This irresistible Marry Me Chicken Orzo is creamy, cozy, and one of the most delicious dinners you can make in a single pan! Golden pan-seared chicken is served over tender orzo that soaks up every bit of flavor in the rich, creamy Tuscan-style sauce with garlic, parmesan and sun-dried tomatoes.
Want To Save This Recipe For Later?
I'll email it right to you. Plus you’ll get delicious new recipes from me each week!
It’s truly a 5-star dinner packed with everything you need to keep you full and satisfied, plus it comes together in no time, with minimal cleanup afterward.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I received so many comments raving about my Marry Me Chicken recipe, so I created this orzo dish that has those same addictive flavors. Marry Me Chicken Orzo is like if your favorite comfort meal could get even more comfortable. It kinda makes you wonder why you would ever make anything else for dinner!
What I Love:
- I only have to clean one pan after I’m done cooking! That’s a win in my book.
- It serves well with so many of my favorite side dishes.
- The orzo is the perfect base to soak up that rich and creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.
- Impressive enough to serve to guests but also easy enough to make on a typical weekday night.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This is a discussion about the ingredients. For the actual recipe with amounts, please see the recipe below.
- Chicken Breasts – You’ll want 2 large (about 1½ pounds total) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced horizontally into thin cutlets, then cut into 1½-inch pieces
- Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Italian Seasoning & Red Pepper Flakes
- All Purpose Flour
- Olive Oil – I prefer using an extra light version
- Garlic – Fresh minced is great, but jar garlic or frozen works as well.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes – You want to make sure they are packed in oil.
- Orzo – This is found with the other pastas
- Chicken Broth – I recommend using a low sodium version
- Heavy Cream – This really helps make the dish from both a flavor and texture standpoint. I would not recommend replacing it with anything else
- Baby Spinach
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
How To Make Marry Me Chicken Orzo
This is just a visual overview of how this recipe is made. For the actual recipe directions with full details, please see the recipe card below.
Step 1: Prepare and season chicken, then coat lightly with flour.
Step 2: Heat chicken in a skillet with olive oil until fully cooked, then remove.
Step 3: Sauté garlic, then add sun dried tomatoes, followed by dry orzo.
Step 4: Pour in chicken broth and cream, scraping up any browned bits.
Step 5: Cook, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender but hasn’t absorbed all the sauce.
Step 6: Stir in parmesan, red pepper flakes & spinach and finish cooking. Top with chicken and serve.
Christi’s Tips For Success!
- Slicing the chicken into thinner cutlets before cutting into pieces ensures even cooking and better browning.
- Remove the orzo from heat while the sauce is slightly thinner than desired — it will continue thickening as it rests.
- For extra shine and visual appeal, drizzle a small spoonful of reserved sun-dried tomato oil over the chicken just before serving.
Storage Tips
This dish is best served immediately, but you can store tightly covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. I don’t recommend freezing this one as the orzo sort of breaks down and can become mushy after freezing and reheating.
Reheat leftovers gently with a splash of broth or cream to restore the creamy texture. You can reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stove.
More Chicken Recipes To Try
If you love a creamy chicken and pasta dish like this Marry Me Chicken Orzo, I think you’ll enjoy these recipes as well!
Marry Me Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced horizontally into thin cutlets, then cut into 1½-inch pieces)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced )
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil (drained and chopped )
- 1 cup orzo pasta* (measured dry )
- 2 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated )
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach (washed and fully dried)
- fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Add cubed chicken to a bowl or gallon storage bag. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and flour to the chicken. Toss until coated lightly, and tap off any excess.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once heated, add the prepared chicken in a single layer. Cook each side for 3-4 minutes without touching it until a golden brown crust forms. Remove from skillet, place on a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Bring the heat down to medium, then add the minced garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add in sun dried tomatoes and stir for another minute or two.
- Pour in the dry orzo and stir frequently to toast for about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir to combine and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Allow this to come to a gentle simmer, then cook uncovered for about 8-10 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and al dente.* The sauce should still be a bit thin at this point.
- Add in the parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes (optional), and spinach. Stir and cook for another minute or two until the cheese has melted, the spinach cooks down and the sauce thickens. If needed, add a splash of broth to smooth out the sauce.
- Spoon a serving of the creamy orzo on to a plate and top with prepared chicken that was set aside. Serve hot with a garnish of fresh basil and more parmesan. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Want To Save This Recipe For Later?
I’ll email it right to you. Plus you’ll get delicious new recipes from me each week!
Meet Christi, Love From The Oven
I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.
