Description
A one-pot meal featuring tender chicken and creamy orzo, 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, then place it in the slow cooker.
- Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, then pour in chicken broth.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours until the chicken is tender.
- Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces and return it to the slow cooker.
- Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and uncooked orzo pasta.
- Cover and cook on high for an additional 20-30 minutes until the orzo is tender and creamy.
- Stir in fresh spinach and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes until wilted.
- Serve hot with fresh basil or parsley on top, if desired.
Notes
For a dairy-free option, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk. For vegetarian, use mushrooms or chickpeas with vegetable broth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 300 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: slow cooker, chicken orzo, creamy pasta, Italian dinner, family meal