For some more comforting but quick pasta dishes, try this One Pot BBQ Chicken and Pasta, Gnocchi with Sausage, Spinach and Tomatoes, my Easy Chicken Orzo Recipe and this Greek Pasta Salad. This Tuscan Orzo with Chicken is made with pan-seared, tender chicken breasts in a creamy, Italian-inspired sauce — it’s a complete, delicious dinner that only takes 35 minutes to make, and it freezes well, too. This creamy Tuscan chicken orzo recipe is super easy to make your own, just add in your favorite veggies, change up the seasonings, or add some heat! If you love the flavors of this easy Tuscan chicken recipe, check out my One Pan Tuscan Chicken and Potato Skillet, Baked Tuscan Chicken Breasts, Crockpot Tuscan Chicken.
Ingredients Needed:
Chicken
Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs would work great, too! Oil: Olive oil or canola oil will work well for pan-searing the chicken. Seasonings: season the chicken with a blend of salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. You can also use your favorite blend!
Orzo
Tomatoes: cherry tomatoes are extra juicy and bring bursts of fresh flavor to this dish. Minced Garlic: freshly minced garlic will give you the best flavor here. Chicken Broth: I always choose low-sodium chicken broth and add salt as needed. Feel free to adjust the salt based on your tastes and which broth you have. Heavy Cream: full-fat heavy cream will be the base for the cream sauce. If you use a lighter cream or milk, there is a chance that it will curdle while cooking. Sun-Dried Tomatoes: sun-dried tomatoes will give you a rich, deep tomato flavor in the sauce. Salt and Black Pepper: since the chicken is well seasoned, we just need a little salt and pepper to spice up the cream sauce. Orzo: almost any kind of short pasta will work well here if you prefer a different kind. Chopped Spinach: use fresh spinach for this recipe to add color and a ton of nutrients. Parmesan Cheese: freshly shredded parmesan has the best flavor.
How to Make Tuscan Orzo with Chicken
This recipe is quick and easy! Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.
Tips and Variations
Meat thermometer. Check that your chicken is fully cooked by inserting an internal meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breasts. When it reads 165°F or above, it’s done. Cream. Heavy cream makes for a very rich and flavorful sauce. A lighter cream or half-and-half will not thicken the same way, so if you do use a lighter cream, you may want to uncover for part of the cook time. Veggies. Add in extra veggies like green beans, mushrooms, red peppers, or asparagus. Just give them a light sauté before adding in the liquid for the sauce (cook them in place of the cherry tomatoes, or with the cherry tomatoes). Add some heat. Make this dish a bit spicy by adding some of your favorite hot sauce, some red pepper flakes, or some cayenne pepper to the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
The beauty of one-pot recipes is that they really are great just on their own. Making a whole dinner in one pot is the dream, right?! If you want to fill it out to make it go further, or if you want some extra nutrients in your meal you can add some colorful side dishes. Some delicious recipes I often serve on the side of one-pot meals like this include Air Fryer Broccoli, Air Fryer Green Beans, Roasted Vegetables, Green Beans with Bacon, and even this Easy Broccoli Salad. We love having bread on the side as well. Try my Homemade Crescent Rolls, this No Knead Artisan Bread, Cheesy Garlic Bread, or Mom’s Homemade Buns.
More Delicious One-Pot Recipes to Try
Perfect Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (the BEST gravy!)
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs and Noodles
BEST Hamburger Helper Recipe
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