Spinach Artichoke Orzo Skillet with Chicken
If you know us, you know that we’re experts in all things orzo! It’s the perfect medium for one pan dishes and this Spinach Artichoke Orzo with Chicken Recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight meal. We make this one healthy by using reduced fat Greek cream cheese for a creamy finish.
Easy Orzo Skillet Dinner
Orzo works great for one pan skillet meals because it is easily measured, and it absorbs a predictable amount of liquid when it cooks. This is why we use it so often in one pan meals!
The formula for an orzo to liquid ratio is 1 to 2 (that is, 1 cup of dry orzo, to 2 cups liquid). You can use this formula if you want to multiply the batch for more servings.
Cooking Cubed Chicken for Orzo Dinner
To start, precook the chicken. Cube chicken breasts on a non-porous cutting board. Give the chicken a good coat of olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder, then add it to a pan heated on medium heat. Cook the chicken until it’s browned, and 165 degrees internally. Once the chicken is cooked, move it to a separate bowl and set it aside.
Tip to browning chicken: Wait until it easily releases from the pan. Once it’s browned, it won’t stick to the pan and will have a nice crust on it. Don’t stir it around too much!
Spinach & Artichokes: What kind to use with pasta?
To mimic the taste of spinach artichoke dip, I like to use frozen spinach and canned artichokes. It would literally take 6 cups of fresh spinach to get the same effect, and the flavor is not as concentrated. I used canned artichoke hearts as well.
Thaw the spinach and then place it in a paper towel and ring it out to get rid of the excess water. Drain the artichoke hearts and set them aside.
Leave the brown bits from the chicken for extra flavor. Add one tablespoon of olive oil to a pan, and sauté the artichoke hearts and spinach. Add salt and pepper. Sauté until there is a little bit of brown on the artichokes, then add fresh minced garlic. Reduce heat to low.
Toasting Orzo
Once the artichokes have a little bit of brown on them, add the uncooked orzo and let it sit for about 30 seconds before stirring it. This gives it a nice brown, resulting in a nutty flavor that really elevates this dish! Add chicken broth, and cover the pan with a lid. Let the orzo cook in the chicken broth, and once it has absorbed about half of the liquid, give it a stir and put the lid back on. Add the previously cooked cubed chicken back on top of the orzo.
When the orzo has absorbed all of the liquid, make a well in the center of the pan, and add cream cheese. To keep the calories and fat down, I use a Greek cream cheese made by Green Mountain Farms, I buy it at Sprouts. Not sponsored, just a good product! I also add a little bit of shredded mozzarella. Do this while the pan is still warm so the
Stir the cream cheese and shredded mozzarella into the skillet, and dinner is ready! I serve this on its own since it has vegetables, a starch and protein.
If you love Orzo meals, here’s a few more recipe we love!
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Cheers to easy, family pleasing recipes! – Kathi and Rachel
Spinach Artichoke Orzo with Chicken
Equipment
- 1 skillet with lid
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts (cubed)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
- 3/4 cup frozen spinach (drained well)
- 1 13 oz canned quartered artichoke hearts (drained)
- 1 tsp garlic (fresh, minced)
- 1 cup orzo
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup cream cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- In a large skillet on medium heat, heat 1 tbsp olive oil. Add cubed chicken breasts, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and granulated garlic. Sauté until chicken is browned, fully cooked, and transfer to a bowl.
- Leaving brown bits in pan from chicken, add drained spinach, drained artichokes, and 1 tbsp olive oil. Sauté until artichokes have a slight brown. Add minced garlic. Turn heat to low, and add uncooked orzo. Stir until orzo is slightly toasted. Return cooked chicken to orzo.
- Add chicken broth to the orzo/spinach/artichoke mixture (slowly, so it does not splatter). Add lid to pan, and cook for 5 minutes. Stir, and return lid to pan.
- Turn heat off once orzo has absorbed liquid. Add cream cheese, and shredded cheese, and add lid to pan to melt. Once cream cheese is soft, stir into orzo and serve immediately.
- Serve & enjoy!
Nutrition
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