Go to Homepage
Get Our Cookbook

    Creamy Chicken Orzo

    September 3, 2024

    Just carrots, celery, onions and garlic flavor this soothingly simple, risotto-like creamy chicken orzo recipe. Grab some crusty bread and call dinner DONE.

    Categories

    creamy chicken orzo with carrots, celery, onions and garlic in a bowl

    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. Basic veggies, a little garlic and a hint of creaminess make this one-bowl supper comforting and familiar — just like another creamy chicken classic, Chicken A La King — in the very best way.

    Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Orzo carrots, celery, onions, garlic

    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.

    carrots, celery, onions in a soup pot
    carrots, onion, celery, chicken stock and orzo in a soup pot
    shredded chicken, chicken stock, carrots, onion and celery in a soup pot with a wooden spoon
    creamy orzo chicken casserole

    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
    creamy orzo chicken in a soup pot

    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!
    chicken orzo pasta in a soup pot
    close up of creamy orzo soup

    Tools You’ll Need:

    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.

    creamy Chicken Orzo Soup with carrots and celery in a bowl with a linen

    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!

    💌 Let's Stay Together

    There are so many great ways to receive all of our latest recipes, meal tips, and inspiration.

    Creamy Chicken Orzo

    Updated on September 3, 2024

    • Serves:  6
    • Prep Time:  15 min
    • Cook Time:  35 min
    • Calories:  326
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Related Recipes

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
    • 2 ribs celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
    • 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/3-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
    • 4 garlic cloves, minced
    • 8 cups chicken stock
    • 2 -3 cups shredded cooked chicken
    • 1 pound orzo
    • 1 tablespoon minced flat leaf parsley
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
    • 1 ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

    Method

    1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium. Once the oil is glistening, add the onion, celery, carrots and ½ teaspoon of the salt and cook until the onion is translucent, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes longer.

    2. Add the chicken stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil.

    3. Once the stock is boiling, stir in the chicken and orzo. Reduce the heat to medium and add the parsley, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and pepper.

    4. Simmer until the veggies are tender, the orzo is creamy and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 326
    • Protein 24 g
    • Carbohydrates 44 g
    • Total Fat 7 g
    • Dietary Fiber 3 g
    • Cholesterol 0 mg
    • sodium 211 mg
    • Total Sugars 8 g

    Creamy Chicken Orzo

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

    or
    • Lisa

      Is it simmered covered or uncovered once you add the orzo and chicken?

      No need to cover, hope you enjoy!

    • Daryian

      Can you make it thicker with heavy cream?

      We haven't tried it but you could give it a try!

    • John

      Is the 1 pound of orzo dry or cooked? Also, if I only want to use a cup of orzo dry, how much stock should I use and same for measurements of the seasoning.

      That is 1 pound dry, uncooked orzo. Unfortunately we don't have those measurements for you without testing it. Hope you enjoy John!

    • Scott

      What about adding a can of cream of chicken soup?

      We wouldn't recommend this but it doesn't mean you can't try.

    • Becc

      Shouldn't this have cream in it if it is creamy?

      Hi Becc, the starch/gluten is what gives it a creamy texture.

    • Grace

      Obsessed. I made chicken stock from scratch with a rotisserie chicken while prepping ingredients and used the chicken in the soup. If you add veggie scraps, turmeric, garlic, ginger, & Italian seasonings, plus enough salt & pepper to your stock, it shouldnt lack flavor. Serve with freshly shredded parmesan, toasted sourdough + butter. My husband and I went back for seconds!

      Thanks Grace, we are so glad you loved it!

    • Emily

      My kids, my husband and my parents all loved it and so did I. Definitely a make again. I added mushrooms with the other veggies and some heavy whipping cream at the end. Pairs well with bread and butter.

      Thanks Emily, we are so glad you love it!

    • Ann

      I made this for dinner tonight it is excellent. I didnt have any olive oil so I substitute about 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter.

      Thanks Ann, we are so glad you loved it!

    • Rachel

      So comforting and delicious! I added some cayenne and lemon zest/juice to give it a little extra zing!

      Thanks Rachel, so glad you loved it!

    • Jillian

      This is essentially chicken noodle soup, without the broth. It is incredibly bland. I had to add a ton of different spices and fresh lemon to make it have even a hint of flavor, and we will probably still end up composting about half the pot I’m shocked that this has such good reviews, it was a big letdown. It is also not creamy in the slightest. Creamy dishes have some form of dairy that causes the creaminess. This has broth, vegetables, and chicken. There is no creaminess to be found.