Description
This Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Orzo is a rich and flavorful one-pan dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection, smothered in a luscious sauce made with heavy cream, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese. Paired with tender baby spinach and perfectly cooked orzo pasta, this comforting Italian-inspired recipe is quick and easy to prepare, perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Pasta
- 1 cup orzo pasta
Vegetables and Herbs
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano and basil)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for about 6-8 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Create the Sauce: Pour the heavy cream into the skillet, scraping the bottom to loosen any browned bits left from the chicken. Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and the dried Italian herbs (oregano and basil).
- Add Spinach and Cheese: Add the baby spinach to the sauce and stir until the spinach is wilted. Then incorporate the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Combine with Orzo: Stir cooked orzo pasta into the skillet, adding a little reserved pasta water if needed, to help blend the sauce evenly and achieve a creamy consistency.
- Serve: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet to warm through if desired, then serve the creamy Tuscan chicken and orzo hot. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it tender and juicy.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but it will be less creamy.
- If you don’t have orzo, small pasta shapes like acini di pepe or ditalini can be used as alternatives.
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed.
- Sun-dried tomatoes add a tangy sweetness; ensure to chop them finely so they distribute well in the sauce.
