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
Super simple! But the flavor & taste is 5 stars! Will definitely be making again!
Hey Corrianne,
Happy Friday! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
One pan, 45 minutes from beginning to end, and delicious. My kind of dinner!
Hey Debbie,
Happy Friday! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Love. Just love. Added mushrooms because why wouldn’t I? So delicious. BF moaned while eating it. This is going into heavy rotation. Thanks Tieghan, another winner.
Hey Michelle,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for making it! xxT
I dont have an oven safe pan….is there a way for this to be finished on the stove? Thank you!
Hi Brittany,
I would just transfer to an oven safe baking dish. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious!! I’ve made several of your recipes recently and they all have been a hit! Thank you!
Hey Jen,
Happy Friday! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I usually don’t like one pot dishes because they are taste so one-note, but this one was a hit! Even the picky kid ate the chicken! Thank you!
Hi Mary,
Awesome! Thanks a lot for making this recipe. I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thursday❄️ xxT
My family loved it!
Hey Andrea,
I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for testing it out! Have a great week! xTieghan
Wow! I made this tonight, and it was delicious! Even my 5 year olds loved it. It’s going into our dinner rotation. Thank you!
Hey Andrea,
I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for testing it out! Have a great week! xTieghan
I thought this was a super easy and delicious recipe! I’ll definitely be cooking it again!
Hey Tay,
Thank you so very much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
This was absolutely incredible. I wanted to drink this sauce. I immediately shared it with my sister and girlfriends. I can’t wait to make it again!
Hi Abbey,
Thank you so very much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
One of my favs. I’ve made this numerous times now.
Hi Laura,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Have the best week! xTieghan
I received your first two cookbooks for Christmas and I found your top 25 for 2021. So I made this for myself for lunch. It was perfect on a rainy day. I’m not usually a mustard fan but the Dijon adds just the right flavor. Can’t wait to try even more recipes.
Hey Kathryn,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
Have you ever made this ahead of your guests arriving? If so, do you re-warm or keep warm?
Hi Bobbi,
You can keep on warm in the oven:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Absolutely love this dish, so easy to make – I love serving this dish when friends come over for a casual dinner,
Hi Shelley,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
This is so delicious. I’ve made this twice, so easy and loaded with flavor.
Hey Tracey,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
To lighten up the recipe, what would be a good substitute for the heavy cream?
Hi Tracy,
You could use non-fat milk in place of the heavy cream. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
This was a hit! I decided to change the 1 1/2 cup water and added chicken stock instead. So very yummy!!!
Hey John,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan