Creamy Italian Chicken and Orzo
A delicious and comforting creamy Italian chicken and orzo dish made in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts chicken breasts
- 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1.5 cups orzo pasta
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 medium white or yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 0.5 cup shaved or finely shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 garnish freshly cracked black pepper and herbs such as thyme or parsley
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper on both sides. In a large nonstick skillet, cook the chicken over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes on each side until browned.
- Place the browned chicken in a greased slow cooker. Add the chicken broth, melted butter, mushrooms, onions, garlic, the remaining Italian seasoning, and additional salt and pepper.
- Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in the orzo, cover, and cook for another 30-45 minutes on high, until the orzo is tender.
- Uncover the slow cooker and use a fork or tongs to remove the chicken. Stir the contents of the slow cooker, then return the chicken on top of the orzo mixture.
- Sprinkle the parmesan cheese over the chicken. Cover and cook until the cheese is melted, about 5-10 minutes.
- Garnish with freshly cracked black pepper and herbs, if desired. Enjoy your creamy Italian chicken and orzo!
Notes
If you prefer a firmer texture for the orzo, you can cook it separately according to package instructions and stir it in just before serving.