Description
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzo is a creamy, comforting one-pot meal featuring tender shredded chicken, crisp broccoli florets, and tender orzo pasta all cooked together in a flavorful blend of chicken broth, cream, and sharp cheddar cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this dish offers a delicious balance of protein, veggies, and cheesy goodness with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cups broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids & Fats
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Dry & Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Pasta & Protein
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 cups cooked shredded or rotisserie chicken
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Sauté onion: Add the olive oil, butter, and chopped onion to a pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes until it becomes translucent and fragrant.
- Cook broccoli: Add the broccoli florets to the pot and continue cooking for another 2 minutes, stirring often to combine and slightly soften the broccoli.
- Add garlic, seasoning, and orzo: Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and uncooked orzo pasta. Cook for about 30 seconds to toast the orzo slightly and release the garlic aroma.
- Cook pasta in liquids: Pour in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring the mixture just to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium or medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes uncovered, stirring fairly often to prevent sticking, until the orzo is tender but the liquid hasn’t overly reduced.
- Add chicken: Stir in the cooked shredded chicken evenly into the orzo mixture to warm through.
- Finish with cheese and seasoning: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the sharp cheddar cheese until melted and fully incorporated. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is thinner than desired, cover the pot and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken before serving.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken to save time without sacrificing flavor.
- You can substitute the broccoli with other vegetables like spinach or peas if preferred.
- Keep stirring during the simmer to avoid the orzo sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- For a lighter version, consider using half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Leftovers reheat well and can be stored up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
