Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzo Recipe
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzo is a creamy, comforting one-pan meal featuring tender chicken breasts, tender broccoli florets, and orzo pasta cooked together in a flavorful garlic, broth, and milk sauce. Enriched with melted cheddar cheese and seasoned with paprika and red pepper flakes for a hint of heat, this dish is quick and easy to prepare, perfect for a weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Optional Garnishes:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra shredded cheese
- Crushed red pepper for spice
Instructions
- Heat Olive Oil: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering to prepare for cooking the chicken.
- Sauté Chicken: Add the diced chicken to the skillet and season with salt, black pepper, and paprika. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes until it is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Cook Orzo: Add the orzo pasta to the skillet and stir to coat it evenly in the garlic and oil. Cook for about 1 minute to lightly toast the pasta.
- Add Liquids: Pour in the chicken broth and milk, stirring well to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the liquid begins to thicken.
- Add Broccoli: Stir in the broccoli florets and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until the broccoli is tender but still bright green and the orzo is creamy.
- Melt the Cheese: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it fully melts and creates a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Return Chicken: Add the cooked chicken back into the skillet with the orzo and broccoli. Stir to combine everything evenly.
- Season to Taste: Adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if you want extra spice.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley and extra shredded cheese on top before serving the dish warm.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use 2% milk or a lower fat cheese.
- You can substitute broccoli with other vegetables like spinach or peas.
- Make sure not to overcook the broccoli to maintain its vibrant color and slight crunch.
- Use cooked rotisserie chicken for an even quicker preparation.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to control the level of heat according to your preference.
- Orzo can stick to the pan as it cooks; stir occasionally to prevent burning.
Keywords: Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzo, Chicken Orzo recipe, Creamy Orzo pasta, one-pan dinner, quick chicken dinner, broccoli pasta skillet
Find it online: https://chefmilacook.com/cheesy-chicken-broccoli-orzo-recipe/
