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Crockpot Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Orzo. Turning a meatball and pasta dinner into an easy slow cooker meal. We’re using white wine, creamy Dijon mustard, garlic, herbs, parmesan cheese, and orzo. Then adding in some vibrant spinach and sun-dried tomatoes for veggies, flavor, and a pop of color. This slow-cooked chicken meatball dinner is a delicious meal to come home to at the end of the day. And the best part? It’s the easiest, cozy fall-winter dinner to prepare. Directions for the Instant Pot and stove-top are provided!
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I know I’ve said something like this before. But when a recipe I’m not sure about works out so well, I get incredibly excited! When I had this idea, at first I didn’t want to make it. I was honestly scared it would end disastrously. But after some pushing from mom, I decided to just go for it.
I kept asking her about the recipe, “should I make this”? I think I asked her 3 days in a row until she finally said, “Tieghan, MAKE THE MEATBALLS”! Finally, I listened and I sent her a text a few hours later to thank her for the encouragement. The recipe turned out better than I’d imagined and more importantly, it was so delicious.
Here are all the easy details
To be honest, I may only want to make meatball recipes in the crockpot from now on. This was so easy and almost mess-free.
Start with the meatball mixture. I make mine using ground chicken, Italian seasoning, dijon, and parmesan cheese. Just mix everything together in a large bowl and roll it into meatballs. Then place them in the crock-pot with a little olive oil to prevent any sticking.
Next, pour over white wine, add an onion, and a whole head of garlic. Cover and slow cook. Since these are meatballs, they can cook quickly on high for a couple of hours or cook them low and slow all day. Either is great and the meatballs are never dry. The wine will add moisture to them.
When the meatballs are cooked, pull them out along with the garlic cloves, then set them aside on a baking sheet.
Add the orzo to all the yummy broth in the crockpot. Now simply cover and cook a few minutes longer, until the orzo is al dente.
Meanwhile, I love to add butter to the meatballs and garlic and toss on some rosemary. Then place the sheet pan under the broiler for a couple of minutes to crisp them up.
What happens is that the butter browns around the meatballs, garlic, and rosemary. I then chop up the garlic and rosemary and toss them back onto the pan with butter. Then toss the meatballs with the garlicky butter to finish. This step is optional, but I think it really adds flavor.
When the orzo is finished, stir in the spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, then add the cream and parmesan, stirring until the orzo becomes very creamy.
Serve the garlic butter meatballs over the orzo, then drizzle any butter left on the pan over top.
So simple and quick with barely any clean-up and minimal hands-on time too.
What I love most about this recipe is the fact that it’s a complete all-in-one dinner. You have your protein, your carbs, and even your vegetables. You can serve this up on busy weeknights, but it’s equally great for those upcoming holiday dinners with friends and family.
Looking for other slow cooker meals? Here are a few ideas:
Creamy White Bean Noodle Soup with Rosemary Bacon.
Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo
Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch
Slow Cooker Saucy Sunday Bolognese Pasta
Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf
Crockpot Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bolognese
Lastly, if you make this Crockpot Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs with Creamy 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!
Crockpot Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken, pork, or turkey
- 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 onion, quartered
- 1 head garlic, top trimmed off to reveal the cloves
- 1 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 2 cups dry orzo pasta
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or canned full fat coconut milk
Instructions
Slow Cooker
- 1. Add the chicken, Italian seasoning, dijon, and 1/2 cup parmesan to a bowl. Season with salt, and pepper. Mix to combine. Coat your hands with oil, and roll the meat into tablespoon-size balls (will make 15-16 meatballs). Add olive oil and place the meatballs in the bowl of your crockpot. 2. Pour over the wine and 1/2 cup water. Add the onion and garlic. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1-2 hours.2. Preheat the broiler to high. Remove the meatballs and garlic from the slow cooker and place on a baking sheet.3. Crank the heat on the slow cooker to high. Stir in the orzo, and 1 cup water. Cover and cook 20-30 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente. If the orzo needs more liquid, add additional water. Stir in the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cream, and 1/2 cup parmesan.4. Arrange the butter and the rosemary around the meatballs and garlic, then broil 1-3 minutes, until crisp. Peel away the garlic skin, then chop and mix with the butter and rosemary on the sheet pan. Toss the meatballs in the butter. 5. Serve the meatballs over the orzo.
