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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
This is my favorite HBH recipe and a staple at my house! I always double the sauce and use orecchiette instead of orzo.
Hey Lindsay,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was tasty! xx
This sounds so good. I am hoping to double the orzo – or is that a bad idea?
Hi Adrienne,
If you double the orzo, you are going to need to double the liquid and adjust the cook time:) I hope you love this recipe! xT
This is a new staple in my house! SO delicious!
Hey Jessica,
Awesome!!🌼 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Do you cook the chicken all the way through when you sear it? Or can it finish cooking in the oven?
Hey Krista,
It’s going to finish cooking in the oven:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Absolutely delicious! Definitely one of my favorite recipes and love that it’s all in one pot!
Hey Anita,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it turned out well for you:)
I’ve made this twice mow in the past week. It literally took me an hour start to finish (including cleaning the dishes) to have this ready. SO easy and extremely flavourful.
I’ve sent videos of this dish to my friends and family and they were mind blown and wanted to recipe right away. My sister is so excited to try the recipe as she’s always looking for different chicken recipes. My boyfriend who doesn’t like pasta LOVED this and is now an orzo fan lol. Everyone needs this dish on rotation
Hey Monica,
Happy Sunday!!💕 Thanks so much for trying this recipe out and sharing your feedback, so glad it was a hit! xx
This was, by far, the best meal I have ever prepared. Though I must say, the last two HBH recipes I’ve made were also incredible. You are making it very difficult for my family to go out to eat when our home cooked meals are this amazing! 🙂
Hey Melissa,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great weekend:)
10/10 ! Thank you for the wonderful recipe Tieghan. I made this today for lunch (along with two other of your recipes which also were 10/10). I made this on a very cold Massachusetts day and it was a hit! I made this for my dad who is an Italian chef (intimidating right?) and he absolutely LOVED this dish and all the flavors and already requested I make it again when he comes back over for lunch. I made it exactly as the recipe called for and it was fantastic, thank you! <3
Hey Alyssa,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great weekend:)
Easy and delicious
Hey Christina,
Happy Friday!😁 Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
Oh my gosh! Made it exactly per recipe and it is delish😁
Hey Patrise,
Happy Friday!😁 Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
Hello!
If I don’t have an oven-safe skillet, can I make the sauce and transfer it with the chicken to a 9 x 13 baking dish to bake? Thank you!
Hey Maggie,
Sure, that would work well for you, you could also just finish this dish on the stove top. Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Is there a way to make this in the crock pot! Looking for an easy meal to make in the morning and be ready by dinner 🙂
Hi Sara,
So sorry, I’ve never tested this recipe in the crockpot. Here are some other options for you:
https://fett-weg.today/category/recipes/by-method/slow-cooker-recipes/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> I hope this helps! xx
10/10!! This recipe is as easy and delicious as described. I am dairy free so I substituted the cream and cheese for lactaid free options. I love watching the half baked harvest Instagram videos but am not usually a recipe girl. So I’m so glad I tried it because it will now be a regular whenever my husband or I are looking for a quick but warm and nourishing meal. Thank you Tieghan!!
Hey Kate,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and sharing your comment, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
Looking for a suggestion of a lower carb option than Orzo
Hey Thomas,
Sorry, I’ve only tested this recipe with orzo, arborio rice should work well for you though! Let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Based on some of the reviews I did the following modifications. I rolled the chicken in the spice mixture and set it in the refrigerator for a few hours. I also substituted chicken stick for the water.
It turned out delicious!!! My friends liked it and I had some leftovers!!! Will definitely make it again and have already shared the recipe with two of my guests.
Hey Kelly,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well! xT