One Pot Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy chicken and sundried tomato pasta dish that is made in just 30 minutes! So good it could bring on proposals when served!
This is a family favorite for those super busy weeknights when you want to just throw something on the table but also have it be delicious. Marry Me Chicken Tortellini is one of my other go-to meals on a school night.
There's just something so comforting about a creamy, delicious bowl full of pasta. This works wonders on weeknights when you're short on time.
A quick meal that the whole family can enjoy! This dish is a combo of heart warming comfort and romantic vibes. Used for so many occasions!
Looking for something a bit lighter? Lemon Chicken Pasta is still creamy but has just a bit less sauce. Garlic Parmesan Pasta has loads of flavor without the cream.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It takes under 30 minutes to get this to the table, so it's perfect for busy weeknights. Another quick pasta for weeknights is fried spaghetti!
- It's easy! Without a large pot of boiling water to drain, even kids can easily make this dish.
- I promise the creamy sauce will delight even picky kids! This Marry me Chicken Orzo recipe is packed with flavor and light on prep.
Recipe Ingredients
- Orzo: Orzo is a very small pasta, shaped similarly to a grain of rice. I like orzo here, as it cooks quickly.
- Chicken: Boneless skinless breast or tenders taste great. Chicken thighs will work too.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes: I like sundried tomatoes in oil because you don't need to rehydrate them. Just drain well before adding to the pot.
- Spinach: Baby spinach leaves are perfect so there aren't any tough stems, just toss them right in.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream makes for a luxurious sauce. Heavy cream and whipping cream are the same thing.
- Parmesan: The classic taste of Parmesan will meld right into the sauce. Grate your own cheese from a block rather than buying pre-grated.
- Basil: Fresh basil leaves are a beautiful finishing touch to Marry me Chicken Orzo! My favorite addition to many pasta dishes, including Gigi Hadid Vodka Pasta.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions & Variations
- You can try using another small pasta such as risoni, ditalini, stelline, pastina, or acini de pepe.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs will work in place of chicken breast. Try chicken thighs in Chicken Shawarma!
- Baby kale can be used in place of spinach, though you might want to tear it smaller.
- Romano will also taste great in place of Parmesan.
- Little bits of steak would also taste great in this sauce, and of course doesn't need to be fully well done to safely enjoy.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
How To Make One Pan Marry Me Chicken Orzo
Step 1: Cut chicken and toss in seasoning in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Brown chicken in a hot pan with oil over medium-high heat.
Step 3: Stir in garlic, sundried tomatoes, and spinach to wilt.
Step 4: Stir in pasta to coat in oil.
Step 5: Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer then cover with a lid.
Step 6: After pasta is cooked, stir in Parmesan.
Step 7: Stir in cream and basil and remove from heat.
Step 8: Serve Marry Me Chicken Orzo immediately.
Expert Cooking Tips
- Taste test the bite of the pasta before stirring in the cheese. It might take more or less time than given.
- Try and dice your chicken uniformly so it all cooks evenly.
- Be sure to stir the bottom of the pot every couple minutes while orzo is cooking so it does not stick to the bottom.
- Allow pan to become very hot over medium-high heat before adding anything to it. Drizzle in the olive oil then give it a good 10 seconds before adding chicken. Getting your pan hot enough to sear meat is very important. This method is used when cooking reverse sear beef tenderloin as well as this wagyu burger recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Add the leftovers, cooled, to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Keep in mind that the sauce will soak into the orzo as it rests, so your dish won't be quite so saucy when reheated. You can microwave or heat gently on the stove, adding a splash of cream or chicken broth to loosen things up. The same reheating method used for Boursin Mashed Potatoes.
You can use boneless skinless thighs in Marry Me Chicken Orzo. Cube them and replace them just the same as chicken breast.
No boiling water required! We have enough chicken broth in this dish to soak into the pasta to cook it over medium heat. There is no draining required! Just stir a few times and keep the lid on to retain the steam. This will cook it through without any trouble.
Marry Me Chicken is the name of a chicken dish with a creamy sundried tomato and basil sauce. The name was coined claiming the dish was so good, you could marry the person who made it. Keep that in mind for your proposal dinner!
Risoni and orzo are basically the exact same thing. There is a slight size difference but the two are interchangeable. You'll likely have a much easier time finding orzo in the states rather than risoni but feel free to use either one in this Marry Me Chicken Orzo recipe.
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📖Recipe
Marry Me Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt diamond crystal
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme stemmed and rough chop
- ¼ teaspoon oregano dried
- drizzle olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 8½ oz julienne sundried tomatoes drained
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup orzo
- 3 cups chicken stock 5 tbsp. knorr liquid concentrate, 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt diamond crystal
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves torn
Instructions
- Heat a large skilled over medium heat until pan is very hot. Season chicken cubes with salt, pepper, fresh thyme and oregano then drizzle pan with olive oil
- Add chicken to skillet and allow to brown for several minutes. Stir chicken and continue cooking another 3-4 minutes
- Stir in garlic, sundried tomatoes and fresh spinach, stirring until spinach wilts
- Stir in orzo then pour in chicken stock and salt and give a good stir. Cover with a lid and cook 8-9 minutes at a simmer, stirring occasionally
- Once orzo is fully cooked, stir in heavy cream then parmesan cheese and finally basil leaves. Remove from heat and serve
Annie
The chicken orzo was absolutely delicious! The chicken and the flavors were rich and well-balanced. A comforting and satisfying recipe I’d happily make again!
Krista Stechman
This is a family favorite! My husband and girls eat this up every time I make it. It's super quick so it's a staple weeknight meal for us!