Description
Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a comforting one-pot dish featuring tender chicken breast cooked with sun-dried tomatoes, aromatic spices, and creamy sauce, combined with orzo pasta and fresh spinach for a flavorful, easy-to-make meal perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 650 g (1.4 lb) Chicken breast (about 4 pieces), Skinless and boneless, chopped
- 1 tbsp Olive oil or oil from sun-dried tomatoes jar
- 3 Garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 170 g (6 oz) Sun-dried tomatoes (in oil), drained
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 2 tsp Paprika
Orzo and Liquids
- 250 g (9 oz) Orzo
- 650 ml (2.75 cups) Hot chicken stock
- 150 ml (0.75 cups) Double cream
Finishing Ingredients
- 50 g (2 oz) Parmesan, grated
- 120 g (4 oz) Spinach
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: In a large, deep frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add the chopped chicken pieces. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until all sides begin to brown and the chicken starts to colour.
- Add aromatics and spices: Reduce the heat to low and add the crushed garlic, drained sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and paprika. Stir the mixture for 3-5 minutes until the garlic softens and the spices become fragrant.
- Add orzo and stock: Stir in the orzo pasta, hot chicken stock, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is nearly cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Add spinach and cream: Lower the heat to the lowest setting. Add the spinach and double cream to the pan. Stir very well and cook for 1-3 minutes until the spinach has wilted and the cream is heated through. Check that the chicken is fully cooked at this stage.
- Finish with parmesan: Turn off the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the dish is creamy and well combined. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Chicken: You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs if preferred, but increase cooking time slightly to ensure thorough cooking.
- Stock/liquid: If the orzo is not fully cooked and the liquid is gone, add a splash of water or extra chicken stock to continue cooking until tender.
- Double Cream: Heavy cream can be used as a substitute for double cream. For fluid ounces, use approximately 5 fl oz.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 790 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 776 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.02 g
- Carbohydrates: 67 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 56 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
