Next Post
Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
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!
My very first Half-Baked Harvest recipe and WOWZA! I did the stove top version and it was so easy and perfect! I am curious though, my orzo soaked up a lot of the “creaminess”, so how do I avoid that in the future??
Hey Abby,
Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it was a winner! I would turn your heat down next time:) xTieghan
You hit another one out of the ballpark! I only cook with Tieghan now!
Hey Suzi,
Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe out and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it was a hit! Thanks for your kind message? xTieghan
I made a half-recipe (okay, a 0.62 recipe, I had 562g of chicken thighs so I just … did some math) of the stovetop version!
Short review: Excellent, tasty, complex, you can probably add EVEN MORE broccoli if you wanna!
Long review: So I used apple cider (yummm) and cream, and was generous with both salt and black pepper. I also used dried thyme (1/3 the amount of fresh) to make this something that truly cooked down my freezer and pantry, as I didn’t want to go to the store. The only small thing I’ll note for the stovetop directions is *make sure things are simmering when you’re cooking the orzo*, which I did not initially and of course that made it take longer. I also used about 1.5 cup of broccoli in my aforementioned not-quite-halved measurements, so I’d argue the full recipe could totally accommodate a little more veg if that’s where you want to take it.
The stovetop directions are BOMB for a weeknight one-pot supper!
Hey there,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks for sharing your review and making the recipe!! Thanks for all of the extra notes of what worked well for you:) xTieghan
Completely delicious and gourmet. Made as directed using broth and subbing cream for coconut milk. Highly recommend!
Hey Mica,
I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it and sharing your review! xTieghan
This is the best crockpot recipe! Oh my goodness so delicious!! The only change I made was using apple juice (no sugar added) instead of apple cider since I didn’t have any. Love!
Hey Erika,
Awesome!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed! Thanks for making it and sharing your feedback:) xx
I’ve made this recipe many times and love it, but sometimes my chicken comes out dryer than others. The first time I made it, it was perfect despite the orzo needing to cook longer than the recipe states. I can’t figure out why it’s dry sometimes. The first time, I had a gas stove. Could that be why? Any tips to avoid dry chicken? Regardless, it is yummy (:
Hey Christina,
Thanks for making the recipe! I would say the only thing that would cause so much inconsistency would be the size of your chicken, I would try to make sure they aren’t too small because they will definitely dry out. I hope this helps! xTieghan
That makes sense! I made this tonight and just cooked the chicken for less time. I browned it for a couple mins like it says at the beginning of the recipe but then removed it from the pot, cooked the liquids, butter and shallots for 5 mins and then added the chicken back in for 5 mins and proceeded as usual. Turned out great! I will continue to do this moving forward unless the chicken breasts are thick (:
I’m so confused by some of these reviews. This is delicious! Not only is it tasty but it’s also very easy!
Hey Katie,
Wonderful!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback! I am so glad it was enjoyed. Have a great week! ?xxT
Hi, for the instant pot version, do I remove the chicken after it has cooked for 6 mins and before I put in the brocc/orzo? In the video demo for the slow cooker, it shows you remove your chicken from the pot to cook the brocc and orzo and then put it back in at the end, but your instant pot instructions do not say to remove the chicken. Thanks!
Hey Mack,
For the instant pot, you are going to leave the chicken. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
so yummy!! I can’t stop making your recipes, and this one did not disappoint! Thank you!
Hey Anna,
Wonderful!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe out, I am so glad to hear that it was a winner! xxT
I usually never leave reviews but this recipe was so bad that I had to. Nothing about it tasted good, the ingredients just did not go well with each other. We ended up getting take out instead for dinner. Disappointing.
Hi there,
So sorry to hear the recipe was not enjoyed, was there anything you may have adjusted? Let me know if I can help at all! xx
Did you use apple CIDER or apple cider VINEGAR? If you used vinegar that’s why it didn’t taste good.
DELICIOUS. I could eat that creamy orzo and broccoli every night. My only tweak is (instant pot version) I’m so glad I didn’t add 1C water when I made the orzo. There was so much liquid… I added maybe 1/4C toward the end.
Thanks for so many unique ideas!
Hey Abbey,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it. Have the best week:) xx
Dios mio—this one was terrible.
Dry chicken.
Mustard mixing with cream…with a sour flavor?
Broccoli that loses its color when you put it in the slow cooker—yet still remains tough.
Can’t bat 1.000! We tossed the leftovers and aren’t looking back.
Hi Philip,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, so sorry to hear this was not enjoyed. xTieghan
Another hit in our house!!! We absolutely love your recipes!!! Crisping up the chicken…. GENIUS!!!! The dish us just amazing! I’m going to serve it at out wine club dinner party as well! Thanks so much for sharing your amazing creations!!!
Hi Maureen,
Happy Friday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xxT
I’m not sure what everyone is saying but I’ve made this recipe multiple times for my family and it’s been a big hit! When I didn’t have chicken on hand I made shrimp on the side and mixed it with the orzo sauce mixture and it was delicious. I highly recommend this recipe!
Hey Stormy,
Wonderful!! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was a winner! xTieghan
Made the stovetop version…used boneless skinless chicken thighs and 1/2 cider 1/2 chicken broth. Delicious! We loved it!
Hey Heather,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback! xx