Description
Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy, comforting one-pan meal featuring tender chicken breasts baked with garlic, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and orzo pasta in a flavorful sauce. This easy-to-make dish combines seared chicken and a luscious, cheesy orzo bake, finished with fresh basil for a vibrant touch. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce and Orzo
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup orzo
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F to prepare for baking the chicken and orzo together.
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly on both sides with salt and black pepper to taste, ensuring they are well-flavored.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear them for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. This locks in flavor and creates a nice crust.
- Remove Chicken: Take the seared chicken out of the skillet and set it aside temporarily.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet with the remaining oil and chicken juices, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not burnt.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, and orzo pasta into the skillet.
- Combine and Simmer: Stir the ingredients well to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer on the stovetop, allowing flavors to meld slightly.
- Return Chicken to Skillet: Nestle the seared chicken breasts back into the orzo mixture, partially submerging them in the sauce.
- Bake: Transfer the entire oven-proof skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked through and the orzo is tender.
- Garnish: Remove from oven and sprinkle fresh chopped basil over the chicken and orzo for a burst of fresh flavor and color.
- Serve: Serve the dish hot right from the skillet and enjoy the creamy, cheesy comfort of Marry Me Chicken Orzo.
Notes
- Use an oven-proof skillet or cast iron pan to easily transfer from stovetop to oven.
- Cherry tomatoes add a fresh, sweet acidity balancing the creamy sauce. Substitute grape tomatoes if needed.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper after baking to taste.
- Parmesan can be substituted with Pecorino Romano for a sharper flavor.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but sauce may be less rich.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days; reheat gently to avoid drying the chicken.
