You are going to fall in love with this new recipe! This Creamy Marry Me Chicken Orzo has basic ingredients that make this dish the perfect date night meal that might just get you a marriage proposal at your very own dinner table! This variation of the marry me chicken recipe is also the perfect meal for busy weeknights!
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It is one of my top chicken recipes with an absolute dreamy and creamy sauce! This could be your next holiday dinner idea because it is a One-Pan Recipe that is so easy to make for a big crowd! Not to mention the prep time is only 10 minutes!
If you love creamy chicken recipes, you will love my marry me chicken pasta, Creamier Carbonara, Fettucine Alfredo & Shrimp Linguine!
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Ingredients for Creamy Marry Me Chicken Orzo
- Chicken thighs
- Red bell pepper
- Medium Yellow onion
- Fresh Garlic
- Tomato Paste
- Sundried tomatoes
- Heavy cream
- Chicken stock
- Orzo
- Pork lard or vegetable oil of choice
- Garlic powder, paprika powder & red pepper flakes
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- Parsley
- Parmesan Cheese
Optional: Fresh Spinach
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions for Creamy Marry Me Chicken Orzo
Sear the Chicken & Set Aside.
Sauté Vegetables & Create the Sauce.
Add uncooked Orzo and Simmer.
Add Seasonings & Garnish with Parsley.
Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the diced chicken thighs with garlic powder, paprika powder, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Marinating overnight is recommended, but optional.
Sear the Chicken: Heat the pork lard or vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken thighs to the hot pan and cook for about 7 minutes or until golden brown.
Transfer the cooked chicken to a separate bowl, keeping the oil at the bottom of the pan.
Sauté Vegetables: In the same pan, add the diced red pepper, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Sauté over low-medium heat until softened, about 7 minutes.
Stir in the tomato paste and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
Create the Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken stock, then return the cooked chicken thighs to the pan.
Season with additional garlic powder, paprika powder, chili flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
Add uncooked Orzo and Simmer: Stir in the orzo and let everything simmer together for 8-10 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked to your desired tenderness and the sauce has thickened slightly.
Serve: Once the orzo is cooked, remove from heat. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper and chopped parsley if desired.
Let it cool off for 4-5 minutes before serving, enjoy!
Substitutions for Creamy Marry Me Chicken Orzo (One-Pan Recipe)
Chicken Thighs: Substitute chicken thighs with diced chicken breast, turkey breast, tender chicken breasts, tofu for a vegetarian option, or peeled and deveined shrimp.
Red Bell Pepper: Replace red bell pepper with yellow, orange, or green bell peppers, or even poblano peppers for a milder flavor.
Medium Yellow Onion: Swap with white onions, sweet onions, shallots, or red onions for a different taste profile.
Fresh Garlic: In place of fresh garlic, consider using garlic powder, garlic paste, or minced garlic in oil, adjusting quantities accordingly.
Tomato Paste: Substitute tomato paste with tomato sauce, tomato puree, crushed tomatoes, or even a touch of ketchup for a hint of sweetness.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Replace sun-dried tomatoes with fresh diced tomatoes, canned diced tomatoes (drained), tomato pesto, or chopped roasted red peppers.
Heavy Cream: Use half-and-half, evaporated milk, coconut cream for a dairy-free option, or cashew cream for a dairy-free and vegan alternative if heavy cream isn't available. You can also add a couple cups of chicken broth!
Chicken Stock: Swap with vegetable stock, beef stock, mushroom stock for a vegetarian dish, or even water with bouillon cubes or powder.
Orzo: Instead of orzo, try using rice (such as long-grain white rice or jasmine rice), couscous, quinoa, or any type of pasta like penne or farfalle.
Pork Lard or Vegetable Oil of Choice: Replace pork lard or vegetable oil with olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, or coconut oil for a subtle coconut flavor.
Garlic Powder, Paprika Powder & Chili Flakes: Substitutions for these spices include onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper for extra heat, or an Italian seasoning blend.
Salt and Black Pepper to Taste: Try seasoned salt, kosher salt, white pepper, lemon pepper seasoning, or a Cajun seasoning blend for a different flavor profile.
Parsley: Consider using cilantro, basil, chives, or green onions as alternatives to parsley.
Equipment
Mixing Bowl
Storage for Creamy Marry Me Chicken Orzo
To store, cool dish, then refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
For reheating, microwave in intervals with a damp paper towel, or warm on stovetop in a saucepan. Add a splash of stock or water to prevent drying. Alternatively, bake covered in oven at 350°F for 15-20 mins.
P.S. This recipe tastes even better the next day if you add a little cream or splash of water when you reheat it!
3 Top Tips for Success
Marinate Efficiently: Marinate chicken with spices and oil, ideally overnight for enhanced flavor, but even a shorter marination time will work!
Controlled Heat: Ensure the pan is not too hot when sautéing vegetables to avoid burning; medium heat is ideal!
Orzo Timing: Add orzo towards the end of cooking to prevent it from becoming mushy; simmer until just tender for perfect texture!
FAQ's
A: To keep orzo from becoming mushy, cook it according to package instructions until it's al dente, typically around 8-10 minutes. Immediately drain and rinse the orzo under cold water to halt the cooking process and prevent further softening.
A: Rinsing orzo under cold water after cooking helps remove excess starch and prevent it from becoming mushy.
2 cups of water!
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Creamy Marry Me Chicken Orzo (One-Pan Recipe):
Creamy Marry Me Chicken Orzo (One-Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the diced chicken thighs with garlic powder, paprika powder, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Marinating overnight is recommended, but optional.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the pork lard or vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken thighs to the hot pan and cook for about 7 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer the cooked chicken to a separate bowl, keeping the oil at the bottom of the pan.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same pan, add the diced red pepper, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Sauté over low-medium heat until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
- Create the Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken stock, then return the cooked chicken thighs to the pan. Season with additional garlic powder, paprika powder, chili flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Add Orzo and Simmer: Stir in the orzo and let everything simmer together for 8-10 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked to your desired tenderness and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Serve: Once the orzo is cooked, remove from heat. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper and chopped parsley if desired. Let it cool off for 4-5 minutes before serving, enjoy!
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Katrina says
So I never comment on recipes but my husband sent me this one on Instagram and it’s my freakin favorite recipe ever!! Perfection!! This recipe needs to go straight to the top of the google search every time