Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy, flavorful dish that’s so irresistible, it’s rumored to inspire proposals! Tender, juicy chicken seared to golden perfection, then simmered in a rich, velvety sauce made with heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and parmesan cheese. We’re switching it up by serving this popular recipe with orzo pasta.
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Marry Me Chicken sounds like a fancy meal, but it’s a super simple weeknight dinner that can be ready to eat in just 30 minutes!
Usually, marry me chicken is whole chicken breasts simmered in a creamy sauce with sun dried tomatoes and spinach. It’s serve it over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
We’re chopping the chicken to help it cook faster and adding the orzo pasta for a full meal in one pan! I love a one pan dinner!
This dish is guaranteed to impress—whether you’re cooking for a date night or a cozy family dinner!
What you’ll need
Find the full, printable recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post. Read on for more details and tips!
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- A large pan– this is what I have and use all the time
- Chicken breast, or substitute thighs, keep in mind chicken thighs will cook faster
- Garlic cloves– I like freshly minced garlic in this dish. Sometimes the jarred garlic is ok, but if possible use fresh cloves
- Olive oil– to cook the chicken
- Seasonings- salt, pepper, Italian seasoning
- Sundried tomatoes in oil
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream– can use a plant based cream or lactose free
- Parmesan cheese– freshly shredded shredded, it melts better
- Spinach leaves
- Orzo pasta
- Juice of half of a lemon
What is Orzo
Orzo is a type of small pasta that resembles a grain of rice in shape and size, making it incredibly versatile in a variety of dishes. Despite its appearance, orzo is made from durum wheat, just like other pastas, and is used in many dishes.
How to make it
To a large pan add the olive oil over medium high heat. Add in the cubed chicken. Season the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
Cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 5-7 minutes.
Then ,add in the garlic, sundried tomatoes and orzo. Cook 1 minute to toast the orzo, stirring occasionally.
Pour in the chicken broth. Push the orzo down into the broth. Cover the pan and simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the orzo is tender, stirring every couple of minutes so the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom.
When the orzo is tender and most of the liquid had been absorbed, sprinkle in the parmesan cheese, spinach and pour in the heavy cream. Stir until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts.
Add more salt and pepper as needed. Squeeze the lemon over the dish.
Serve warm with extra parmesan cheese.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @StephGigliotti on social media and #StephRealLife. I would absolutely love to see your finished dish! Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section.
Tips
- Can I substitute the heavy cream? You can use half-and-half or a non-dairy alternative like coconut cream, but the sauce may be slightly less rich. Greek yogurt or cream cheese can also work for a tangier flavor.
- Can I make it gluten-free? The recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as your chicken broth and sun-dried tomatoes don’t contain any hidden gluten. Use gluten-free orzo or any small pasta.
- How do I thicken the sauce? If the sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few extra minutes uncovered to reduce. You can also whisk in a small amount of cornstarch mixed with water for quick thickening, if necessary.
- How do I store leftovers? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat, adding a little broth or cream to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Can I freeze Marry Me Chicken? Yes, the dish freezes well. Allow it to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2–3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently. I love these Souper Cubes for freezing.
Weeknight dinners
- Chicken a La King
- Prosciutto Tortellini
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
- BLT Pasta with Chicken
- Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaves
- Stuffed Pepper Pasta
- Chicken and Waffles Casserole
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Marry Me Chicken Orzo
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken breast cut into cubes
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes in oil drained
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 cup orzo
- Juice of half of a lemon
Instructions
- To a large pan add the olive oil over medium high heat. Add in the cubed chicken. Season the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 5-7 minutes.
- Then ,add in the garlic, sundried tomatoes and orzo. Cook 1 minute to toast the orzo, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in the chicken broth. Push the orzo down into the broth. Cover the pan and simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the orzo is tender, stirring every couple of minutes so the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom.
- When the orzo is tender and most of the liquid had been absorbed, sprinkle in the parmesan cheese, spinach and pour in the heavy cream. Stir until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts.
- Add more salt and pepper as needed. Squeeze the lemon over the dish.
- Serve warm with extra parmesan cheese.
