Description
This One Pot Chicken and Mushroom Orzo is a creamy, flavorful dish made with tender chicken, mushrooms, and orzo, all cooked in a single pot for easy cleanup. Perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight meal!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté the Chicken – Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the pot and set aside.
- Cook the Aromatics – In the same pot, melt butter and sauté the onion until translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add Mushrooms – Stir in the mushrooms and cook until softened and browned.
- Toast the Orzo – Add the orzo to the pot and stir, allowing it to lightly toast for a minute to enhance its flavor.
- Simmer – Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Let cook until the orzo is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Return the Chicken – Slice or shred the cooked chicken and return it to the pot.
- Make it Creamy – Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and fresh thyme. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
- Final Touches – Squeeze in a bit of lemon juice for brightness and garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve and Enjoy – Let the dish sit for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together
Notes
- Swap the Protein – Use shrimp, turkey, or tofu instead of chicken.
- Make it Dairy-Free – Substitute coconut cream for heavy cream and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- Add More Vegetables – Stir in spinach, peas, or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
- Spice it Up – Add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne for a bit of heat.
- Use a Different Pasta – Try small pasta shapes like ditalini or pearl couscous if orzo is unavailable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: one pot,stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: one-pot meal, chicken orzo, creamy orzo, easy dinner, mushroom orzo, quick weeknight meal, comfort food