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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 bonus…it’s 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 I’ve 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, they’re always layered with so many delicious flavors. And that’s 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 it’s been one of my favorite recipes I’ve shared in a long while. Basically, I wanted to adapt that recipe to be a little more fitting for spring. And that’s 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 idea…
Here are the quick and simple details…
If you love a good chicken marsala, you’ll love this slight twist even more. It’s all about the lemony fried artichokes and or course that orzo pasta.
Start with the chicken. If you’ve 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: 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 truthfully…it’s just not that much fun. The butcher can quickly pound out the chicken and save you the trouble…and 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. They’ll 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, that’s 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 don’t 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 “no fuss”, 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, don’t 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. 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.
Oh lawd this was delicious! Highly recommend
Hey Colleen,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! ?xx
I made this last night and it was FANTASTIC! The whole family loved it ? I can’t wait to try more of your recipes! Thank you!
Hey Angela,
Happy Friday!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xx
Made this for dinner tonight while wifey danced around me in the kitchen. Loved loved the flavors of the orzo. Overcooked the chicken by a touch, must’ve been watching wifey! Super tasty and very easy, definitely going into the keeper file! Thanks!
Hey Daniel,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Easy and delicious! My family loved this recipe!
Hey Sandy,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Any suggestions on what I could use instead of Orzo to make this gluten free?
Thank you
Hi Andrea,
Arborio rice will work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it turns out amazing:) xx
Absolutely my favorite recipe of yours. It’s so good!!
Hey Ali,
Thank you so much for trying this recipe, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Is there a way to make this ahead? I want to make for a friend who is I’ll
Hi Sandra,
I really think this recipe is best served immediately. I have a lot of other recipes that would be great to make ahead. Here are a few ideas:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/one-pan-caprese-pesto-orzo-bake/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/cheesy-zucchini-chicken-and-rice-bake/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/lemon-rosemary-dijon-chicken/
Please let me know if you have any questions! xTieghan
Your liquid proportions are completely off for the amount of orzo in this dish. I’ve had to go add more water three times now in order to make the pasta not raw. Not sure that dredging the chicken adds any real benefit either, but it smells good!
Hi there,
So sorry to hear you are having issues, all of the measurements are correct. Do you happen to have the heat too high? This would cause the liquid to absorb faster. Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Would whole milk work instead of heavy cream?
Hi Kimberly,
Yes, that will work well for you! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
I am planning on making this tonight. Was wondering if some sliced baby bellas could be added? Any suggestion on when to incorporate? I can almost taste this dish with my eyes!
Looks amazing!
Hey Rosemary,
Totally, I would add with the artichokes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi Rosemary – I want to add lion’s mane mushrooms and I was wondering, what quantity of mushroom you added and how it worked out for you?
Delicious! Came together quickly for a Monday night dinner, used pinto Grigio as I did not have Marsala, still amazing. I will definitely make this again !
Hey Sarah,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback! Love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
I did this recipe with orechiettes pastas instead of the orzo and I added some parmesan cheese, it was DELICIOUS. <3
Hi Charlotte,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
Absolutely delicious! The flavors blend so well and it’s great comfort food on a snowy night like tonight. Easy to make. Your recipes are the best!
Hey Michele,
Happy Friday!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xxT
Wow this is DELICIOUS and surprisingly easy! It made me feel like a real cook and helped me gain confidence in the chicken!! I’ll definitely be making this again! And who knew marinated artichokes were so delicious? Not me!
Thank you!!
Hey Meredith,
Fantastic!! Love hearing that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it:) Have the best day! xxT
Dear Tieghan-Boy do we LOVE your recipes!!!
Snowy few days. Yesterday we had the puff pastry with gruyere. I added fig jam instead of the honey. It was one of the best things I have had in awhile. Ate it along with roasted red pepper soup. Score! Tonight we are having the marsala chicken with orzo and artichokes. Another winner. Thank you for putting out recipes with everything I love. Now all my sisters and nieces are following your website. <3
Hey Joy,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner. Have the best weekend:) xT
Hello, making this tonight and was wondering how you think almond cream would be in this recipe?
Hey Teresa,
That will work well for you! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
We actually ended up using coconut cream and adding mushrooms. Used only one jar of artichoke hearts but I think I’ll use 2 next time. It was delicious! Definitely going on our weekly dinner menu! Thanks for sharing this recipe my family loved it!
I forgot to say we also used chicken breast tenders instead of the cutlets and cut the cooking time down by a few minutes. They weee perfectly cooked!
Awesome!!
Hey Teresa,
Happy Friday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for trying it out! ☀️xx