Italian Chicken Orzo (One pot!)

Chicken Orzo bursting with Italian seasonings and vegges bathed in a creamy Parmesan tomato sauce.

This chicken and orzo recipe is on your table in just over 30 minutes and is made in one pot! Perfect for weeknight dinners or when you have guests coming over!

chicken orzo loaded with veggies in a gray bowl with a fork


 

Chicken Orzo Recipe

This Chicken Orzo recipe is one of those meals you crave long after your last bite.  Even though it is an easy one pot meal, it ranks right up there with my Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta, Italian Meatball Skillet, and Tortellini Al Forno, all of which require a few more steps.

Creamy Parmesan tomato-bathed orzo, juicy chicken, tender crisp vegetables and more freshly grated Parmesan.  I’m so in love.

And don’ t you just love it when you delectable cravings happen to be easy to make AND easy to clean up? That doesn’t happen often enough for me, except in the case of Slow Cooker Meals (I love you!), so I am extra giddy over this couldn’t-be-any-more-delicious Chicken Orzo recipe!

Italian chicken and orzo in a bowl with a fork sticking out.

Chicken and Orzo Ingredients

This Italian chicken dish comes together with minimal ingredients but delivers TONS of flavor. Here’s what you’ll need to make chicken and orzo:

  • Chicken: Needs to be chopped into bite-sized pieces.
  • Olive oil: Use a good quality olive oil for the best flavor.
  • Pesto: I used classic basil pesto, but any kind will work.
  • Veggies: Onions, carrots, zucchini, garlic, and bell pepper add flavor and texture to this dish.
  • Orzo: You’ll be adding uncooked orzo to this dish. Don’t worry, it’ll cook while the sauce simmers away.
  • Crushed tomatoes: Use plain crushed tomatoes. Don’t buy the kind with added herbs.
  • Chicken broth and chicken bouillon: Packs in lots of flavor. Use low-sodium chicken broth to control the amount of salt in the dish.
  • Herbs and spices: Oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper flavor this dish.
  • Parmesan cheese: Buy a block of Parm and grate it yourself for the best flavor.

What does Orzo Pasta taste like?

I have always loved the texture of orzo pasta. To me it tastes like creamy risotto when smothered in sauce, like in my Parmesan Meatballs and Orzo, and tastes more like a rice when not smothered in sauce, like in my Southwest Orzo Salad.  For this chicken orzo recipe, we want the risotto effect but without all the time or effort of traditional risotto, making it ideal for busy nights.

process shot showing how to make chicken and orzo in a skillet

How to make Chicken Orzo

I dressed up the orzo pasta by sauteing chicken, onion, carrots, zucchini and red bell peppers in a little pesto, then added orzo and a bath of seasoned crushed tomatoes and chicken broth.

After the orzo drinks up the heavenly flavors for just 8-12 minutes, you are left with a creamy tomato sauce that gets delishified with the addition of freshly grated Parmesan.  Always a good thing.

Hello, Italy.  Hello, no dishes. Hello, new favorite dinner!

process shot showing how to make chicken and orzo in a skillet

Tips for Making Chicken Orzo

  • You’re welcome to use your favorite veggies, such as mushrooms, asparagus, artichokes, zucchini, bell peppers, etc.
  • Only use freshly grated Parmesan as packaged cheeses do not melt very well.
  • If you omit the bouillon, increase salt to ½ teaspoon to compensate.

Recipe Variations to Try

  • Ground Italian sausage: you can swap the chicken for ground Italian Sausage. 
  • Shrimproasted shrimp or butter garlic shrimp would be fabulous.
  • Go vegetarian: omit the meat altogether and add tofu, chickpeas or white beans in its place.
  • Artichokes: are tender, slightly sweet and nutty and divine paired with tomatoes. Purchase artichoke hearts in water NOT marinated. The marinated ones often have an acrid taste.
overhead view of Italian chicken and orzo in a skillet

CAN I PREP Chicken and Orzo IN ADVANCE? 

