbs a lot of sauce once it’s added to it. The pictures shown here are what ¾ lb. ends up looking like.
- Step 2: Combine the sauce ingredients in a large measuring cup with a spout and set aside. Measure out remaining ingredients before beginning.
- Step 3: Cover the chicken with saran wrap and use a meat mallet to tenderize each side. Cut it into strips and pat it dry. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Step 4: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden and cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side. Set aside.
- Step 5: As you continue with the following steps, bring a large pot of water to a boil for the orzo. Once a boil is reached, stir in some salt. (I use ½ tablespoon Kosher salt.).
- Step 6: Meanwhile, add the chicken or vegetable broth to the same skillet used to cook the chicken and set the heat to medium. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom and sides of the skillet, this will add more flavor to the sauce. Simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Step 7: Add the butter and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the flour and stir continuously for 2 minutes.
- Step 8: Add the sauce mixture (from step 1) in small splashes, stirring continuously. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover partially while you boil the orzo.
- Step 9: Cook the orzo 1 minute less than what’s noted on the package instructions. Add the broccoli to the boiling pasta water during the last 3 minutes. Drain once cooked.
- Step 10: Gradually sprinkle in the cheddar and Parmesan cheese into the sauce until combined.
- Step 11: Add the broccoli and the cooked orzo. (It will seem like a LOT of sauce, fear not!) Stir to combine and heat through for 1-2 minutes. The orzo will continue to absorb more and more sauce. Slide a silicone spatula along the bottom of the skillet to lift any that may settle at the bottom.
- Step 12: Add the chicken and stir to combine. Continue to cook until the sauce is reduced and the orzo is cooked through. Serve!
Notes
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Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg