Creamy rooster orzo is a fast and straightforward weeknight meal that takes simply half-hour and also you solely want one pan. This comforting recipe options numerous veggies (cherry tomatoes and spinach) in a super-flavorful creamy sauce made with basil pesto. Make this easy restaurant-quality rooster dinner at residence – and it’d turn out to be a brand new household favourite for busy weekdays!
One-pan creamy rooster orzo
If you happen to’re seeking to up your recreation with rooster dinners, this vibrant and colourful one-pot recipe is a must-try. Though this tasty creamy rooster orzo takes solely half-hour to make, it makes a lovely presentation and tastes like one thing you’d order at a fine-dining Italian restaurant. It is a successful combo of elements: skinless boneless rooster breasts, orzo pasta, cherry tomatoes, spinach, basil pesto, garlic, and cream. Juicy and tender rooster (seared with olive oil, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning) is smothered in a luscious cream sauce made with basil pesto. If you happen to love 30-minute one-pan rooster recipes comparable to this one, do not miss rooster gnocchi with spinach and mushrooms in addition to this straightforward garlic butter rooster with zucchini and corn.
Why you may adore it
- Full of veggies. This cozy and comforting rooster orzo is filled with veggies, comparable to cherry tomatoes and spinach. You’ll be able to even double the quantity of veggies and add some other veggies you’re keen on!
- Tremendous-flavorful. Basil pesto mixed with cream makes a scrumptious sauce for orzo. Selfmade basil pesto is at all times the perfect, however the store-bought type works, too.
- Minimal cleanup. Every part is cooked in a single pan (use a high-sided, heavy-bottomed giant skillet), even the orzo!
The elements
- Rooster. I used skinless boneless rooster breasts sliced into strips. You may also use skinless boneless rooster thighs.
- Orzo. Orzo is an Italian pasta that appears like long-grain rice.
- Spinach. I exploit recent spinach and wilted it proper within the skillet with orzo. You may also use frozen spinach – thawed and drained of any liquid. Or, use kale or arugula as an alternative.
- Cherry tomatoes. Slice cherry tomatoes in half. You may also use common tomatoes.
- Garlic. I used recent minced garlic. It provides aroma and pungency.
- Heavy cream provides creaminess and richness to the rooster orzo. You’ll be able to lighten it up by utilizing half-and-half as an alternative.
- Basil pesto – use store-bought type or make basil pesto from scratch.
- Olive oil is used for searing the rooster.
- Rooster broth is added to prepare dinner the orzo. You may also use vegetable or beef broth (or inventory). Or, merely use water.
- Seasonings embody smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, purple pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
Cooking ideas
- It is an ideal recipe for utilizing up leftover rooster! Throw leftover cooked rooster or shredded rooster along with the creamy orzo, warmth it by, and serve! Rotisserie rooster is one other “shortcut” ingredient.
- The sauce will thicken as this dish cools. On this case, add a splash of heavy cream, half-and-half, milk, or rooster broth to skinny it out earlier than serving.
- Use a high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet comparable to a cast-iron skillet or a good-quality stainless-steel pan. This can assist keep away from the burn spots and can guarantee even cooking with out meals getting caught to the underside of the pan.
- Make this recipe gluten-free by utilizing orzo clearly labeled as “gluten-free”.
What’s orzo?
Orzo is a short-cut pasta resembling long-grain rice in form. It’s made out of flour, like traditional pasta. Usually, orzo is made with semolina (durum wheat used for making pasta).
What sort of orzo to make use of?
I desire the form of orzo that’s bigger in dimension. On this recipe, I used orzo by Delallo model, Quantity 65 minimize.
How one can prepare dinner orzo?
Prepare dinner orzo in a 1:2 ratio (1 cup of orzo with 2 cups of rooster inventory or water) for about 10 minutes on simmer. You might need so as to add a small quantity of liquid on the finish if the orzo just isn’t cooked to your liking.
What sort of rooster to make use of?
- Skinless, boneless rooster breast. That is what I used on this recipe. Slice them into thinner strips.
- Skinless, boneless rooster thighs are actually juicy and forgiving to prepare dinner. They’ll work nice with creamy orzo.
- Rooster tenderloins or tenders. Rooster tenders are tender, and small, and can prepare dinner equally to thinly sliced rooster breasts.
- Cooked rotisserie rooster is a good possibility, too.
Are you able to make it dairy-free?
- Use unsweetened coconut milk with out making any modifications to this recipe.
- Cashew milk is one other nice possibility because it has a thicker consistency.
- Oat milk or almond milk ought to work too – you’ll most likely have to cut back the quantity by half as these types of dairy-free milk have a thinner consistency, so progressively add them to the orzo in a lot smaller quantities than what the recipe requires.
Variations, substitutions, and add-ins
- Use totally different proteins. You’ll be able to simply add different proteins to this recipe, comparable to sausage, shrimp, scallops, or salmon. You’ll be able to even use steak strips with this creamy orzo.
- Use extra veggies. This consists of sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, kale, arugula, asparagus, or bell peppers.
- Add cheese. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan, Asiago, Gruyere, or Pecorino Romano cheese on high of the creamy rooster orzo.
- Add pine nuts as a topping. Since basil pesto is often made with pine nuts, it is solely logical to make use of entire pine nuts as a topping for this rooster orzo! They’ll add a nutty taste and a pleasant crunch! I wish to toast pine nuts briefly (and punctiliously!) within the oven for a good richer taste.
- Add different toppings, comparable to recent herbs (basil, thyme, or oregano), chopped inexperienced onions, or chopped chives.
- Make it spicy. Purple pepper flakes will add warmth. Use these sparingly, to style, in order that they do not overwhelm the dish.
Storage and reheating ideas
- Fridge. Retailer creamy rooster orzo in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. I don’t suggest freezing this dish.
- Reheat within the microwave oven. Reheat the refrigerated leftovers in a microwave oven for about 1 minute. Style and reheat for 30 seconds extra, if wanted.
- Reheat on the stovetop. Reheat this dish in a big, high-sided skillet on the stovetop on low-medium warmth. When utilizing this technique, add a small quantity of heavy cream, half-and-half, or milk to skinny out the sauce when reheating.
What to serve with rooster orzo
Different orzo recipes you would possibly like
This scrumptious rice-shaped pasta works nicely for one-pan recipes as a result of the orzo is so small that it may be simply cooked in the identical pan as the remainder of the elements. Orzo additionally pairs with any form of protein, comparable to shrimp or rooster, and is a good ingredient for easy-to-make weeknight dinners. Listed here are a few of my favorites:
Rooster Orzo (30-Minutes, One-Pan)
Creamy rooster orzo is a fast and straightforward weeknight meal that takes simply half-hour and also you solely want one pan. This comforting recipe options numerous veggies (cherry tomatoes and spinach) in a super-flavorful creamy sauce made with basil pesto. Make this easy restaurant-quality rooster dinner at residence – and it’d turn out to be a brand new household favourite for busy weekdays!
Substances
Rooster
- 1.5 lb rooster breasts skinless, boneless
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and freshly floor black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Orzo
- 1 cup orzo raw
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 10 oz cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 2 cups rooster inventory
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 oz recent spinach
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup basil pesto
Directions
Sear rooster
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Slice rooster breasts into thinner strips. Generously season the rooster with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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Warmth a big, high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium warmth. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add rooster. Prepare dinner the rooster on medium warmth for about 3 minutes per aspect. Take away rooster to a plate.
Prepare dinner orzo
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To the identical, now empty, skillet, add 1 cup of raw orzo, 5 cloves of minced garlic, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Prepare dinner the orzo on medium warmth, stirring, for about 2 minutes till browned.
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Add 2 cups of rooster inventory, half of the cherry tomatoes, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Carry to a boil, then cut back to a simmer and prepare dinner for about 5 or 10 minutes, often stirring to forestall the orzo from sticking to the underside of the pan, till the orzo is cooked by.
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Add spinach and the remaining cherry tomatoes. Stir the whole lot on low-medium warmth till the spinach wilts.
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Add heavy cream and basil pesto to the skillet with orzo and veggies and stir to mix. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
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Return the rooster to the skillet. Enable the rooster to simmer within the sauce to warmth by and till the rooster is totally cooked by.
Vitamin
Vitamin Info
Rooster Orzo (30-Minutes, One-Pan)
Quantity per Serving
% Each day Worth*
* P.c Each day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie eating regimen.
The dietary info on this web site is just an estimate and is offered for comfort and as a courtesy solely. The accuracy of the dietary info for any recipe on this web site just isn’t assured. It shouldn’t be used as an alternative to knowledgeable nutritionist’s recommendation.
