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Slow Cooker Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo. Turning a classic dinner recipe into an easy slow cooker meal using white wine, creamy Dijon mustard, fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, and orzo. I even added in some vibrant broccoli for veggies and color. This slow-cooked chicken dinner is a hearty and delicious meal to come home to at the end of a busy day. And the best part? It’s the easiest dinner to prepare. You simply can’t go wrong with a dinner like this herby chicken and creamy orzo.
Breaking out a slow cooker recipe today and it’s not even October. Yes, it may be a bit early. But I’m pretty sure that most of us appreciate a good slow cooker dinner almost any time of the year. They’re just so easy!
This is one of those dishes that I’ve been wanting to make for the longest time now. But I told myself to hold off until the autumn days started to set in. It’s just so cozy and perfect for fall. It’s creamy, herby, a touch buttery, and has the BEST flavor. I love the fact that the chicken and orzo are cooked together in the slow cooker. It makes everything come together effortlessly.
It’s loosely inspired by my French wine and mustard chicken, but it’s made with a few additions…that I think, make it even better!
This is perfect for this time when the days might be warmer, but the nights are cooler. It’s going to be great all fall and winter long.
Here are the details
As you can imagine, this is really simple. Just place the chicken in the crockpot and rub it with olive oil and that mustard. Then add a ton of fresh thyme, sage, and garlic.
Now, pour in the wine and apple cider, then add some shallots.
I love to use apple cider in this for a slight air of warming fall flavor. It pairs so wonderfully with the white wine, herbs, and mustard. I know it sounds odd, but trust me, the apple cider adds such a nice flavor.
At this point, just cover the crockpot and cook. You can speed things up by cooking on high, or go low and slow. Alternately, you can use the instant pot, but I do prefer the crockpot method.
When the chicken has cooked, pull it out and set it on a small sheet pan.
Now the orzo
Here’s where the orzo comes in. Add the orzo to all the yummy broth in the crockpot along with some broccoli. Now simply cover and cook a few minutes longer, until the orzo is al dente.
Meanwhile, I love to add a little butter to the chicken. Then throw it under the broiler for a couple of minutes to crisp up. This is totally optional, but I do think it adds to the dish.
When the orzo is finished, add in a touch of cream and parmesan too.
And now serve it up!
So simple and quick with barely any clean-up and minimal hands-on time.
The simplest dinner, and so great for busy weeknights…hearty, creamy – and so freaking good!
Looking for other slow cooker meals? Here are a few ideas:
Slow Cooker Saucy Sunday Bolognese Pasta
Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf
Crockpot Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bolognese
Lastly, if you make these Slow Cooker Mustard Herb Chicken and 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!
Check out our How-To Video:
Slow Cooker Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 641 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped sage
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 shallots, quartered
- 1 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
- 1 cup apple cider or chicken broth (do not use vinegar)
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cups dry orzo pasta
- 1 1/2 cups chopped broccoli
- 1/3 cup heavy cream or canned full fat coconut milk
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Slow Cooker
- 1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, rub the chicken with the olive oil, mustard thyme, sage, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour over the wine, cider and lemon juice. Add the shallots. Cover and cook on low for 3- 4 hours or on high for 1-2 hours. 2. Preheat the broiler to high. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker place it on a baking sheet. 3. Crank the heat on the slow cooker to high. Stir in the orzo, broccoli, 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 cream and parmesan.4. Place the butter on the chicken, then broil 1-3 minutes, until crisp. Serve the chicken over the orzo. Enjoy!
Instant Pot
- 1. Set the instant pot to sauté. Rub the chicken with the olive oil, mustard thyme, sage, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken to the instant pot and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Pour in the wine, cider and lemon juice. Add the shallots and butter. Cover and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.2. Once done cooking, release the steam. Set the Instant pot to sauté. Stir in the orzo, broccoli, and 1 cup water. Cook 6-8 minutes, until the orzo is al dente. Stir in the cream and parmesan.3. Serve the chicken over the orzo. Enjoy!
Stove-Top
- 1. Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Rub the chicken with the olive oil, mustard thyme, sage, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken to the pot and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Reduce the heat to medium. Pour in the wine, cider and lemon juice. Add the shallots and butter. Cover and cook 10 minutes. 2. Stir in the orzo, broccoli, and 1 cup water. Cook, stirring often, another 6-8 minutes, until the orzo is al dente. Stir in the cream and parmesan.3. Serve the chicken over the orzo. Enjoy!
Way too much vinegar. Sadly all we could taste. I love all your recipes but not this one. Sorry.
Did you use apple cider vinegar rather than cider as the recipe calls for?
I’m so confused. I don’t see vinegar. Did I miss something, I’m making this Wednesday for dinner and just want to be sure lol
It seems that the people complaining about vinegar used “apple cider VINEGAR” rather than apple cider, like the juice! They just misread it!
Hey Pamela,
So sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe, but there is no vinegar in this dish, the recipe calls for apple cider. Please let me know if you give it another try. xTieghan
All we could taste was vinegar and though it out
There shouldn’t be any vinegar in the recipe! It calls for “apple cider”, like the juice. Not apple cider vinegar! Maybe try it again 🙂
Hey Maryann,
So sorry to hear this, but the recipe calls for apple cider, not apple cider vinegar:) xTieghan
I don’t know what I did wrong, but this failed miserably! I used thighs instead of breasts which was delicious after cooking. I then added the orzo and broccoli and the other ingredients. The orzo was clumpy. Probably not enough liquid. Will try again!
Hey Sarah,
So sorry to hear this, was there anything you adjusted in the recipe? What cooking method did you use? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
This was so good! Love the blend of flavors. I made it on the stovetop in about 30 minutes.
Oh, and I used chicken tenders, they were on sale. I added the cream at the end and topped with parm.
Hey Donna,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Does the chicken need to be flipped in the slow cooker?
Hi Kate,
No need to flip the chicken, you can follow the recipe as is:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Curious why you prefer the slow cooker over the instant pot for this one. It looks delicious!
Hi Kristine,
I just love the smell the dish creates in the house and how the flavors really mend together over the longer cooking time. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious. Just finished having this for dinner! Changed my chicken risotto plans when I saw this in my email this morning.
Here’s the modifications I made to fit ingredients I had at home if anyone needs ideas to modify:
Mixed apple butter into some chicken stock I needed to use up as a sub for cider.
Skipped parm and only did a splash of cream to finish.
Used skinless chicken breasts- no problems.
Added rosemary and bay leaf to the sage and thyme because I had them on hand. Just did as a bouquet garnis in liquid instead of chopped.
Hey Emily,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! Thanks for sharing what worked well for you! xTieghan
When you say Apple Cider – are you saying an alcoholic fermented cider or just apple cider as a juice. I was assuming the fermented – but want to check.
If you click on the hyperlink in the recipe you’ll see she’s suggesting an apple cider sold at Target. It’s not hard (alcoholic) cider.
Hey Marie,
For this recipe I did not use an alcoholic cider, just regular apple cider that is similar to the juice. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Thank you for including stove top methods. I’m recently retired & have been downsizing. I’ve donated my instapot & two sets of dishes to Habitat for Humanity. Don’t know why I had two extra sets of dishes.?
I hope you love the recipe Lynn!
Hi – do you really use boneless breasts with the skin for this recipe? I’m not really sure where I would get these, outside of going to the Whole Foods butcher, which I probably wouldn’t do for a crockpot recipe! Would you recommend using boneless/skinless or breasts with skin and bones instead?
Hey Jacki,
You can really use any kind of chicken you want for this recipe, it will turn out great either way:) Please let me know if you give the dish a try! xTieghan
Our family greatly prefers dark meat, so I’m wondering whether we could swap out the breasts. Is there a particular reason you think breasts are better for this recipe? Or, if it’s fine to switch, could you suggest cooking time and bone-in or boneless thighs. Thank you!
Hey Yvonne,
You can easily use bone-in chicken or boneless thighs, you can follow the recipes as is, the chicken will cook just fine. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
For stove top, is the cream and Parmesan added at the end? Seems those ingredients are missing.
Hey Karen,
The cream and parmesan is added in step 2. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
If I cut in half what is the cooking time?
Hey Erin,
Depending on which cooking method you use, you will also cut the cooking times in half. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
How much orzo?
The recipe says 2 cups dry orzo pasta.
The flavour of the recipe is delicious! However, my orzo ended up gummy. Is it over cooked perhaps?
Hey Chelsea,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try. Was there anything you adjusted in the recipe? What cooking method did you use? It’s really hard for me to say without knowing some more info. xTieghan
Hi Tiegan!
I used the crockpot method. The only thing I adjusted was the apple cider…I did not have any so I replaced it with chicken broth.
Ahhh so sorry to hear this, I really don’t see why the orzo would come out gummy for you!
Hey Roberta,
You will want to use 2 cups of orzo. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks great! I’m very excited to try it I’m just wondering when to add the heavy cream for cooking by instant pot?
Selina, I’m at the 2nd sautéing stage in instant pot and am going to add the cream & parm once arborio (had no orzo) is al dente!
Hey Selina,
Yes, the heavy cream is added in step 2. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan