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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.
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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
Hi! I’m planning on making this tonight, will coconut milk work as a sub for heavy cream?
There is a comment a few down that tried with coconut milk and liked it 🙂
Hey Meg,
Yes, that will work well for you. Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Randomly showed up in my IG account. Had to look up the recipe but I’m so glad I did!! It was so delicious! I was able to easily modify for my daughter who does not eat dairy. Thank you!! I’ll be making this again!
Hey Chris,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xxTieghan
Absolutely delicious!! Adding to the rotation!
Hey Chasity,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xxTieghan
Fantastic! I modified it with coconut milk instead of heavy cream and Miyoko vegan butter instead of regular. It was a huge hit, and easier on my tummy. My 10 year old son said it was “bomb”, and ate two helpings. Thanks!!
Hey Jessica,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xxTieghan
This was incredibly delicious! The grocery store was out of orzo, so we used cut spaghetti, and it came out perfectly. We will definitely be making this again. Thank you for posting this recipe, Tieghan!
Hey Vanessa,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xxTieghan
Snowed in so no store for me- I have Arborio rice, no orzo, can I sub? And would it still be one cup?
I am making tonight and subbing Arborio as well!
Cooking now…I guess we will see!!!
I hope you love the recipe Chrissy!
Hey Lisa,
Yes arborio rice will work well for you! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
It was fantastic!! All four of my boys and husband loved it. Thought I’d be able to have leftovers for lunch but nothing was left. Thank you!
Hey Lisa,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner. Have the best weekend:) xT
I made this last night and wow!! My family loved it including my two big eating twin teen boys. I didn’t have shallot so used a bit of onion and subbed kale for the spinach because I had forgotten to get it at the store and it was still delicious!! my husband licked his plate!! I’m so happy I found your site, your recipes do not disappoint!
Hey Susan,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xxTieghan
Absolutely delicious!
The ease of making this in one pan is an added bonus.
Highly recommend!!
Hey Kristine,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great day:) xxT
Delicious! I didn’t have sun dried tomatoes ( we’re on the cusp of snowmageddon so the store didn’t either) so I subbed fresh cherry tomatoes. It’s really the cream/wine/mustard sauce on the orzo that makes it anyway!
Hey Sheila,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great day:) xxT
Just made this tonight, and it was a big hit – the three of us ate the whole thing! I didn’t have parmesan, so had to sub in pecorino romano, and it worked really well. I put lemon wedges on the table so everyone could season to their liking, I forgot the rosemary, but will definitely add it next time. This one goes in my favorites file. I highly recommend it.
Hey Karen,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great day:) xxT
This is luscious! A new favorite weeknight meal. Your recipes are wonderful.
Hey there,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great day:) xxT
Hi! If I substitute orzo with long grain white rice, what would I need to change? Thank you for your help, I love your recipes!!!
Hey Isabelle,
You will just need to increase your cook time:) I hope you love the recipe, let me know if you give it a try! xT
Love, love, love this recipe. You can’t go wrong with sun dried tomatoes and heavy cream. Easy to make and very tasty. This is the first recipe I have tried on this website and I’m looking forward to trying more. Thank you!!
Hey Janna,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great day:) xxT
I have leftovers of the delicious risotto, but would need to make more chicken. How might you suggest doing just the chicken without the risotto to help it bake? Thank you!
Hey Sarah,
I would just complete step 2 and full cook the chicken in the skillet, no need to bake it. I hope this helps! Thanks for making the recipe! xTieghan
Such a delicious dish and easy! One of those dishes you taste and say “wow I made that”. Only mod I made was using sun dried tomato pesto instead of the actual tomatoes and it was perfect. Will make again!!
Hey Kenzie,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Delicious! The only change I made was using almond milk instead of cream – I had almond milk that I wanted to use and figured why not cut back on a few calories?! So good!
Hey Linda,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great day:) xxT