Creamy Chicken Orzo

Simple, Fast, Cozy.

If you have already-cooked chicken handy—either from a store-bought rotisserie chicken or maybe some poached chicken you cooked as part of your weekend meal prep—this one-pot creamy chicken orzo comes together insanely fast. Like, 20 minutes fast. Even if you need to cook some chicken—we recommend a quick poach—our risotto-y chicken and orzo is still relatively quick to make. And it’s oh-so-comforting. Basic veggies, a little garlic and a hint of creaminess make this one-bowl supper comforting and familiar, in the very best way. Cold season is here, friends, but fear not! This cozy, creamy chicken orzo is sure to heal (or at least soothe).

What Is Orzo?

If you’re asking yourself “is orzo rice or pasta?” you’re not alone! Orzo does look a lot like rice, but actually orzo is pasta! Just like all of the other classic Italian pasta shapes that we love, it’s made from semolina flour—although you can find some whole wheat varieties on the market now. Our savory, chicken-y creamy orzo treats the pasta a bit like risotto rice, letting it absorb the gently flavored chicken broth over the course of a quick simmer. However, since orzo is a pasta, it’s even more forgiving than risotto—in other words, it’s easier! Yay for that.

8 Ingredients Are All It Takes to Make the Best Orzo Ever.

OK, so it’s just eight ingredients if you give us olive oil, salt and pepper, but those are a given, right? You can’t make anything without oil, salt and pepper. Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy, creamy chicken orzo:

• Onion
• Celery
• Carrots
• Garlic
• Chicken stock
• Cooked chicken.
• Orzo
• Parsley

How To Cook Orzo

You may have had orzo in summery pasta salads—in the U.S. that seems to be the prevalent way of preparing it. But in our opinion, you haven’t experiences orzo pasta’s full, flavorful potential until you’ve simmered it in chicken stock until it’s all silky and chicken-y and risotto-like. Here’s how to make the very best orzo ever:

1. Onions, carrots, celery. Sauté until fragrant and translucent. Add the garlic after a few minutes of sautéing (you don’t want to overcook or brown it.)
2. Stock! Pour it in and bring it to a boil.
3. Orzo and chicken! Add them both, and simmer until the orzo is totally cooked through, and most of the stock has been absorbed by the orzo. Serve!

Tools You’ll Need:

• Stock pot.
• Sharp knife.
• Ladle.

3 Creamy, One-Pan Pasta Recipes

Cheesy, savory, carb-y comfort. And these recipes are easy, too! Pasta—it’s what you really want for dinner.

• One Pot Creamy Mediterranean Chicken Pasta
• 4-Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
• Wild Mushroom Risotto
• Baked Gnocchi

When In Doubt—Chicken Orzo.

In the middle of winter, nothing hits the spot quite like something so wholesome, healthy and cozy as a bowl of this soothing chicken orzo. We hope this easy, creamy orzo recipe hits the spot for you, too. If it does, let us know! Snap a photo of your orzo, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you share it with. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!