Description

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Orzo is a delightful dish that combines the richness of creamy sauce with the robust flavors of sun-dried tomatoes and tender chicken. This dish is not only a feast for the eyes but also offers a scrumptious blend of textures—from the creamy sauce coating the pasta to the juicy chicken pieces nestled throughout.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound chicken breast tenderloins, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, roughly chopped
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
2 cup chicken stock
4 ounce fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Fresh parsley for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season your chicken pieces with paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Sear those morsels for about 3 minutes on each side until they develop a beautiful golden brown color. Once perfectly seared, remove them from the pan and set them aside.
In the same pan, add a splash of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté minced garlic and the chopped sun-dried tomatoes for about 2 minutes until they’re aromatic.
Add the uncooked orzo pasta to the sautéed ingredients and stir for about 2 minutes to toast it.
Pour in the chicken stock, scraping up any bits stuck at the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and let it simmer for 5-8 minutes.
Once the orzo is cooked, stir in the fresh spinach, allowing it to wilt for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the heavy cream, along with dried basil and red pepper flakes.
Nestle the seared chicken back into the pan, cover it, and let it simmer on low for 2-5 minutes until everything is heated through. Stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve topped with extra cheese and fresh parsley.

Notes

Consider adding vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini for additional flavors. For gluten-free options, swap orzo for gluten-free pasta or quinoa.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 450
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 800mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 80mg