I have recently come to love and appreciate orzo. So much so that I am going to buy the bulk, and I mean BULK container next time. It is such a simple pasta to add to soups, pasta salad, main dishes, side dishes, etc. It is very versatile. The size of rice makes it cook quickly. I just love it. I also LOVE sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. So this recipe is a win for me. Soooo tasty with most of the Italian flavors I crave. Mmmm…. If you love those things too you should definitely give this quick easy Creamy Italian Orzo with Chicken recipe a try. If you are just needing a delicious side dish simply leave out the chicken.

Ingredients
  • 1 lb chicken breasts, boiled and shredded
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or oil from the sun-dried tomatoes (for extra flavor)
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup dried orzo pasta
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach or 1/2-1 cup frozen baby spinach
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil or 1-2 tsp dried basil, to taste
  • salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Boil, cool and shred chicken.
  2. In a skillet over medium-high heat add oil, butter and onion. Sauté until onion is translucent.
  3. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and orzo. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. This will infuse the orzo with the flavors.
  4. Add broth and cream. Once it starts to bubble turn heat down to medium and cook approximately 10 minutes stirring often.
  5. Once the pasta is done take the skillet off the heat and stir in spinach, parmesan and basil. Cover and let set for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened up just a bit.
  6. Toss the chicken in and season with salt and pepper.
  7. Enjoy!