You can make this one-pot chicken recipe 100% ahead of time and gently warm (see instructions) or prepare elements in advance so it can come together super quickly at dinner time. That being said, it already is a super quick meal!  If you know you are reheating, take extra care that your pasta is al dente.

To prep ahead:

  • Chicken: Slice and store in fridge.
  • Veggies:  Mince the garlic, chop the zucchini, onion, carrots, etc.
  • Cheese: Grate the Parmesan.

HOW TO STORE Chicken Orzo

This chicken and orzo pasta should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  When properly stored, it is good for up to five days.

ONE POT Italian Chicken and Orzo (and veggies!) in a creamy Parmesan tomato sauce on your table in almost 30 minutes and all made in one pot!

HOW TO REHEAT Chicken Orzo

This chicken and orzo reheats well so you can enjoy leftovers for days!  Just be aware you always want to make sure your orzo is cooked al dente, especially if you are going to be reheating. 

  • Microwave:   Microwave for one minute, stir, then continue to heat at 30 second intervals until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of milk to add some creaminess back.
  • Stove:  For larger portions, reheat pasta on the stove.  You may need to add a splash of milk to thin the sauce as it will have thickened in the refrigerator. 

CAN I FREEZE Chicken and Orzo?

I don’t recommend freezing this pasta dish since it’s packed with so many veggies. I’m not sure the veggies would freeze and reheat well (they might become grainy or watery).

serving of chicken orzo in a green bowl with a fork.

What to Serve with Chicken and Orzo

This Italian chicken dish pairs nicely with so many sides and salads! Here are some ideas to get you started:

serving of chicken and orzo in a bowl. A spoon is sticking out from the side.

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

ONE POT Italian Chicken and Orzo (and veggies!) in a creamy Parmesan tomato sauce on your table in almost 30 minutes and all made in one pot!

Italian Chicken and Orzo

Orzo Pasta bursting with Italian Chicken and vegges bathed in a creamy Parmesan tomato sauce on your table in just over 30 minutes and all made in one pot! 
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Total Time: 32 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes

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Ingredients

Garnish (optional)

  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large NONSTICK pan over medium high heat until very hot. Toss chicken with 1 tablespoon pesto and add to pan along with onions, carrots and zucchini. Sauté for three minutes then add red bell pepper, orzo and garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.
  • Stir in crushed tomatoes, 2 tablespoons pesto, chicken broth, chicken bouillon and seasonings. Bring to a simmer, cover and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 8-12 minutes, or until vegetables and orzo are tender, stirring every 5 minutes so the orzo doesn’t burn, covering pot after each stir.
  • Stir in Parmesan cheese. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Garnish with fresh Parmesan and parsley (optional).

Notes

*If you omit the bouillon, then increase salt to ½ teaspoon.

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102 Comments

  1. Kevin | Keviniscooking says

    I could eat this for breakfast, like right now. Dellish!
    Cheesy goodness and orzo in 30 minutes, my kinda meal. Thanks Jenn!

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Kevin! I’m a sucker for “real food” for breakfast too! I hope you are doing well!!

  2. Therese says

    Can’t wait to try this!!! Everything we’ve tried has been amazing!! Do you think this would freeze well?

    • Jen says

      You are too kind, thank you so much Therese!! I do think this would freeze well, butI think you will be surprised how quickly it goes! 🙂

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Natasha, it is really tasty! Thank you so much for pinning! Have a wonderful day!

  3. Therese says

    Thank you for the quick reply Jen! 🙂 I have no doubt this will go quick! I’ve had to double several of your amazing recipes the second go around. I figured I would just double it now and freeze one 🙂 Making it this weekend!

    • Jen says

      Awesome Therese, love hearing you have to double my recipes – now that is the ultimate compliment!! Have a great weekend!

  4. Meryll says

    This is the second recipe I’ve tried, and perfect again!! Right from the recipe, no alterations necessary. And healthy, too. I love hiding all of those vegetables in this amazing creamy sauce. Delish!

