Description
A hearty and creamy slow cooker meal featuring chicken and orzo pasta, perfect for busy families.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (in oil, drained)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place in the slow cooker with minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and chicken broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and uncooked orzo pasta. Cover and cook on high for another 20-30 minutes until the orzo is tender and creamy. Toss in fresh spinach and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until it wilts.
- Serve hot and garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired.
Notes
This dish can be made ahead of time. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze portions for easy meals later on.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 300 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: slow cooker, creamy pasta, Tuscan chicken, family dinner, easy recipe