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This simple One Skillet Creamy Artichoke Chicken Marsala and Orzo makes for the best any night of the week dinner that feels extra special. Lightly breaded chicken seared until golden with nutty browned butter. The chicken is finished in a simple marsala wine pan sauce with fried artichokes and orzo pasta. And a major bonusโฆitโs all made entirely in one skillet. Every spoonful is layered with delicious, spring flavors, lemony fried artichokes, and creamy pasta. The perfect way to spend a relaxing night in the kitchen with family and friends.
I know Iโve said it before, but I really love a one skillet dinner. It takes the effort and stress out of the busy weeknight dinner. And for whatever reason, theyโre always layered with so many delicious flavors. And thatโs definitely the case with this chicken marsala which I adapted a bit for spring.
Back in the fall, I made a chicken marsala with mushrooms. It turned out so delicious and itโs been one of my favorite recipes Iโve shared in a long while. Basically, I wanted to adapt that recipe to be a little more fitting for spring. And thatโs when I had the idea to also include a little orzo pasta into the mix.
Yes, orzo pasta, dinner all in one! So, I tried, and well, long story short, it turned out beyond delicious. Pasta is never a bad ideaโฆ
Here are the quick and simple detailsโฆ
If you love a good chicken marsala, youโll love this slight twist even more. Itโs all about the lemony fried artichokes and or course that orzo pasta.
Start with the chicken. If youโve made chicken parmesan this is very similar. Just dredge the chicken through a mix of flour, then pan-sear it in a hot skillet. This allows the chicken to form a nice golden crust on the outside. Using thin chicken cutlets is key. The thin chicken cooks evenly and browns nicely in a short amount of time.
Tip:ย if your grocery store does not carry chicken cutlets, as a swap, try asking your butcher to pound out chicken breasts for you. This is super easy to do at home, but truthfullyโฆitโs just not that much fun. The butcher can quickly pound out the chicken and save you the troubleโฆand the mess.
Pan-sear the chicken, then add in the butter. The butter browns around the chicken creating an even more delicious flavor.
Now the artichokes, the best part! The key is frying them in a little butter before adding anything else to the skillet. Theyโll get a little crispy and take on a pretty golden brown color.
Once the artichokes have had time to crisp up, toss in the shallots, garlic, and lots of thyme. Again, allow that butter to brown, creating an even more delicious flavor.
Also, if you like, you could easily replace the artichokes with asparagus or broccoli. I think both would be delicious!
At this point, just add in the wine, simmer until reduced, then stir in the cream and a light squeeze of lemon juice. I find this brightens and lightens the flavors up a bit. Allow everything to simmer and thicken into a delicious creamy sauce.
Finish it up.
And then, thatโs it.
I like to top with fresh thyme, then serve this up immediately. As the orzo sits, it will continue to soak up the sauce, so this is really best to enjoy right after cooking. But donโt worry the leftovers are still delicious too!
Perfect for just about any night of the week. I love how quickly and easily this comes together. It really is one of those โno fussโ, easy, delicious dinners that everyone loves. Hoping it quickly becomes a staple dinner for you guys!
Looking for other springtime dinners? Here are some of my favorites:
Spinach and Artichoke Pita Grilled Cheese
One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese
20 Minute Orzo Carbonara with Crispy Prosciutto and Burrata
Lastly, if you make this One Skillet Creamy Artichoke Chicken Marsala and Orzo be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, donโt forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Skillet Creamy Artichoke Chicken Marsala and Orzo
Ingredients
- 4 chicken cutlets, or 2 boneless chicken breasts, sliced in half horizontally
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 12 ounces (1-2 jars) marinated artichokes, drained
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves , (or 2 teaspoons dried thyme)
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 3/4 cup dry marsala wine
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- 1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour and garlic powder in a shallow bowl and dredge the chicken through the flour mix, pressing to adhere.2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken and sear on both sides until golden, about 3-5 minutes per side. Add 1 tablespoon butter and allow the butter to brown around the chicken, about 2 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet.3. To the skillet, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the artichokes. Cook undisturbed for 2 minutes or until golden.ย Add 2 tablespoons butter, the shallots, garlic, thyme, and a pinch each of salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook 2-3 minutes, until fragrant. Add the orzo. Cook another 2 minutes. 4. Pour in the wine and broth. Cook 10-12 minutes until the orzo is al dente, then pour in the cream. Add the chicken and lemon juice to the skillet and simmer for 5 minutes or until warmed through. 5. Serve the chicken and orzo topped with fresh thyme. Eat!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
I had such high hopes for this recipe. I love everything in it, but I just couldnโt eat it. The flavors just didnโt meld together right. The only thing different I did was use red Marsala because thatโs all I had, but I wouldnโt think it would make that much of a difference. If I try again might not add Marsala wine, but not sure I will. I was quite disappointed. Sorry.
Hi Dianne,
Thanks so much for trying this dish and sharing your feedback, very sorry to hear it was not enjoyed. I do think the red marsala could have affected the final outcome. Let me know if you try again!
I’ve made this recipe so many times- its so easy, and so tasty. My kids love it too.
Hey Reb,
I’m grateful you tried this recipe and took the time to comment. Delighted it turned out!
Amazingly delicious. 1st had this at a friend’s house and HAD to get the recipe. Fairly easy to make (1 skillet is perfect) and the array of flavors is hard for me to stop eating.
Thanks so much, Cathy:) Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! Have a nice Memorial Day!
A little too rich for my taste but the kids liked it.
Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, Lindsey!! I hope you have a great week! xT
Would this be possible in the slow cooker ? And helpful suggestions?
Hey Megan,
So sorry, I have honestly never tried this recipe in the slow cooker, I am not sure the exact instructions that would work best. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help! xx
So easy and so flavorful. I followed the recipe to the T but did add a handful of baby spinach at the end. Will make again!!
Hey Carol,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! Have a great week:)
Tasty! I just sampled it but havenโt had a plate yet ๐ But Iโm wondering if I used the wrong wine. I thought Marsala was red so I used a dry red I had on hand. But Iโm thinking your photo looks like white wine?
Hi Melinda,
Thanks for trying this dish!! Yes, I used a white marsala wine. I hope it’s delish! xx
This recipe is so good! I add about 1/2 cup of Parmesan at the end when I add the cream and itโs delish. Love this one and make it all the time
Hey Giulia,
Fantastic!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was a winner:)
Another delicious recipe, pretty easy, everyone loved it. Thank you Tieghan! ๐
Hi Laurie,
Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well! Happy Saturday! Xx
I love this recipe – I always look forward to dinner when I am making this. I left out the cream as my son is lactose intolerant – just added the marinade from the artichokes (I buy a large jar of marinated artichoke hearts). I also added the lemon zest with the lemon juice and added capers. This is one of my favorites!
Thank you SO much for trying out this recipe! Loveee to hear that you enjoyed it! ๐ xT
Recipe was written well and easy to follow, but these flavors didnโt meld well together for me. One of the few HBH recipes I wonโt make again.
Hey Tiffany! I appreciate the feedback! Is there anything else I can do to help? xT
Delicious! I make it again and again. Usually I add a bunch of spinach too so we get more veg.
Thanks sooo much! Love to hear that this recipe was a success! xT
The sauce is delicious! Just a slight lemony tang. Definitely a meal I’d be happy to share with friends or family
Thanks so much Jay! Love to hear that this dish turned out well for you! xT
My family loves lemony artichoke chicken. This recipe is so delicious and easy that it replaces my old recipe! Iโm planning to serve this next month at a casual dinner party for 10. Thanks, Tiagen!
Thanks so so much for trying out this recipe! Have a lovely day! xT