    • Jen says

      HI Meryll, I am so happy you found my site and are enjoying my recipes! Thank you so much! And I’m right there with you – vegetables in healthy creamy sauce is the way to go! I hope you have wonderful week and find more recipes to enjoy!

  5. Therese says

    Another delicious recipe!! What’s not to like about a one pot meal, lots of flavor, layers of different textures and yummy veggies! After trying several of your recipes what I like most beside how GOOD they ALL have been is that the instructions are simple and not a lot of steps. I do home daycare and the last thing I feel like doing at the end of the day is making a lengthy recipe. There hasn’t been anything we haven’t liked!!!! Including my daycare kids! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your gift with the rest of us. 🙂

    • Jen says

      Therese, thank you so much for making my day and showering me with compliments :)! I am so honored you are loving all my recipes and find them easy to follow as well. You are amazing to actually cook from scratch after a long day of daycare! I have no doubt you are a ray of sunshine in the lives of all those daycare kids!

  6. Wendy says

    Wow, this was amazing! I loved that it was one pot but more importantly, the creamy sauce was amazing! Going on the dinner rotation for sure!

    • Jen says

      YAY! I am so happy you loved this pasta so much Wendy! Thank you so much!

  7. Tara Riggi says

    Hi! Was wondering if your recipe would work with chicken thighs? And if so, would I need to change any of the directions? It looks great can’t wait to make it tonight for dinner! 🙂

    • Jen says

      Hi Tara! This would be delicious with chicken thighs and you wouldn’t have to change a thing! Enjoy!

  8. anne abraham says

    This was truly amazing. However, I found that it took a lot longer than 8-12 minutes to absorb the liquid. It took me about 20-25 minutes. ARe you supposed to drain the tomatoes? I did not so there was a lot of liquid. Also I didn’t use a frying pan, I used more of a wok type pan , so less surface area. Maybe that is why it took longer. However, your tip to stir every five minutes was a life saver because I didn’t use a non stick pan, so I really needed to stir. My husband loved it as much as I did. Such great flavor. Thank you. I can’t wait to try your other recipes.

    • Jen says

      Hi Anne, so happy both you and your husband loved this, thank you! No you don’t drain the tomatoes, so I’m not sure why it took that much longer to absorb the liquid – your guess of less surface using a wok pan is my best guess as well – sorry about that! I’m glad it still turned out though! I hope you find a lot more recipes to love here!

  9. Kristen says

    This looks fantastic! Did you start with cooked or uncooked chicken?? Thanks for sharing!!

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Kristen! You start with uncooked chicken which you cook in Step 1 with the onions, carrots and zucchini. I hope you love it!

  10. Layne says

    Another fantastic dish!! I loved that this was quick and bursting with flavor. Yum!

    • Jen says

      Yay Layne! Thank you so much making my recipes and commenting – I love it! So glad you liked this one too! xo

  11. Cari says

    Hi Jen, I seriously love your recipes! How, if at all, would the cook time change if I wanted to use whole wheat orzo? Thank you!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Carl, that is so nice of you! I would saute the ingredients in step 1 without the orzo then remove to a plate. I would then add the orzo and the ingredients listed in step 2 but NOT add the chicken, carrots, onions, zucchini (that you have removed to a plate) and cook the orzo according to package directions and then add the Step 1/plate ingredients back when there is about 12 minutes of cooking time left. I would also make sure to keep an eye on it as you might need to add more water. Hope this helps!

  12. Jess says

    Hi Jen this looks great! Silly quick question as I am new to making orzo..do you add the orzo uncooked or cook according to package and then add to the step? Thanks!

    • Jen says

      Hi Jess, not a sill question! You add the uncooked orzo and it will cook with the rest of the ingredients. Enjoy!

