Next Post
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
This One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo is the perfect winter dinner…quick, easy, hearty, and delicious! Pan-seared Italian seasoned chicken breasts in a creamy sun-dried tomato and spinach sauce. Cooked together with orzo pasta for a complete dinner made in just ONE skillet. Truly one of those all-in-one dinners that everyone at the table will love. Great for a weeknight, but equally fancy enough to serve up at your next holiday dinner. You can’t go wrong with this warming skillet dinner.
It’s hard to believe that we’re entering the second week of December and are only just two and half weeks out from Christmas…and only three and half weeks from the New Year. Where is the time going!?
As I type this up I’m getting ready to take-off for NYC. By the time you all read this, I will be in the city. I have to say, I’m really excited for this trip, but equally excited to return home on Thursday, and finally be HOME for the remainder of the year. I know many of you travel for work weekly, but as you all know, I’m such a homebody at heart. So I’m excited to have some time to enjoy the remainder of December with my family. Anyone else in the same mindset?
With that in mind, I’m always looking for the easiest recipes this time of year. The days are incredibly short and things are busy between work and holiday prep. Quick and simple dinners that everyone at the dinner table will eat are what I strive to create.
Enter this skillet creamy sun-dried tomato chicken and orzo.
To make this all-in-one dinner…
Start with a skillet. I love using a cast iron skillet, but any oven-safe skillet or even dutch oven works great. You’ll want to season the chicken up with a few dried herbs and spices…oregano, paprika, and just a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Then sear the chicken until it’s golden.
PS. if you don’t have a cast iron skillet, check out the current Staub giveaway we’re hosting on Instagram!
Next up, remove the chicken from the skillet, add a bit of butter, plus some shallots, garlic, and orzo. I love toasting the dry orzo pasta in butter for additional flavor. The butter browns and the orzo takes on a delicious nutty flavor.
View this post on Instagram
Moving along, add a splash of white wine. Then add pretty much everything else. Cream, a little parmesan cheese, fresh spinach and of course sun-dried tomatoes. Slide the chicken right into the sauce, then transfer the whole skillet right to the oven. Bake for about ten to fifteen minutes…
And then? Dinner is done. Yes, this is that SIMPLE.
So how does it taste?
I know simple skillet dinners can get a bad rap for being boring, but this is anything but boring. The sauce is creamy, hinted with lemon, garlic, and just a touch buttery too. The orzo is perfectly cooked and has a little nutty flavor.
And the chicken has a wonderful herbed flavor with a bit of heat from the crushed red pepper. It’s everything you’d expect out of a multi-step recipe, but made all in one skillet…and all SO GOOD.
What I love most about this recipe is the fact that it’s a complete dinner all-in-one. You have your protein, your carbs, and even your vegetables. I can serve this up on busy weeknights, but it’s equally great for holiday dinners with friends and family. I’ll be remaking this as soon as I get home. My family members are slowly starting to make their way back to Colorado for Christmas, so this is going to be on repeat.
Looking for other one skillet dinner ideas…check out these.
If you make this one skillet creamy sun-dried tomato chicken and orzo be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo.
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 530 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or small thighs
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1/3 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained
- juice of 1 lemon
- fresh rosemary, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet set over medium-high heat. Rub the chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil, the oregano, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken. Sear on both sides until golden, about 3-5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet.3. To the same skillet, add the butter and shallot, cooking until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and orzo, cooking until lightly golden, 2-3 minutes. Add the wine and de-glaze the pan. Add 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, cook 3-5 minutes, then add the cream, mustard, parmesan, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes, stirring until the spinach has wilted. Slide the chicken and any juices left on the plate back into the skillet. Transfer to the oven and cook, uncovered for 10-15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.4. Serve the chicken topped with lemon juice and rosemary, if desired.
This post was originally published on December 9, 2019
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! EVERYONE AT THE TABLE LOVED THIS! My Uber picky 15 year old asked for this to be put on rotation!
Hey Alissia,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed!❄️ xTieghan
Huge fan of this dish!! Very easy to make and full of flavor
Hey Andrea,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed!❄️ xTieghan
If you use the small thighs do you keep the skin on or off? Thanks
Hi Sue,
It’s really up to you:) Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I make this every other week, if not every week. I love it so much – I make sure to always have the ingredients on hand. I’ve subbed kale for spinach and it was great. Wondering if I should try subbing shrimp for the chicken?
Hey Kelly,
Wonderful! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it! Sure, shrimp would be yummy! I would just add it towards the end since it doesn’t have to cook as long as the chicken. Have the best week:) xTieghan
Cooking tonight. If chicken breasts are large, should I half them?
Hey Carol,
Yes, that would work well for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This is one of our go to’s so, so good!!
Hey Samantha,
Happy Sunday! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xTieghan
So yummy! I doubled it and made it in my dutch oven and it turned out great. I did half cream and half whole milk and it turned out delicious.
I also really liked all of the “down time” in the recipe. It’s the perfect amount of time to prep for the next step (i.e. while the chicken is cooking there’s time to chop the shallots, when everything is in the oven it’s the perfect amount of time to tidy the kitchen).
Loved this whole recipe and would love to see more in the same vein but with different flavors.
Hey Emily,
Seriously amazing! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I would like to use chicken thigh do you recommend skin with bone or boneless? Thank you
Hey Nasia,
I would use boneless thighs for this dish. I hope the recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Love this recipe, it has become a staple! Can I sub milk for the heavy cream?
Hey Madison,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Yes, I would use whole milk. xTieghan
This dish was a hit! Easy and delicious. Thank you!
Hey Lisa,
Wonderful! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it! Have the best week:) xTieghan
so did you try it with just milk??? I’m not big on heavy cream either.
So delicious! A new family favorite recipe!!!
Hey Beth,
Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Have the best day! xTieghan
I used a Greek yogurt/milk mixture instead of heavy cream to cut the fat and it tasted amazing! I also doubled the amount of sun dried tomatoes because I love them. Great recipe!
Hey Nancy,
I am thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a try. I hope you have an amazing week! xTieghan
The family loved this one! Added leek and zucchini for some extra veg. Suggest thyme rather than rosemary, but it’s just preference.
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Happy Monday ? xTieghan
This recipe is delightfully simple and easy to make and tastes incredible! I love making one pot meals. Clean up was a breeze and the prep was just as easy! I was worried about how well the orzo would cook and am happy to say that every single piece was cooked evenly. Do not skimp on the sun dried tomatoes, they really do make the dish. The flavors were fantastic. I cannot wait to make this again!
Hey! Thank you so much for trying out this recipe, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Monday ? xTieghan
Great dish! I made it when I was home visiting my parents and it was a huge hit….Ill be using this when we entertain as it has a great presentation factor!
Hey! Thank you so much for trying out this recipe, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Monday ? xTieghan
This is one of my favorite recipes! It’s so simple, so flavorful, and great for fall and winter. I’ve made it twice in the past few weeks and plan to make it again soon.
Easy and delicious! Definitely will make again! Thank you! ?
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Happy Monday ? xTieghan
Hey Sue! Thank you so much for trying out this recipe, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Monday ? xTieghan