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Creamy Orzo Recipe With Chicken, Peas & Spinach

Creamy Chicken Orzo With Peas & Spinach

  • Author: Irena Macri
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Braised
  • Cuisine: Italian

Description

Comforting, nutritious and super tasty creamy chicken orzo recipe the whole family will love. Made with peas and spinach for extra veggies, this one-pot orzo dish is like a fusion or risotto and chicken soup.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup frozen baby peas
  • 1/2 cup frozen spinach (1 frozen ball or equivalent amount)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 large onion, finely diced (1/2 cup chopped)
  • 1 small carrot, finely diced (1/2 cup diced)
  • 1 celery rib, finely diced (1/2 cup diced)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 large cloves of garlic, finely diced or minced
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 breast of cooked chicken (rotisserie or roast thicken), diced (about 1.5 cups of meat)
  • 4 sprigs of fresh thyme (1/2 tsp dried thyme)
  • 1/3 cup of white wine
  • 1.5 cups uncooked orzo/ risoni 
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 3 + 1/4 cups chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice 
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (loosely packed)
  • 1/4 cup thickened/heavy cream (optional, I used it but can be without)
  • Basil or parsley to garnish

Instructions

  • Add peas to a bowl and cover with boiling water to thaw out. Repeat the same with the frozen spinach. Set aside.
  • Add butter and olive oil to a large, deep frying pan or skillet. Heat over medium-high heat and add onions, carrots and celery. Season with 1/2 tsp salt. Cook for 4-5 minutes, to soften, stirring a few times. 
  • Add the garlic, diced cooked chicken, lemon zest, thyme, and pepper, stir through and add the white wine. Stir for 10-15 seconds. 
  • Add the orzo and chicken stock, stir through and once it comes to a simmer, turn the heat down to medium. Cook for a total of 15 minutes, stirring frequently. 
  • In the meantime, strain the spinach and squeeze the liquid out of it. Roughly chop it. Strain the peas.
  • After about 10 minutes of cooking orzo, add the spinach and baby peas to the orzo. Stir through and continue to cook for 5 more minutes. If the liquid starts to reduce too much, add another ¼-½ cup of stock or water and continue to cook and stir a few times.
  • In the meantime, grate the Parmesan cheese.
  • In the last two minutes of cooking, add the grated Parmesan and the cream (if using). Stir through a few times to melt and incorporate. 
  • Finish by garnishing with chopped basil or parsley.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 513
  • Sugar: 7 g
  • Sodium: 889 mg
  • Fat: 20.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 44.1 g
  • Fiber: 2.8 g
  • Protein: 32.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 76.9 mg

Keywords: Orzo recipe, orzo pasta, risoni, risoni recipe, chicken orzo, one-pot pasta, one-pot recipes, dinner, healthy, comfort food, risotto

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