Marry Me Chicken & Orzo (one-skillet)

Marry Me Chicken and Orzo is an amazing one-pan dinner that can be prepared in just 25 minutes. Packed with flavors and textures, it’s truly comfort food and a crowd-pleaser. It’s so delicious that it deserves a regular spot in your meal rotation. Everyone is sure to love it!

A large skillet filled with bite-size pieces of cooked chicken mixed with orzo, spinach, and sun-dried cheese.

This recipe Chicken & Orzo for dinner (one-skillet)

Recently, we’ve seen this recipe for Marry Me Chicken & Orzo trending all over social media, and it’s the kind of meal we love to cook. Why? Well, it’s a perfect fit for us since we adore and create easy one-pot meals for dinner, especially under 30-minute meals.

Additionally, this dish is not only perfect for busy weeknights, but it also saves time by allowing you to cook everything in one skillet. (We love that!)

Besides, it is one of the easiest dinners you will ever prepare. And, it is nothing short but FABULOUS in every way. Flavor. Texture. And very satisfying!

Best of all? No special cooking skills are required to make it either. Just follow our simple steps below or you can jump down to the bottom of this page for our full instructions.

How to Make Marry Me Chicken & Orzo

For this recipe, you will need a few main ingredients, such as a package of skinless chicken cutlets, a container of broth (vegetable or chicken), and a jar of sun-dried tomatoes in oil.

Plus, you will need some fresh produce like fresh baby spinach, fresh basil, and garlic cloves. Then a few dried seasonings are needed, along with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and some olive oil – which goes without saying.

A white plate with skinless raw chicken cutlets, and the ingredients in white small bowls on the counter.

Ok, Let’s Make It!

Quick Instructions for Marry Me Chicken & Orzo:

Our full printable recipe is located at the bottom. But let’s go over the steps so you can understand what’s involved before you start.

  1. Prep the Chicken: Cut the cutlets into bite-size pieces. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Sauté In a Skillet: Sauté the garlic and chicken in a large, deep skillet.
  3. Cook The Chicken: Continue to cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked.
  4. Add Seasonings, Basil, and Sun-dried Tomatoes: Stir in the seasonings, fresh basil and sun-dried tomatoes.
A cutting board with raw chicken, cut into pieces. A stainless steel deep skillet cooking the chicken, and seasonings added.

5. Pour in the Broth and Bring it to a Boil.

6. Add the Orzo, and Cook until the Orzo is al-dente.

A large deep skillet filled with cooked chicken bites, broth is poured into the skillet, then orzo, cheese and spinach.

7. Turn off the Heat, and Stir in the Cheese.

8. Finally, Stir in the Spinach until it wilts… and Serve.

This recipe makes 4 hearty servings

  • This recipe Marry Me Chicken & Orzo is a hearty and satisfying meal on its own, and it will serve at least four servings, if not more.
  • You can easily double the ingredients and freeze any leftovers. This way, you’ll have dinner prepared for another night. Just thaw and reheat it in a skillet, adding additional broth to achieve a creamier texture. So yummy!
A skillet with cooked orzo pasta, chicken bites, wilted spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.

Pros Notes & Tips:

EQUIPMENT: For this recipe, you will need minimum equipment. All you will need is a large, 11-inch deep skillet with a cover, plus, a wooden spoon for stirring. A cutting board to cut the chicken into bite-size pieces, measuring spoons, and a measuring cup for liquids. That’s it!

THE CHEESE: We prefer to use grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, stirring it in at the end of cooking. The cheese melts, creating a creamy-smooth texture, and adding incredible flavor – (without adding any heavy cream).

THE BROTH: Keep in mind, the longer the chicken and orzo mixture sits in the skillet, it will continue to absorb all of the broth. And, if you prefer, you can add in a little more broth to the skillet to help loosen it, and especially when reheating.

MAKE IT AHEAD: You can make this dish ahead one day, after it cools, transfer it to a container and keep it chilled. Then transfer the chicken mixture to a large skillet to reheat over low heat, until it simmers. You will need to stir in some additional liquid, either broth or water and stir until the mixture is fully reheated.

Faq’s & Substitutions

  1. What if we don’t have cloves of garlic? No worries, you can toss in 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
  2. What if the orzo is still not cooked? Keep in mind, that each brand of orzo cooks differently. So, if the orzo is still not fully cooked, just add additional broth or water to the mixture and continue to simmer until the orzo is al-dente (or to your liking).
  3. Can we use other parts of the chicken? Yes, with this recipe, try using either chicken breasts or chicken tenders. Both will work very nicely.
  4. Can we increase the chicken in this recipe? Yes, you can increase the amount of chicken to your preference, for additional servings. Also, you may need additional broth when cooking, so have extra nearby.
  5. What gives it a creamy texture? To make any dish creamy, and without adding real cream, we always prefer to stir in grated parmesan cheese at the end. It melts well, and gives the final touch to any dish, making it creamy-smooth and delicious tasting.
  6. Can we make “the sauce” more creamy? If you prefer a creamier sauce, you can pour in 1/2 to 3/4 cup of heavy cream at the end, and simmer the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and reduces. Then serve.
Two white dinner plates with a fork, served with a mixture of orzo, chicken , spinach and cheese.

A Hearty Meal

This Marry Me Chicken & Orzo recipe is a keeper. It makes a delicious and hearty meal, and one the whole family will love. Try it – you won’t be disappointed.

Cheers and enjoy!

Under 30-Minute Dinners

Love this recipe for Marry Me Chicken & Orzo? Leave us stars and a comment below! Your comments help us and keep our site going so we can continue to give you Free recipes. Thank you again!

A skillet with cooked orzo pasta, chicken bites, wilted spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.

Marry Me Chicken & Orzo (one-skillet)

Yield: 4 to 5 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Marry Me Chicken and Orzo is an incredible one-skillet meal that you can prepare in just 25 minutes. It helps put dinner on the table in a snap! And, it's delicious, filling and a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

  • 1 to 1.5 pounds skinless chicken cutlets
  • 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves - diced
  • 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil - slightly drained
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary
  • 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2.5 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 cup dried orzo pasta
  • 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 large handfuls fresh spinach

Instructions

  1. First, rinse and drain the chicken cutlets. On a cutting board, cut each cutlet into bite-size pieces, about 1 or 2 inches thick. Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper.
  2. In a large, deep skillet, add the olive oil and toss in the garlic. Saute over moderate heat for 1 minute.
  3. Add the chicken pieces and cook on moderate heat, for about 3 to 4 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and all the seasonings. Next, pour in 2.5 cups of the broth, turn the heat high, and cover with a lid. Bring to a full boil.
  5. Open the lid, add the orzo, and follow the directions on the package. Cook the orzo until al dente, stirring occasionally, When the orzo is done, turn off the heat. Stir in the parmesan cheese, and the spinach. Stir until the spinach completely wilts. Taste, and adjust the salt to your taste. Then serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 servings Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 385Total Fat: 17.9gSaturated Fat: 5.2gCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 16.1gSugar: 2.7gProtein: 21g

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Have a Delicious Day! 🙂

thanks for stopping by…

xo anna and liz

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Welcome! From Anna and Liz

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