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marry me chicken orzo in a bowl
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Marry Me Chicken Orzo

Marry me chicken orzo is packed with bursts of flavor like sundried tomatoes, garlic, parmesan, and fresh basil. It's a one-pan 30-minute meal!
Course Chicken Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword marry me chicken recipes, quick and easy chicken recipes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 746kcal
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons oil from sun dried tomatoes jar
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/3 cup shallots, minced
  • 1 heaping tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • pinch sugar
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 (15 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, including juice
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained
  • 3 cups cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup basil,  julienned
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat the oil (2 tablespoons) in a 12-inch skillet with a tight-fitting lid, from the sundried tomatoes and butter (1 tablespoon) over medium heat. Add shallots (1/3 cup) and sauté, stirring often, until translucent. Stir in the garlic (1 heaping tablespoon) and continue to cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
    Step 2 how to make one pan marry me chicken orzo, Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant.
  • Stir in orzo (1 cup), tomato paste (1 1/2 tablespoons), Italian seasoning (3 teaspoons), salt (1/2 teaspoon), pepper (1/2 teaspoon), pinch of sugar, then continue to cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
    Step 3 how to make marry me creamy chicken orzo, Stir in the orzo, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and a pinch of sugar.
  • Add the wine (1/2 cup) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, stir in the chicken broth (1 can), whipping cream (1 cup), diced tomatoes (1 can), and sun-dried tomatoes (1/2 cup), and simmer gently, uncovered, to allow the pasta to cook. (We don't want the liquid to evaporate before the pasta cooks.)
    Step 5 how to make one pan marry me chicken orzo, Add the wine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, stir in the chicken broth, whipping cream, diced tomatoes, and sun-dried tomatoes.
  • Stir in the cooked chicken (3 cups), Parmesan (1/2 cup), and basil (1/2 cup).
    Step 7 how to make Marry me chicken orzo, Stir in the cooked chicken, and basil.
  • Remove the skillet from the heat source, cover it, and let it sit until the sauce has thickened to your liking. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve!

Notes

  1. Cooking the Orzo: Watch the orzo as it cooks; it can quickly go from perfectly al dente to overcooked.
  2. Keep It Bright: Cut and add the julienned basil right before serving to preserve its fresh flavor and bright color.
  3. Let It Do It’s Thing: This tasty dish comes together quickly. Not much chopping is involved. The trick is to be patient and let each ingredient fully incorporate into the dish. Using pre-cooked roasted chicken is definitely a shortcut that will cut down on prep time.
  4. Up The Nutritional Ante: If you like, add a couple of large handfuls of fresh spinach during Step 4. It will wilt when heated.  Stir and incorporate. A little more veggie is always a good choice!
  5. Make It Creamier: When the recipe is complete, feel free to adjust the creaminess by adding more cream. Add it slowly, just a little at a time, so you don’t inadvertently make it soup.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 746kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 886mg | Potassium: 1572mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1835IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 273mg | Iron: 6mg