Chicken and Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half
- ½ chicken bouillon cube
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon EACH: onion powder
garlic powder, parsley
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
- Salt/Pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- ⅓ cup dry white wine
see notes
- 3 cloves garlic
minced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- ¾ lb. orzo
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Directions
- 1
Note: You may choose to make 1 lb. of orzo for this recipe, but I only use ¾ lb. as the orzo absorbs a lot of sauce once it’s added to it. The pictures shown here are what ¾ lb. ends up looking like.
- 2
Combine the sauce ingredients in a large measuring cup with a spout and set aside. Measure out remaining ingredients before beginning.
- 3
Cover the chicken with saran wrap and use a meat mallet to tenderize each side. Cut it into strips and pat it dry. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- 4
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden and cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side. Set aside.
- 5
As you continue with the following steps, bring a large pot of water to a boil for the orzo. Once a boil is reached, stir in some salt. (I use ½ tablespoon Kosher salt.)
- 6
Meanwhile, add the wine to the same skillet used to cook the chicken and set the heat to medium. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom and sides of the skillet, this will add more flavor to the sauce. Simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes.
- 7
Add the butter and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the flour and stir continuously for 2 minutes.
- 8
Add the sauce mixture (from step 1) in small splashes, stirring continuously. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover partially while you boil the orzo.
- 9
Cook the orzo 1 minute less then what's noted on the package instructions. Add the broccoli to the boiling pasta water during the last 3 minutes. Drain once cooked.
- 10
Gradually sprinkle in the cheddar and Parmesan cheese into the sauce until combined.
- 11
Add the broccoli and the cooked orzo. (It will seem like a LOT of sauce, fear not!) Stir to combine and heat through for 1-2 minutes. The orzo will continue to absorb more and more sauce. Slide a silicone spatula along the bottom of the skillet to lift any that may settle at the bottom.
- 12
Continue to cook until the sauce is reduced and the orzo is cooked through. Add the chicken and cover to heat through, then serve!
Chicken and Orzo
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Based on 17 ratings