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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 added vegetables 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.
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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. Plus, you can easily package leftovers in an airtight container to keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, you could even pop this in the freezer for a last minute meal.
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
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!
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.
I worry that the broccoli will become green mush after cooking so long in the IP…thoughts? Perhaps steam it separately and add when serving?
Hey Brooke,
You shouldn’t have any issues, but you could certainly cook it on the side:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Does the orzo really require 20-30 min on high in crockpot? The bag or Orzo that i bought says it cooks in 5 min.
Making this tonight, and I already know it will be a crowd pleaser for the toddler, older kid, and adults!
Hi Lindsay,
It does, any chance you bought like a quick cooking orzo? Does it have box instructions? You might need to follow those! I hope this recipe turns out tasty for you! xx
Do you recommend skin-on chicken breasts or skinless?
Hey Lindsay,
Honestly either is great to use here! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Hi! I can’t wait to try. In the instant pot, is the orzo actually cooked with the saute function?
Thank you!
Hi Shawna,
It is yes:) Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
I’m confused: for the instant pot and stove top versions do we remove the chicken and set it aside while we cook the broccoli/orzo? I’ve read through all of the comments to try to find clarification but it’s still not clear. The *serve the chicken with the orzo* implies that it wasn’t already in the pot together so I’m assuming the chicken needs to be pulled out first for all 3 recipes?
It looks like she replied to a similar question in the comments from a ‘Sara’ on Oct 20. She says not to remove the chicken (I was looking through comments for the same thing as you!)
I plan to do something similar to what she did with the crockpot but with stove-top, since I just saw this post on IG today and decided to make it tonight (I did not plan ahead enough for the crockpot). I’ll plan to sear chicken on both sides as recommended and cook with broths and other liquids for 10, then remove and possibly broil to crisp and serve on top of orzo/brocoli mix cooked in the leftover liquids.
Best of luck!
Thanks Haley!! I hope you love the recipe! xx
Hi Michelle,
No need to remove the chicken for the instant pot and stove top:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
What crockpot do you recommend? Thanks! I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Hey Gretchen,
Here is the link for my crockpot:
https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=900703822&pid=uid3696-43323264-41&aid=43342403&utm_content=productwidget%3A6359cf6f870c5535efbf1a3d&utm_medium=referral
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Are you supposed to use skin on chicken? Can’t wait to try!
Hey Amy,
Totally up to you, either works! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it’s delish! xT
What Could I substitute for the wine? I’m excited to make this
Hi April,
You can use broth in place of the wine. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it turns out well for you! xT
Any suggestions on how long we should cook the risotto in place of orzo and how much more liquid? It’s been taking awhile 🙁
Hi Lorie,
You should be able to follow the recipe as written using risotto. I hope this helps!! xx
Only comment I would suggest is to not do apple cider vinegar. Made it tonight in the instapot and all we could taste was vinegar. Will try again with chicken broth but apple cider vinegar was a huge fail for us!
Hi Chester,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try, sorry it was not enjoyed! This recipe does not call for apple cider vinegar, just apple cider:) I hope this helps for next time! xT
OMG that makes much more sense! Thank you!
Delicious! Just made this tonight in the stovetop and wow!!!! The orzo did take a bit longer than it said (probably 15 mins total) and i had to add almost 2 cups of water to make it al dente. Other than that! Followed the recipe to the T and was so yummy! Kids and hubby loved!
Thanks so much CC!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed! xT
Can rice be substituted here to make it gluten-free?
Hey Abbey,
Arborio rice would work the best for you here! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope this recipe is tasty! xx
With Arborio rice would you still recommend 1 cup of water and the same timing?
Yes, you should be able to follow the recipe as written:)
Excited to try this! Can I substitute frozen broccoli?
Hi Olivia,
Totally, frozen broccoli would work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
For the stovetop version are you supposed to remove the chicken when you add the orzo?
Hey Sara,
No need to remove the chicken:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Just made the stove top version of this. So easy and yummy! Everyone went back for seconds. Will definetly make again!
Hey Alison,
Happy Wednesday!!👻 I truly appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it was enjoyed:)
Could I substitute dried thyme and sage for fresh? Our grocery store was out of fresh herbs, and I’ve been looking forward to this dish all week. 🙂 I made it last year, and it was delicious!
Hey Kate,
Totally, that will be just fine for you to do! I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you:) Thanks for trying it out last year! xT
This was fabulous! Like risotto, but much less work. I used crockpot on low. Also, I used half thighs half breasts–both were great. I also added lemon to orzo at end so i could control flavor and not lose brightness with long cooking. I didn’t add broccoli because my husband is not a fan and just made a side of green beans. Maybe because of this, i only needed about half a cup of water (added boiling water to keep temp up).
Hey Katie,
Happy Wednesday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xT