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    MJ & Hungryman » Recipes » Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

    Creamy Chicken Orzo

    By Min On March 15, 2023

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    Jump to Recipe
    cooked chicken orzo in a large pot.

    Cozy up with this creamy chicken orzo, a one pot wonder that the whole family will love! It's the perfect easy weeknight dinner.

    cooked chicken orzo in a large pot.

    Browse through my family meals and you will see that I am a huge fan of one pot meals. After becoming a mom, it's really the only type of cooking I have the time and energy for. Just dump everything into one pot, stir, and dinner is served!

    I love it so much that I even dedicated an entire cookbook to it!

    Right now, let's talk about orzo pasta, one of my family's most beloved pantry staples. It's just as versatile as rice, cooks up fast, and has a creamy, buttery texture that my kids especially adore!

    For this quick weeknight meal, orzo gets cooked alongside chicken and vegetables and simmered in a creamy sauce that will remind you of risotto (you have to try this quinoa risotto also!) or a very thick chicken noodle soup with pasta.

    Psst this Instant Pot Chicken and Noodles with frozen veggies is a must-try also!

    This one-pot meal is creamy, cozy, filling, and so delicious! A perfect meal for the entire family, including babies!

    50+ Quick and Healthy Family Meals

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Variations
    • Tips for Success
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage
    • More One Pot Pasta Dish
    • Creamy Chicken Orzo

    Ingredients

    All the ingredients laid out on a white background.

    I am highlighting just the ones that need further explanation. The complete list is in the recipe card below.

    • Orzo - although it looks like a rice, orzo is actually pasta!
    • Chicken breast - can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Cut into bite size pieces.
    • Vegetables - I like to use the onion, celery, and carrots but feel free to experiment with your favorite vegetables.
    • Cheese - We always have a block of cheddar cheese so that's what I'm using here but feel free to use any delicious cheese you prefer. Parmesan cheese, mozzarella, ricotta...all welcomed!

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    A four image collage showing how to make the orzo.
    1. Melt butter over medium heat in a dutch oven or large pot (I absolutely LOVE this one). Add chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes until almost cooked on all sides. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for 5-7 minutes, until softened and fragrant.
    2. Add Italian seasoning, chicken broth, and milk and bring to a boil.
    3. Add orzo. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes, or until orzo is soft and creamy. Be sure to stir frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
    4. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, lemon juice, freshly cracked black pepper, and fresh parsley if desired.

    Variations

    • Dairy-free? Use any dairy-free butter, milk, and cheese or nutritional yeast.
    • Vegetarian? You can use vegetable broth and instead of chicken, add a 15 ounce can of beans (I recommend white beans) along with broth and milk.

    Tips for Success

    A very close up shot of orzo to showcase its creaminess.
    • If you have some leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken, add it in step 3.
    • You shouldn't need it but if all the liquid gets absorbed before the orzo is done cooking, add an additional ½ cup of broth or water.
    • Be sure to stir occasionally so the orzo doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
    • Use good quality cheese and grate it yourself. It will melt better leaving you with ooey gooey yumminess in each bite.

    Serving Suggestions

    Toddler's plate with a small portion of orzo in a bowl, chopped parsley and lemon slice.

    This is a complete meal on its own but you can also serve alongside:

    • Moist cornbread
    • Broccoli
    • Roasted Frozen Brussels sprouts
    • Cooked Frozen green peas
    • Frozen green beans

    Storage

    Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. To reheat, microwave briefly or in a skillet with a little bit of liquid (water or broth).

    If intending to freeze some, set aside a portion without the cheese. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

    More One Pot Pasta Dish

    • A close up shot of cooked pasta twirled around a fork.
      Easy Thai Red Curry Pasta
    • A close up shot of scooped broccoli pasta.
      Creamy Broccoli Pasta (One Pot Meal)
    • Cooked pasta in a large dutch oven with fresh parsley and a large orange spatula
      Homemade Hamburger Helper
    • A close up shot of the dish.
      Instant Pot Chicken and Noodles

    Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!

    cooked chicken orzo in a large pot.

    Creamy Chicken Orzo

    Cozy up with this creamy chicken orzo, a one pot wonder that the whole family will love! It's the perfect easy weeknight dinner.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Equipment

    • Deep Pan

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablesoon butter
    • 1 pound chicken breasts or thigh,s cut into ½ inch pieces
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • 1 cup diced carrots (135g), about 2 medium carrots
    • 1 cup diced celery stalk (140g)
    • 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
    • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
    • 1 cup milk
    • 16 ounce orzo
    • ½ cup cheddar cheese (45g)
    • Toppings: Freshly squeezed lemon juice, fresh herbs like parsley, freshly cracked pepper

    Instructions

    • Melt butter over medium heat in a dutch oven or large pot. Add chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes until almost cooked on all sides.
    • Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for 5 minutes, until softened and fragrant.
    • Add Italian seasoning, chicken broth, and milk and bring to a boil.Add orzo. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes, or until orzo is soft and creamy.
    • Be sure to stir frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, lemon, and parsley if using.

    Notes

    • You shouldn't need it but if all the liquid gets absorbed before the orzo is done cooking, add an additional ½ cup of broth or water.
    • Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. To reheat, microwave briefly or in a skillet with a little bit of liquid (water or broth).
    • If intending to freeze some, set aside a portion without the cheese. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 9g | Fiber: 4g | Calcium: 167mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ketaki Tilak says

      July 05, 2023 at 3:31 pm

      5 stars
      Made it with Salmon today, it was baby's 1st time trying Salmon. Both my little one and 4 year old loved it. Perfect family meal.

      Reply
      • Min says

        July 06, 2023 at 11:52 am

        I'm so glad you guys enjoyed this meal!

        Reply
    2. Linnea says

      June 04, 2023 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight and it was so easy and quick to make and so delicious. I kept telling my husband, "this is so good!"

      Reply
      • Min says

        June 04, 2023 at 8:29 pm

        Aww yay!!!!

        Reply
    3. Jessica says

      April 20, 2023 at 5:15 pm

      Can you use small shell pasta instead of orzo? Your recipes are all delicious!

      Reply
      • Min says

        April 21, 2023 at 6:58 pm

        Hi! Yes about you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly and may need to add more liquid.

        Reply
    4. Sunshine says

      April 15, 2023 at 9:58 pm

      5 stars
      Another great recipe to add into our meal rotation. I didn’t have celery but used frozen peas and it was delicious. This recipe seems pretty fool proof! I added lemon pepper to my plate and it was great. Looking forward to leftovers tomorrow!

      Reply
      • Min says

        April 16, 2023 at 7:07 pm

        Yes I think so too! Highly customizable. And I love leftovers too. They taste better as the flavors meld together more

        Reply
    5. Desiree says

      March 26, 2023 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      This came out delicious!!!! Love the one pot concept and hate when the rice/pasta comes out undercooked but this was perfection!! I added extra cheese (cuz why not?!) but love that this can be omitted or a portion set aside for baby if needed. I did add a lot of salt and pepper, again love that I can set aside before doing so. And included juice from about a half of lemon, subtle lemon flavor was nice. All around a dish we will definitely make in the future. I think I may also try adding more veggies as well. Have you ever tried with zucchini or green beans or would these be too watery?

      Reply
      • Min says

        March 26, 2023 at 7:23 pm

        OH I'm so glad you enjoyed this dish so much! Yes lemon is a must in my opinion! And you can absolutely add whatever veggies you wish 🙂

        Reply

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    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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