Marry Me Chicken Orzo is creamy, cozy, and cooked in one pan. Tender orzo simmers in a rich cream sauce with savory Mediterranean ingredients for an easy skillet dinner. Every bite is full of that classic “Marry Me” flavor.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: Rich, creamy, and savory with bright notes from sun-dried tomatoes and a hint of Parmesan.
- Time-Saving Tip: This recipe uses cooked chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken for quick cooking, and the orzo simmers in the same pan with no draining needed.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve this creamy chicken orzo with extra Parmesan and cracked pepper. Feeding a crowd? Add homemade garlic bread and a Caesar salad to stretch the meal.
- Meal Prep: Portion leftovers into single-serve containers for easy grab-and-go lunches. Add some raw baby spinach on top of each portion, which will wilt as it reheats.
Creamy Skillet Ingredients
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Use jarred tomatoes packed in olive oil for the best flavor and texture, and save the oil for sauteing future recipes.
- Orzo: Small and quick cooking, orzo pasta cooks right in the sauce, no need for a separate pot or extra steps. Stir often so it doesn’t stick.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Heavy cream makes a rich, silky sauce, while half and half works for a lighter version; just simmer it a little longer to thicken.
- Cooked Chopped Chicken: Use rotisserie chicken, leftover roasted chicken, or cooked diced chicken breasts.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Grated Parmesan melts smoothly and seasons the sauce. Serve extra in a bowl at the table for the perfect garnish.
Favorite Variations and Swaps
- Swap the cooked chicken for leftover turkey, cooked Italian sausage, or cooked chicken thighs.
- Swap spinach for chopped kale or frozen spinach that has been thawed and squeezed dry. Or stir in some chopped fresh basil.
- For extra veggies that add sweetness, add in some chopped roasted red peppers (either from a jar or homemade) or some frozen petite peas.
- Skip the red pepper flakes or let spice lovers sprinkle on their own.
- Add a sprinkle of Italian seasoning or oregano for extra Mediterranean flavors.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken Orzo
- Cook the sundried tomatoes with garlic and basil just until fragrant.
- Add the pasta ingredients, then cook until the orzo is tender (full recipe below).
- Add Parmesan, cooked chicken pieces, and spinach, then simmer until heated through.
- Let rest until slightly thickened and serve warm.
Storage and Leftovers
Let the leftover Marry Me Chicken Orzo cool, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, simmer gently on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth, milk, or cream, stirring frequently.
Creamy orzo can be frozen for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and reheat on the stovetop with extra liquid, stirring frequently.
More Marry Me Style Comfort Dinners
Did your family love this Marry Me Chicken Orzo? Leave a rating and comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and oil reserved
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ teaspoon dried basil
- 3 cups chicken broth more as needed
- 1 cup orzo
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups cooked chopped chicken rotisserie or other
- 2 cups fresh spinach gently packed
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and basil, and cook for 1 minute or just until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth, orzo, cream, and sun-dried tomatoes. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to a low boil. Cook uncovered for 12 to 14 minutes, stirring frequently, until orzo is tender and sauce has slightly thickened, adding more broth if needed.
- Stir in chicken, spinach, and Parmesan. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes more or until thickened and heated through.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper. Let rest 2 minutes before serving. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Use diced chicken breasts if preferred. Season and brown in the skillet with oil over medium-high heat just until cooked through. (chicken should reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F) Transfer to a bowl to keep warm and add to the recipe in place of rotisserie chicken.
- Optional: add ½ teaspoon chili flakes if desired
- If the sauce thickens too much, add more broth or a splash of cream before serving.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Pasta
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Made this tonight and it did work as advertised. I got a proposal from my husband of 26 years. :)
Great recipe. Super easy and everyone was happy. I did add the peas, as I try to squeeze in veggies wherever I can disguise them.
Sounds like the perfect dinner for you and your husband Ang! Congratulations;)
Would love to make this recipe, but am not a fan of orzo
Can you recommend an alternative?
I have only made this recipe with orzo as written so I can’t say for sure how it would work with another pasta. You could try making marry me chicken and serving it with a side of your favorite pasta!
I made this tonight. So good! So easy! Is a favorite for sure. Thank you so much for having such friendly recipes!
I am glad to hear that you have been enjoying the recipes.
Can 1/2 & 1/2 be substituted for whipping cream?
Half and half should work just fine. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
Can you use shredded chicken in place of diced chicken?
Absolutely! It will change the texture but will still be delicious. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out Mary!
Made it tonight using precooked shredded chicken from Meijer. DELISH and it will be made again!
Has anyone tried this recipe with frozen meatballs? Since I haven’t any chicken, I will be trying this with meatballs & beef broth. Will let you know how it comes out….
I haven’t tried it but I can’t wait to hear how it turns out Janet!
Love all your recipes
Thank you, Evelyn. That is so sweet of you to say!
Can I substitute raw shrimp in the final stage in this recipe?
I have never tried so I can’t say for sure, but shrimp usually cooks pretty quickly. So I would add the shrimp first in Step 4 and let it simmer for a few minutes until pink and opaque then I would add the parmesan and spinach once it’s ready to ensure it’s fully cooked before serving.
This recipe sounds delicious. I am anxious to try it. My family doesn’t care much for sun dried tomatoes. Could I use fresh diced tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes instead? Love all of your recipes that I have made. Thank you
Hi Linda, you can swap them for diced tomatoes but it will change the flavor of the recipe (a little less rich/tangy). You are also using the sun-dried oil that we use in step 1 so you will need to use another oil in it’s place, like olive oil.
Delicious recipe, an amazing extension to the Holly’s already famous Marry Me Chicken. The textures created with the orzo make this a very appealing and filling meal. My entire family loved it!
So glad you loved it, Joseph! Thanks for trying our recipe.