  13. Stasha says

    Hi Jen! This recipe is simply wonderful.Came out picture and taste-buds perfect! Such a simple, yet delicious recipe. As a student on a time-budget this is a life saver!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much or taking the time to comment Stasha! I love hearing that it came out “taste bud perfect 🙂 – what a wonderful compliment! I hope you can find more “time budget” recipes here to enjoy!

  14. Brenda says

    Made this for dinner tonight. Very easy to make and had a nice flavour. A little spicy for my husband, but he’ll get over it! lol. Kept to the recipe, except we omitted zucchini as we don’t like it. Would be happy to have this again. Thanks for a lovely recipe.

    • Jen says

      Thank you Brenda – love easy and flavorful and glad to hear you are helping your husband increase his spice tolerance 🙂 Thanks!

  15. Mrs G says

    Great recipe. I made it with gluten free pasta, which I cooked separately and I halved the chicken broth (I used my homemade bone broth). Really nice.

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much and I’m so glad you could adapt it and make it gluten free!

  16. Katy says

    This looks delicious and I can’t wait to make it! I did have a quick question, though…if I wanted to keep the same amount of chicken but cut the amount of orzo in half (need a higher protein meal, less carbs 🙂 ) would I just cut back on the amount of liquid I add or would have to half the recipe and just add in the extra cooked chicken once the orzo was cooked? Thanks!

    • Jen says

      Hi Katy, I would suggest halving the recipe (seasonings, liquid, etc.) and then adding in the more chicken or else I think the spices would be too much. Hope you enjoy it!

  17. Raquel says

    I love this dish and have made it at least four times this summer. However, the last few times, after simmering it I still have way too much liquid in the pan. Any tips?

    • Jen says

      Hi Raquel, I am so happy you are enjoying this recipe! As far as sometimes having liquid and sometimes not, I am wondering if it depends on the liquid vs/tomatoes in the crushed tomatoes and/or how low the simmer is. I would suggest starting with 1/4 cup less liquid then adding more as needed. Hope this helps!

  18. Trish says

    Planned on making this recipe tonight and just realized we forgot to buy the orzo! Would substituting rice work? Aborio rice or jasmine maybe?

    • Jen says

      Hi Trish, sorry I am just now seeing your comment! Without testing, I can’t say if rice would work or not as the liquid ratio is very important and took some testing to get right with the orzo. I would love to hear what you ended up doing and if it worked?

  19. Kath says

    This was so good! I didn’t have zucchini so I substituted mushrooms, otherwise I followed the recipe. Will definitely make this again!

    • Jen says

      Awesome! I am so happy you enjoyed it and your substitution of mushrooms sounds delicious!

  20. Simonne says

    I made this dish for lunch today and all I can say is it’s delicious and was a hit at home. In fact it was so tasty I’ve had to have seconds lol!
    Thanks so much for sharing your recipes! I look forward to trying some more new recipes.

    • Jen says

      Hi Simonne, welcome to my site! I am so happy this was such a hit, yay! I hope you have fun exploring my site and hopefully find some more family favorites!

  21. Maria Microulis says

    Just made this recipe, exactly as written, it was delicious! My husband and I both enjoyed it immensely. Thank you for posting it for us to try! Definitely a keeper!

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome Maria, I am so happy it is a keeper and both of you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to comment!

  22. Janet says

    I’d like to try this delicious looking dish this weekend! Just wondered – in the ingredient list it says “1 tspn. chicken bouillon – is that the dry powdered bouillon? Thank you!

    • Jen says

      Hi Janet! Yes, it is the dry powdered bouillon. Enjoy!

  23. Bonnie Starkes says

    I love this Italian chicken with tomatoes and orzo! I have doubled the recipe, froze some, and made it at leave a half dozen times since I found the recipe. My family loves it as well as my co-workers. Only thing I did different was leaving out the cheese at the end. I let people put it on themselves if they want it but its not my favorite. Thanks and would love to see more like this!!!!

    • Jen says

      Hi Bonnie, I am thrilled this is such a winner at your house and with your co-workers! That is good to know it freezes well too! When you say “more like this” – I am curious if you are wanting more chicken/orzo recipes or just more with this flavor profile? Thanks!

  24. kay says

    Cant wait to try this recipe, did you use basil pesto or tomato pesto?

    • Jen says

      great question! basil pesto 🙂

  25. Susan says

    Another one to add to the meal rotation! I didn’t add the bell pepper or onion because I do have some picky eaters in the house. But I think I could sneak some other veggies in the next time I make it. Thanks Jen!

    • Jen says

      Awesome Susan! I’m so happy this was another winner! Thank you!

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome Aimee, that is awesome your SIS in law made it – I’m so happy it was a hit! Thank you for taking the time to comment! xo

  26. Debbie & Family says

    Good Lord, this is SO delicious! I just made it to quickly reheat for dinner tonight (after a long day and a rainy soccer game, no one wants to wait 30 minutes). I have to confess, it was so good that I ate an entire serving for lunch and I’m still anxious to eat more for dinner. The chicken was super tender and moist (maybe because i used some brined breast I had left over from another dinner), but regardless, this was a giant flavor bomb! Thank you so much! I was in a cooking rut, but now I’m going to see what other delights are part of this site. Great job!

    • Jen says

      That is awesome Debbie! I am thrilled you love it so much and it leaves you craving more 🙂 I hope you continue to find new recipes that make you excited about cooking!

    • Jen says

      Awesome Emily, so happy it was a hit with everyone! Thank you so much!

  27. Sarah says

    So good!!!!!!!! I crave this now! Thanks!

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome Sarah! I’m thrilled its “crave worthy!”

  28. Nichole says

    Are we starting with uncooked chicken? Or cooked?

  29. Sarah says

    My husband and I LOVE this recipe!! It is a regular on our meal schedule. Thank you for the fantastic recipe!! It 110% delicious and easy!

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome Sarah! I am so pleased it is a family favorite!

  30. Ritu Dewan says

    Just finished making this. It’s got such well balanced flavor. So so good. Thank you for sharing your recipes. Oh yes. And an added bonus -the house smells divine. ❤️

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome Ritu! Thanks for taking the time to comment, I’m so pleased you loved it so much!

  31. Tasha says

    I’m not sure if I’m not doin something right.. I’ve made a few times each time is delish.. mine just turns out a little more soupy than i’d like. Any tips? Maybe reducing my chicken stock amount? Thanks for the great recipes! Def a keeper!

    • Jen says

      Hi Tasha, yes, you can definitely reduce the chicken broth if it is still soupy – that should do the trick!

  32. Melody says

    Think pasta sauce will work instead of crushed tomatoes?

    • Jen says

      It should be fine – it will just make it more “saucy” 🙂

  33. Laurie Miller says

    Hi Jen! Can this be made a day ahead? I’m making it for dinner tomorrow night, but wondered if I couldn’t do it tonight and then re-heat when I get home from work.

    I’m so looking forward to it! Thanks!

    • Jen says

      Hi Laurie, it can definitely be made ahead of time, just make sure not to overcook the orzo because it will be reheated. Enjoy!

      • Laurie says

        Hi Jen, I made this tonight and it was so easy and sooooooo delicious! My husband and I are both taking leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Thank you so much! I’m now two for two with your recipes…I’m thinking that the Po’ Boy Shrimp pasta salad might be next!!

        • Jen says

          Welcome to my site Laurie! Yay for two for two! I’m so glad you loved this orzo pasta and I hope you continue to find new favorites. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

  34. Molly Bollier says

    Excellent! A new favorite!

  35. Kelly says

    The flavors in the dish were amazing! My grocery was out of orzo, so I used Arborio rice. Because of this, I had to rearrange the order of ingredients a bit. I coated my chicken breasts in pesto and baked them in the oven. I sautéd all the veggies in oil with an added tablespoon of butter. I added a cup and a half of Arborio rice and fully coated it in the oil/butter. In a separate pot, I heated the tomatoes, pesto, 4 cups of broth (needed extra to plump that rice) and seasonings. Then I added the liquid to the rice/veggie mixture one ladle full at a time, waiting 2 minutes between each ladle to give the rice a chance to absorb the liquid. I diced my cooked chicken breasts and added it to the finished dish, along with the cheese. It was very yummy as a risotto dish, but preparation clearly wasn’t fast haha. Looking forward to making again once orzo is restocked!

    • Jen says

      Thank you for your awesome comment Kelly and for sharing how you were able to make this with Arborio rice! It sounds delicious but hopefully, like you said, you can get your hands on orzo soon for the easier/quicker version!

  36. Rebecca says

    Hi! Cooking newbie here. I’d like to try this but with shrimp instead..since shrimp cools faster should I add it at a different point instead of at the beginning? Thank you!

    • Jen says

      Hi Rebecca, I would cook the shrimp separately first for the best flavor and then just add it back in at the very end. Enjoy!

  37. Jennifer Kieschnick says

    Made this recipe tonight! Made a few tweaks: used Italian sausage and ground beef instead of chicken — it’s what I had thawed out; added cubed butternut squash because it was on sale at the grocery store and sounded good; left out the tomatoes because I didn’t have the Italian kind, but the kind for chili; and I also omitted most of the seasoning on accident (I was doing too many things at once!) I just added salt, pepper, pesto, garlic, and the powdered bullion. It turned out great! My inlaws raise and process all their own beef and pork, so the quality is exceptional and the freshness is unmatched. Makes such a difference in the flavor!

    I’m so glad I found your website! Looks like you have lots of amazing recipes to try! 🙂

    • Jen says

      Welcome to my site Jennifer! I’m so happy you were able to make this Italian orzo your own – sausage and butternut squash sound amazing! I hope you have fun exploring my site and find many new favorites!

  38. Anna says

    Is the chicken cooked BEFORE you add everything to the pan, or is it raw chicken that cooks with the veggies?

    • Jen says

      Hi Anna, the chicken is raw and you cook it with the onions, carrots and zucchini. Enjoy!

  39. Mark says

    This is one of our go to recipes, absolutely fantastic, love how simple it is and the fact it’s one pot is great. We mix up the veg and have increased the spice but we love it.

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Mark, I love hearing it’s a repeat family favorite!

  40. Dianne says

    Loved this so much, thanks for all the flavor bombs you have introduced me to

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome Dianne, thanks for making my recipes!

  41. Michelle says

    Can you omit the pesto?

  42. Lindsey Iannello says

    Hi! What type of pesto did you use?

    • Jen says

      My favorite is Rao’s Brand, enjoy!

  43. Katie says

    Hi can this be done in the slow cooker?

    • Jen says

      You could cook all of the ingredients in the SC except the orzo. Enjoy!

  44. Alicia says

    Made this for dinner tonight , very tasty. My family loves it. Very easy to make. It’s a keeper!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much, Alicia! I am so happy it’s a keeper! Thank you for commenting!

  45. Kris says

    You should give proper credit to Better Homes and Gardens, where the recipe was first published. You have copied this word for word, with no changes… commonly called plagerism.

    • Jen says

      Hi Kris! I’m sure there are similar recipes for this dish out there, but this is my original recipe. I took a look at the Better Homes and Gardens recipe, and there are distinct differences and flavors between the two! Thanks for drawing this to my attention though, I hope this clears things up:)

  46. Brae says

    I absolutely love this dish! I’m wondering if you have (even approximate) nutritional info for it, specifically calories per serving and servings per batch. I scanned for this information and didn’t see it, but sorry if it’s already there and I missed it!

    Thanks!

  47. Kathy says

    This was yummy!! Love a one pot meal! My daughter and I enjoyed it very much!!

    • Jen says

      One pot meals are the best! I’m so glad that you both loved it!