Tuscan Chicken Orzo (Printable)

Tender chicken and orzo pasta in a creamy, flavorful Italian sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach. Perfect weeknight dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
08 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
09 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped

→ Orzo & Sauce

10 - 1 cup orzo pasta
11 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 1 cup heavy cream
13 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh basil leaves for serving
16 - Extra Parmesan cheese for serving

# Directions:

01 - Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté until golden and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add onion and sauté for 2 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 additional minute.
05 - Add orzo and stir well to coat with oil and aromatics.
06 - Pour in chicken broth and stir, scraping up browned bits from pan. Reduce heat to medium-low.
07 - Add heavy cream and return cooked chicken to skillet. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes until orzo is tender and sauce thickens.
08 - Stir in Parmesan cheese and spinach. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until spinach wilts and cheese melts. Add splash of broth or water if sauce is too thick.
09 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired.
10 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means maximum flavor and minimum cleanup
  • The orzo soaks up all that luscious creamy sauce while it cooks, making each bite incredibly flavorful
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
  • The orzo continues absorbing liquid as it sits, so if you're not serving immediately, reserve a splash of broth to loosen it later
  • Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil are worth the extra cost compared to dry ones—the oil adds incredible flavor
  • Don't skip step where you toast the orzo in the pan, it prevents the pasta from becoming mushy
03 -
  • If your sauce looks broken or grainy, whisk in a tiny amount of cold water or cream off the heat
  • Leftovers keep for 3 days and actually taste better the next day as flavors meld
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