Instant Pot
- 1. Add the chicken, Italian seasoning, dijon, and 1/2 cup parmesan to a bowl. Season with salt, and pepper. Mix to combine. Coat your hands with oil, and roll the meat into tablespoon-size balls (will make 15-16 meatballs).2. Set the instant pot to sauté. Add olive oil, then add the meatballs to the instant pot and sear until browned, about 5 minutes, Pour in the wine and 1/2 cup water. Add 1 chopped onion. Cook 5 minutes, then add the butter, garlic and rosemary. Let the butter butter, another 2-3 minutes. Cover and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.3. Once done cooking, release the steam. Set the Instant pot to sauté. Remove the garlic. Stir in the orzo and 1 cup water. Cook 6-8 minutes, until the orzo is al dente. Stir in the spinach, tomatoes, cream, and parmesan.4. Serve the meatballs over the orzo.
Stove-Top
- 1. Add the chicken, Italian seasoning, dijon, and 1/2 cup parmesan to a bowl. Season with salt, and pepper. Mix to combine. Coat your hands with oil, and roll the meat into tablespoon-size balls (will make 15-16 meatballs).2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, then add the meatballs and sear until browned, about 5 minutes. Add 1 chopped onion. Cook 5 minutes, then add the butter, garlic and rosemary. Let the butter butter, another 2-3 minutes. 3. Reduce the heat to medium. Pour in the wine. Stir in the orzo and 1 1/2 cups water. Cook, stirring often, another 6-8 minutes, until the orzo is al dente. Stir in the spinach, tomatoes, cream, and 1/2 cup parmesan.4. Serve the chicken over the orzo. Enjoy!
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.
Question , not comment. Do you think 1/2 ground chicken and 1/2 ground pork would work ok? Would it be better to stick with 1 meat source? Thank you
Hey Elizabeth,
Sure, half chicken and half pork would be fantastic! I hope this dish turns out amazing for you, let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
For the sun dried tomatoes….should we use Oil-packed or Dried-packed?
Would love to make this recipe this week. Don’t want to ruin dinner by using the Oil-packed sun dried tomatoes.
The tomatoes she has linked in the recipe list are packed in oil.
Hey Gina,
Yes, for this recipe, I like to use the oil packed. I hope you love the dish, let me know how it turns out for you! xTieghan
For the chicken meatballs, you mention olive oil to roll them but then you say add the oil….how much? Not mentioned in list of ingredients to.
Hey Daria,
Just a couple tablespoons of olive oil to prevent them from sticking:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Is there another herb I could swap for the rosemary?
Hey Kristin,
Totally, any other herb that you enjoy would work well for you! Thyme would be a great option. I hope you love this dish, let me know if you give it a try! xx
Can this be made with another type of pasta?
Hey Paula,
The measurements are for orzo, but you could try using another small pasta like stars or mini shells. I hope you love the recipe, let me know how it turns out! xT
When doing the instapot version, when you add in the orzo, do you take the meatballs out or cook it all together?
I was wondering the same thing!
Hi Jessica,
Yes, you will want to remove the meatballs:) I hope you love the recipe! xx
Hey Alex,
You can go ahead and remove the meatballs with the garlic. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Hi! I saw in the picture you have a parmesan rind in there, if I want to add that as well when should I do so??
Hey Nina,
You could add the rind with the parmesan and garlic. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
This looks delicious! Do you have a video of this recipe?
Thanks so much Lauren! I have a video on IG today:) xT
Found it, thank you! You are so creative with your recipes, I have loved everything I’ve made from you – the dishes always turn out spot on and so delicious! I can’t wait to try this one and your chicken and dumplings next 🙂
For crockpot version what is done with the quartered onion after you take the meatballs and garlic out? i’ve re-read the recipe several times and don’t see what I am supposed to do with the onions after cooking?
I saw them on the sheet pan in one of the photos. maybe chop them after roasting and include them.
Hi Amelia,
You are going to remove in step 2 and place on the baking sheet. They are there to really just infuse the chicken, you aren’t going to eat them. I hope this helps! Let me know how the recipe turns out! xT
In the stovetop version do you only use the cloves of chopped garlic and not the whole head that you sliced the top off?
Hi Lisa,
For the stove top, you can follow the direction and use 4 gloves of chopped garlic. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
Where do I find ground chicken?
At the grocery store 🤦🏼♀️
At the grocery store
Ground chicken can be hard to find. You could ask a butcher if they would ground some for you.
Hi Jean,
You should be able to find ground chicken at your local grocery store in the meat department. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
What could you substitute for the wine?
Hi Wendi,
You can use broth in place of the wine! I hope this recipe turns out well for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
Could I use chicken broth in place of the wine?
Hey there,
You bet, that will work well for you! I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
Can I add stock or something else to replace the cream? I don’t mind it not being creamy orzo.
Hi Stacy,
Sure, that will work for you. Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
My crockpot has a sear function… would you instead sear/brown the meatballs after cooking instead of the broiler? Or how would you adjust?
Hey Kaylin,
I would just follow the recipe as written for best results:) I to have a sear function on my crockpot. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx