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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!
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 meatballs in the crockpot from now on. This was so easy and almost mess-free.
Start with the meatballs. I make mine using ground chicken, Italian seasoning, dijon, and parmesan cheese. Just mix everything together and roll it into meatballs. Then place them in the crockpot 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, 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
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 878 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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!
Very delicious meal! Only thing I would do differently is add a pinch of red pepper flake for a little more kick. Will definitely be making again!
Hey Rett,
Happy Wednesday! ❄️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
Hey Tieghan! Would it work to use whole milk in place of the heavy cream?
Hey Jodi,
Totally, that would be just fine for you to do! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
This was definitely a tasty easy meal! Unfortunately, my meatballs turned out a little dry I’m not sure why 🙁 I Will absolutely try this recipe again though!
Hey Alexa,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! Sorry to hear about the meatballs, next time I would try adding an egg to them! xx
I loved this dish. I made for 4 only and really appreciate the ability to dish as all your recipes provide to reduce( or increase ) the number of servings . I made the stovetop version and will note that I think I would use slightly less utter next next time and also it’s advisable to remove the chicken balls while the pasta cooks. Keeps them crispy and browned. Thanks. I m a new follower and can’t wait until I make my next recipe.
Hey Susan,
Happy Monday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
Can rice be substituted for the orzo? If so, what kind of rice would be best and would that cause a change to cooking time?
Hey Stephanie,
You should be able to follow the recipe as written using arborio rice! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Made with ground beef and chicken stock instead of wine. Delicious!
Hey Kate,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
This was good! I made some changes to the stovetop version but overall it was basically the same recipe. I removed the meatballs from the pan because there just wasn’t enough room to cook the orzo. I added the meatballs back in after the cream and simmered for a bit. I made my own Italian seasoning and I added and egg to the meatballs. I also sliced up the garlic cloves and left them in with the pasta. Loved it!
Hey Nicole,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
Made this on the stovetop and it turned out great! Added an egg to the meatballs and they weren’t the least bit dry. Will definitely be making it again!
Hey Sara,
Happy Wednesday! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
What do you do with the garlic in the instant pot/stovetop versions? Seems like you shouldn’t put garlic with the skin in there if you’re not ever going to peel it?
Hey Andrea,
You are just going to slice the top off of the head of garlic and let the garlic infuse the dish while cooking. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
So do you take the garlic out at the end? Or eat it?
You can take the garlic out or just serve around it:)
Did you end up doing the whole head? I’m gonna try just doing minced garlic, putting the whole head in a skillet seems crazy to me lol.
Why does the recipe say “let the butter butter”?
Hi Andrea,
Sorry, it should say “let the butter brown”. Please let me know if you have any other questions! I hope you love this recipe! xx
I made this last night in the Instant Pot. It was so yummy! I struggled with the orzo pasta and a lot of it burned in the bottom of the pot. But the meal was still so good! I will definitely make this again and use the slow cooker method to see the difference. I am addicted to your recipes now!!
Hey Kelly,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit!⛄️ xT
I found the orzo didn’t cook through and had to add about another cup or so of water in the instant pot version. Also, do you remove the meatballs or cook orzo in with them? I feel the meatballs should be removed and maybe the orzo would have cooked better.
Hi Kristal,
Thanks for giving this dish a try and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear about your orzo! I left the meatballs in for the instant pot version, but you could totally remove them! xx
I just made this for my boyfriend and I and it was delicious! I used ground Turkey since it’s what I had on hand, doubled the onion and added some extra sun dried tomatoes (all some of my favorites)! It’s one of my favorite HBH meals to date!
Hi Callie,
Amazing! Thanks so much for trying this dish and sharing what worked well for you, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
What else did you add to your crockpot when cooking the meatballs? In the pictures I see sprigs of thyme and spices on top and an item I cant make out. Thanks!
Hi Stacy,
I had some fresh thyme so I added that as well as a parmesan rind. You can totally add any herbs that you enjoy! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I made this for a family dinner during the holidays – I invited several people over for a meal. They all raved about it, and I even packed up some of the orzo for them to take home!! This was amazing. I will come back to this one again and again!
Hey Amanda,
Happy New Year!🎆🎈 I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! xx