Chicken Orzo Pasta
A flavorful chicken and orzo pasta dish with herbs and creamy sauce.
healthyeasy
egg-freenut-free
dinner
Prep
0
min
Cook
0
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
🥬Fresh Produce(3)
- 1 tsp each: dried basil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 Lemon
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 2lbs Boneless skinless Chicken breast
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- Butter, 1 tbsp
- 1/2 cup Fat Free heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese, 3-4 tbsp
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 2-3 cups broth (as needed) (480-720 ml)
- Olive oil, 1 tbsp
- 1.5 cup orzo pasta
🧂Spices & Seasonings(4)
- 1 tsp each: dried oregano
- 1 tsp each: garlic powder
- salt, pepper (to taste)
- 1 tsp each: smoked paprika
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
553
Protein
62g
Carbs
39g
Fat
15g
Fiber 2g·Sugar 3g·Sodium 861mg
👨🍳 Instructions
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pound chicken breasts to 0.75-inch uniform thickness before cooking to ensure even doneness in 12-14 minutes; thicker spots cook 25-30% slower due to exponential heat penetration.technique0.75-inch thickness, 12-14 minutes
- ✓Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 160-163°F (not 165°F) because carryover cooking will raise it to safe 165°F while retaining 15-20% more moisture than fully cooked meat.timing160-163°F target, carryover +5°F
- ✓Bloom your dried spices (oregano, basil, paprika, garlic powder) in the pan's residual oil for 30-45 seconds after searing chicken to activate volatile compounds and increase flavor intensity by 40-60%.technique30-45 seconds bloom time
- ✓Cook orzo to exactly 1 minute under package directions (typically 8 minutes instead of 9) since it will continue hydrating in the hot pan sauce, preventing mushy texture while maintaining al dente bite.timing1 minute under package time
- ✓Reserve 0.5 cup pasta cooking water (contains 2-3% starch) to emulsify with the 1 tbsp butter into a silky sauce that coats orzo evenly, as starch acts as a binder replacing cream.technique0.5 cup starchy water, 2-3% starch content
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Prep
0
min
Cook
0
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Be the first to rate
Share this recipe
Chicken Orzo Pasta
A flavorful chicken and orzo pasta dish with herbs and creamy sauce.
healthyeasy
egg-freenut-free
dinner
📝 Ingredients
🥬Fresh Produce(3)
- 1 tsp each: dried basil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 Lemon
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 2lbs Boneless skinless Chicken breast
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- Butter, 1 tbsp
- 1/2 cup Fat Free heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese, 3-4 tbsp
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 2-3 cups broth (as needed) (480-720 ml)
- Olive oil, 1 tbsp
- 1.5 cup orzo pasta
🧂Spices & Seasonings(4)
- 1 tsp each: dried oregano
- 1 tsp each: garlic powder
- salt, pepper (to taste)
- 1 tsp each: smoked paprika
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
553
Protein
62g
Carbs
39g
Fat
15g
Fiber 2g·Sugar 3g·Sodium 861mg
👨🍳 Instructions
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pound chicken breasts to 0.75-inch uniform thickness before cooking to ensure even doneness in 12-14 minutes; thicker spots cook 25-30% slower due to exponential heat penetration.technique0.75-inch thickness, 12-14 minutes
- ✓Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 160-163°F (not 165°F) because carryover cooking will raise it to safe 165°F while retaining 15-20% more moisture than fully cooked meat.timing160-163°F target, carryover +5°F
- ✓Bloom your dried spices (oregano, basil, paprika, garlic powder) in the pan's residual oil for 30-45 seconds after searing chicken to activate volatile compounds and increase flavor intensity by 40-60%.technique30-45 seconds bloom time
- ✓Cook orzo to exactly 1 minute under package directions (typically 8 minutes instead of 9) since it will continue hydrating in the hot pan sauce, preventing mushy texture while maintaining al dente bite.timing1 minute under package time
- ✓Reserve 0.5 cup pasta cooking water (contains 2-3% starch) to emulsify with the 1 tbsp butter into a silky sauce that coats orzo evenly, as starch acts as a binder replacing cream.technique0.5 cup starchy water, 2-3% starch content