Chicken Scampi and Orzo – tender flavor-packed chicken with sautéed red onion, bell peppers, and creamy orzo.
Chicken Scampi and Orzo
Inspired by the flavors in the Olive Garden Chicken Scampi dish, this chicken and orzo is loaded with flavor and veggies. I’m adding this to my collection of favorite one-pot orzo dishes, like my Cajun Sausage and Orzo and my Marry Me Shrimp and Orzo. Orzo is incredibly forgiving in one-pot meals. It can soak up any extra liquid by simmering a little longer. It just gets better and extra flavorful!
Ingredients for Chicken Scampi and Orzo
- Olive Oil – for browning chicken and sautéing onion, bell pepper, and garlic.
- Chicken Breast Tenderloins – chicken tenderloins are smaller than whole chicken breasts. I like using them in this recipe to simplify prep. However, thinly sliced chicken breasts or whole chicken breasts diced into large pieces can be used.
- Seasoning – kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and paprika.
- Red Onion – red onion for color and flavor, but yellow onion can be substituted.
- Bell Pepper – red, yellow, or even orange bell peppers are recommended.
- Garlic – freshly minced is recommended.
- Chicken Broth – use low-sodium chicken broth or reduced-sodium chicken bouillon mixed with water.
- Heavy Cream
- Parmesan Cheese – for best results, freshly shred parmesan cheese using a microplane.
- Baby Spinach – large stems removed.
- Parsley – for garnish.
How to Make Chicken Scampi and Orzo
- Season and lightly brown chicken.
- Sauté onions, bell peppers, and garlic, and deglaze pan.
- Cook chicken and orzo in covered pan until orzo is tender and chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in parmesan and baby spinach.
Recipe Tips
- Use chicken breast tenderloins, diced chicken breasts, or thinly sliced chicken breasts.
- Finely dice the onion and bell pepper to complement the shape of the orzo.
- When cooking the chicken and orzo together, adjust heat between low and medium-low as needed, depending the stove. A good rule of thumb is to use the same heat level as you do when cooking rice on the stovetop.
More Chicken Recipes to Try
- One-Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo
- Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken
- One-Pan Cheesy Chicken Rice and Broccoli
- One-Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Chicken Scampi and Orzo
A flavor-packed one pot meal with tender seasoned chicken and creamy orzo.
Servings: 4
Calories: 681kcal
Equipment
- 3.5 quart skillet or braiser
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/4 pound chicken breast tenderloins
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup bell pepper finely diced
- 1/2 cup red onion finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups orzo uncooked
- 1 cup parmesan cheese freshly shredded
- 2 cups baby spinach
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken all over with kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika. Heat olive oil over medium heat and brown chicken lightly on both sides. Set chicken aside to be added back in later step. Note: Chicken will not be cooked through at this point.
- Add bell pepper and onion to oil and cook until they start to soften, about five minutes. Add garlic to pan and cook for another minute. Increase heat to medium-high and stir in chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer.
- Once chicken broth mixture starts to simmer, stir in orzo and reduce heat to medium-low. Return chicken to pan and cover. Let simmer, covered, for 15 – 20 minutes or until orzo is tender and chicken is cooked through. Turn off heat and stir in parmesan cheese and baby spinach. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Top with fresh parsley and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 681kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 1225mg | Potassium: 1030mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2913IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 369mg | Iron: 3mg
5 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights
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