Description
Creamy Chicken Orzo is a warm and comforting dish featuring tender chicken breast, soft orzo pasta, and a luscious creamy sauce made with plant-based cheese and aromatic vegetables. This one-pot recipe blends fresh herbs, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), and a touch of apple cider vinegar (natural) for balanced flavors that make every bite satisfying and cozy, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup plant-based cheese (plant-based), shredded or cubed
- 1 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (natural)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Herbs
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil (natural) in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same skillet, add a bit more olive oil (natural) if needed. Sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until soft and fragrant to build a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Toast the orzo: Add the orzo pasta to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Stir frequently to lightly toast the pasta, infusing it with a subtle nutty flavor and helping it maintain texture.
- Add liquids and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth, then add a splash of apple cider vinegar (natural) and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural). Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes or until the orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in cheese and chicken: Lower the heat and quickly stir in the plant-based cheese (plant-based) and cooked chicken pieces. Mix well to create a creamy consistency. Finish by adding fresh thyme and parsley for bright, fragrant notes.
Notes
- Use warm broth to help the orzo cook evenly and melt the plant-based cheese smoothly.
- Do not overcook the chicken, to keep it tender and juicy.
- Stir frequently during simmering to prevent orzo from sticking or clumping.
- Add fresh herbs last to retain their flavor.
- Adjust sauce creaminess by adding more broth or plant-based cheese (plant-based) as desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Creamy Chicken Orzo, one-pot meal, comfort food, plant-based cheese, quick dinner, easy recipe, weeknight meal
