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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!
Looks delicious! How much olive oil do you need for the crock pot method?
Thanks Stephanie! You can use about 2 tablespoons! I hope you love this recipe! xx
Serves 6? 15 small meatballs? For 6? Not in this house! Delicious nevertheless.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback!! Sorry to hear the servings were too small! xT
This recipe was DELISH! I made it on the stove top and instead of the garlic bulb, I added 6 closed minced garlic. Served with Sauvignon Blanc. Amazing!
Hi Jill,
Happy Sunday!!🍀 I am thrilled to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it and sharing your comment! xT
3 tbsp of Italian seasoning seems like too much?? Is that the right amount?
Hi Cathy,
Yes, that is the correct amount, but feel free to adjust to your liking:) I hope you love this recipe! xx
Could you use rice? I don’t eat wheat/ gluten.
Amazon sells GF DeLallo orzo made with rice and corn. It’s pricey but really good.
Thanks for sharing Pat!
Hi Jayme,
Sorry, the rice is going to cook differently and I’ve never tested the recipe using rice. I would try a gf orzo or arborio rice for best results. I hope this helps! xx
Hi! Excited to try this!
For the garlic- do you peel off the flaky skin too? I’ve never really cooked with a whole head of garlic. Thank you!!
Hi Kylene,
For this recipe I don’t, I just allow the garlic to infuse the dish while cooking. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Hello!
Question regarding the onion. In the ingredients it’s quartered. Should it be chopped or did you move it to the sheet pan and broil with the garlic?
For the insta pot/stovetop instructions it’s chopped so it would stay with the Orzo.
Which method did you find worked best?
Thank you!
Hey Brandi,
It’s really up to you, if you like the onion flavor, go ahead and chop it, otherwise you can just let it infuse the dish while it is quartered. I hope this helps, please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xx
These sound great, but I’m not a mustard fan :(. Do you have a suggestion of what to substitute to add flavor?
Hey Corrine,
I would go ahead and just skip the mustard:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it’s delish! xx
Made it for dinner tonight and forget some key ingredients in the meatballs after they were in the oven. Yes I baked mine instead of browned in the pan this time. Forget the Parmesan I’m the meatballs. They were “bland” as my husband put it. Definitely adding to the rotation. Thanks so much.
Hey Fara,
Happy Friday!!🍀 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your comment, so glad to hear it was delish! Sorry to hear about the meatballs! xT
StoveTop instructions, last sense in Step 2 – Let butter butter…? Should that read ‘Let butter brown’?
Thanks! Looking forward to making this tonight!
Joy
Hi Joy,
Yes, let the butter brown:) Sorry about that! I hope you love this recipe, let me know if you give it a try! xx
This was AMAZING!! Your recipes are so fabulous! I make three to four of them a week!
My change up was adding a chopped jalapeno to the chicken meatballs. And I used Kale and fresh basil instead of spinach…(I was out). I did everything on the stove and it was DIVINE!
Thank you for sharing your amazing talents with all of us!
Hey Tamera,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! Have a great Wednesday! xx
Do I leave the wine/water that’s already in the crockpot once I take the meatballs out to cook the orzo and just add more water to it? Thanks!
Hi Hannah,
You can follow the recipe as written, no need to remove any liquid from the crockpot and then add 1 cup of water in step 3. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Hi! I want to make this for a progressive dinner, but I’m the second stop. In Crockpot method step 3, could I leave it on low and cook the orzo for 40min-1hour to give myself some more time? Very excited to try this recipe!
Hi Alli,
I wouldn’t leave the orzo in for longer than 30 minutes:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Hi tieghan! For the instant pot option- should you take the meatballs out before putting in the orzo or leave them in there while cooking the orzo?
Hey there,
You can leave the meatballs in the instant pot:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Hi!
My husband and I love all your recipes they are always delicious and nice and easy to follow! I’m loving using fresh ingredients to make all your dishes and actually asked my family to get me all your cookbooks for my birthday coming up!
I’m planning to make this recipe for dinner tonight or tomorrow but had a quick question about the instapot version, once I remove the garlic what do you do with it? Do you chop it up and add it back in or something?
Hey Regina,
Thanks so much for your kind message and making so many recipes!! The garlic is going to infuse the dish while cooking in the instant pot so you can just toss it after. If you LOVE garlic you could mince some up to put in the dish:) Happy Birthday!! xx
We do love garlic so we decided to add it back in! The dish is so delicious! Thank you for another home run of a recipe!
Awesome!! So glad to hear this:) xx
Getting ready to make this but not sure about “add olive oil”. I see you use it to coat your hands to make the meatballs but there is no amount listed for adding oil or where to add it. Help 😊!
Hey Cathy,
You can just add a drizzle of olive oil in step 1:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
I can’t do gluten so I was wondering what else I could use instead of orzo?
Hi Taylor,
I would use a GF orzo or arborio rice for best results. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope this turns out well for you! xT
Hi! What would be the directions for cooking the rice? Same as the orzo?
Hi Melanie,
So sorry, I’ve never tested this recipe with rice, the cooking directions would not be the same. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx