Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo is an easy weeknight meal. This creamy dish comes together in one pan for minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time40 minutesmins
Total Time45 minutesmins
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2tablespoonsolive oil
1poundboneless skinless chicken breast
2tablespoonsCajun seasoningdivided
1small white onion
2bell peppers diced
2clovesgarlic
2cupsdried orzo pastaone pound box
3cupschicken stock
1cuphalf and half
1/2cupParmesan cheese freshly grated
4ouncesfresh baby spinach
1teaspoonkosher salt or to taste
Instructions
Prep the ingredients. Dice the onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Grate the Parmesan cheese. Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.
1 small white onion, 2 bell peppers diced, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the chicken pieces. Stir in one tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté for a few minutes. Add the minced garlic and the orzo to the pan and stir for 2-3 minutes to toast the orzo.
2 cups dried orzo pasta
Add the chicken stock and pieces to the pan and bring them to a low simmer. Reduce to medium heat, and let the orzo simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes until almost all the chicken stock is absorbed. Stir it frequently.
3 cups chicken stock
Add the half-and-half. Cook another few minutes, stirring frequently, until the orzo is al dente. If it is still not cooked enough, add a little extra water or chicken stock.
1 cup half and half
Reduce to low heat, and stir in the fresh-grated Parmesan cheese and spinach.
4 ounces fresh baby spinach
Taste the orzo and finish seasoning to taste. Add additional Cajun seasoning if desired. Add salt if needed. Some cajun seasoning blends already contain salt, so you may not need any.
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Garnish with some fresh parsley, and serve!
Notes
When cutting your chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, cut it uniformly so it cooks evenly.
Start with a tablespoon of Cajun seasoning and add extra to the finished dish after tasting it. It is easy to add more, but impossible to remove if you are overly generous.
Orzo is a great pasta shape for one-pot meals because it cooks quickly. You can substitute another small pasta shape, like elbows. Check the pasta package and adjust the cooking time if needed.
When reheating, a splash of water or a dab of butter will bring back the creamy texture. Just warm it over low heat and stir until it's just right.