I’m here today with another quick and easy dinner recipe for you, 20-minute Chicken and Broccoli Orzo. This recipe feels like classic childhood comfort food. It’s a big old skillet of diced or shredded chicken, broccoli florets, and creamy parmesan orzo that is completely irresistible, and it comes together FAST.
Ingredient Notes
Cooked chicken: To speed things up, this recipe starts with cooked chicken. Leftover roasted chicken works great or you can grab a rotisserie chicken and chop up the white meat to use here. In a pinch, you can even use (warmed) canned chicken if that’s something you keep on hand. But, as always, if you don’t have precooked chicken, don’t sweat it. There are instructions in the recipe card for starting with raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Heavy cream, half and half, or milk: You can use heavy cream, half and half, or milk in this recipe. I recommend using heavy cream as it gives you the richest, creamiest results, but you can use what you have on hand. If you use heavy cream and have some left over, check out this post What to Do With Leftover Whipping Cream for ideas to use it up.
How to Make Chicken and Broccoli Orzo
Tips and Tricks
A Note on Reheating: Creamy pastas need a little help to be at their best after reheating since they tend to either absorb all the liquid while sitting in the refrigerator or reheat lumpy and weird. For best results, add a splash of heavy cream or milk and a sprinkle of shredded parmesan before microwaving. Once heated, stir everything together. The extra liquid and cheese will help return the orzo’s creamy consistency.
Can I freeze this dish?
I don’t recommend freezing creamy pasta dishes like this. The pasta texture does not hold up well to freezing. Looking for recipes you can freeze? Go check out my favorite freezer recipes!
Can I use different vegetables?
Sure. This recipe is great for using up leftover roasted or steamed veggies. Just reheat them and stir them in at the end instead of the broccoli. You can also make this with fresh asparagus. Simply chop the asparagus into 1-inch pieces and cook it with the orzo for 3 to 4 minutes instead of the broccoli.
How can I make this creamier?
If you want a really creamy decadent pasta experience, you can double the heavy cream and add more Parmesan to taste. If needed, gently heat everything over medium heat until the cheese is melty.
More Quick and Easy Recipes
Creamy Sausage Pasta Chicken Fajitas Salsa Chicken Tri-tip in the Oven Chicken in White Wine Lemon Butter Sauce Naan Pizzas
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