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This straightforward one-pan, 30-minute creamy rooster and orzo is made with seared, well-seasoned rooster thighs, mushrooms, spinach, recent basil pesto, cream, and orzo simmered proper in the identical skillet. Minimal prep and cleanup like most of my dinner recipes.
Creamy One-Pan Hen Orzo with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Basil Pesto
I’ve made so many one-pan rooster and orzo recipes over time (hiya, beautiful Greek rooster orzo and springtime cherry tomato spinach rooster orzo!), and this creamy model with spinach and mushrooms is impressed by all of them. It’s the whole lot I really like in a easy skillet meal — straightforward, flavorful, and prepared in about half-hour. Despite the fact that it’s fast, it tastes like one thing you’d order at a comfortable Italian restaurant—similar to this rooster burrata pasta. Tender rooster, sautéed mushrooms, and recent spinach get tossed with orzo pasta in a creamy basil pesto sauce, all made in a single pan for minimal cleanup.
One-Pan Creamy Hen Orzo
Directions
Sear the Hen
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Warmth a forged iron skillet over medium warmth for 3 minutes.
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Slice rooster thighs into massive items. Season throughout with paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper, utilizing 1 tablespoon of olive oil to rub the spices in or on the rooster.
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Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet. Sear rooster for five minutes with out transferring it.
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Flip, scale back warmth to low-medium, and cook dinner one other 5 minutes, or till the interior temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Take away rooster from the skillet, leaving juices behind.
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Tip: Hold warmth at medium or decrease to keep away from burning whereas nonetheless getting a great sear.
Prepare dinner the Mushrooms
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In the identical skillet, add sliced mushrooms seasoned with salt and pepper.
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Prepare dinner over medium warmth for about 2 minutes per aspect till browned and softened. Take away half of the mushrooms to a plate.
Make the Orzo
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Add raw orzo, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the skillet with cooked mushrooms. Prepare dinner the orzo and coat with seasonings and rooster juices on medium warmth for 1 minute.
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Pour in 2 cups rooster inventory. Carry to a boil, then simmer on medium-low for five–10 minutes, stirring sometimes to forestall the orzo from sticking to the underside of the pan, till the orzo is cooked by way of. You may need so as to add additional rooster inventory if the orzo dries out too quick.
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Stir in spinach over the last 2–3 minutes of cooking in order that it barely wilts (however the spinach shouldn’t be overly cooked and mushy).
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Add heavy cream and ⅓ cup basil pesto. Stir to mix. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. If the orzo is just too dry, add a small quantity of additional rooster inventory + additional small quantity of heavy cream.
Notes
- Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta. You should utilize cooked rice as a substitute of orzo (scale back cooking instances accordingly). Or use enjoyable small shapes like ditalini, small shells, or pearl couscous.
- Make it dairy-free: Use coconut cream or cashew milk and a plant-based pesto to make a dairy-free model.
- Make it gluten-free: Use orzo clearly labeled as “gluten-free”. Or, merely use long-grain rice as a substitute.
- Scale back energy through the use of chopped cauliflower or cauliflower rice as a substitute of orzo.
- You should utilize both heavy cream or half-and-half – each work equally nicely!
- Professional Tip: maintain an additional splash of rooster broth and cream useful in case you need a looser, saucier consistency.
- Toppings: I really like sprinkling rooster orzo with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, purple pepper flakes, recent herbs, or toasted pine nuts!
Storage and Reheating Suggestions
- Refrigerate: Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days (it’s finest to not freeze).
- To reheat, pop it within the microwave in brief bursts or heat it on the stovetop over low warmth. If the sauce thickens, simply stir in a splash of cream, milk, or half-and-half to convey it again to life!
Diet
Diet Data
One-Pan Creamy Hen Orzo
Quantity per Serving
% Every day Worth*
* P.c Every day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie weight-reduction plan.
Diet Disclaimer:
The dietary data on this web site is barely an estimate and is supplied for comfort and as a courtesy solely. The accuracy of the dietary data for any recipe on this web site just isn’t assured. It shouldn’t be used as an alternative choice to knowledgeable nutritionist’s recommendation.
Methods to Make Hen Orzo (Step-by-Step Pictures)
- Collect your substances. I’ve laid the whole lot out right here (labels included!) to make it straightforward so that you can see what you may want:
- Warmth a forged iron skillet over medium warmth for 3 minutes. In the meantime, slice rooster thighs into massive items and season with paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper, rubbing in olive oil.
- Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet and sear the rooster for five minutes on both sides. Take away the rooster, leaving the juices behind.
- In the identical skillet, cook dinner sliced mushrooms seasoned with salt and pepper. Prepare dinner about 2 minutes per aspect till browned. Take away half of the mushrooms to a plate.
- Stir raw orzo, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, and salt into the skillet with the remaining mushrooms. Add rooster inventory, convey to a boil, then simmer for five–10 minutes, stirring sometimes.
- Stir in spinach throughout the previous few minutes simply till wilted.
- As soon as the orzo is tender, stir in heavy cream and basil pesto. If wanted, add additional rooster inventory and a splash of cream to maintain the orzo creamy. Add again the reserved mushrooms and nestle the cooked rooster on high. Gently reheat and garnish with recent basil earlier than serving.
Variations, Substitutions, and Add-Ins
- Swap the protein. This creamy rooster orzo is tremendous versatile—you’ll be able to swap the rooster for cooked sausage, shrimp, scallops, salmon, and even steak strips.
- Load up on veggies. Combine in sun-dried tomatoes, kale, arugula, asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, or bell peppers. My private favourite? Add halved cherry or grape tomatoes and thank me later!
- Add cheese. My husband eats this dish provided that it is sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago. You can even use Gruyère or Pecorino Romano.
- Prime with toasted pine nuts. Since pesto typically consists of pine nuts, I really like including a handful on high (particularly flippantly toasted) – they’re crunchy and so nutty!
- Extra topping concepts. I topped rooster orzo with recent basil. Different recent herbs I might use listed here are thyme, oregano, chopped inexperienced onions, or chives.
- Make it spicy. Stir in purple pepper flakes or a splash of scorching sauce for a bit warmth—begin small and modify to your style.
- Use totally different pasta. No orzo? Verify your grocery retailer’s pasta aisle — you would possibly discover enjoyable small shapes like ditalini, small shells, or pearl couscous that work simply as nicely on this one pan meal.
- Dairy-free possibility. Use coconut cream or cashew milk and a plant-based pesto to make a dairy-free model with out shedding the creaminess.
Serve With
Extra Orzo Recipes
