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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.
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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 (I love cider, but many prefer broth)
- 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!
This was very good! I added mushrooms which I absolutely loved. A keeper recipe for sure ?
Hi Tara,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
Ugh I hate writing a neg review as I typically LOVE everything you make. But I just made this for my family and it taste like eating a bag of salt and vinegar chips it’s so strong. 🙁
Well crap, you meant apple cider, not apple cider vinegar ????
Omg thank you for posting this – I 100% would have made the same mistake!
OMG SAME! I’ve done that once in my life and it was horrible. Thanks for the heads up!
Can you use chicken thighs instead of breast?
Hi Christina,
Yes, chicken thighs will work well here. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hey Amy,
So sorry to hear this, but there is no vinegar in this recipe, the dish simply calls for apple cider. Maybe that will help for next time:) xTieghan
Hi Tieghan – I am making this for dinner as I type, and it looks (and smells) delicious! My question is that in the preparation photos, I see that there are red pepper flakes added in the beginning with the thyme, sage, etc., but I don’t see it included in the ingredient list or instructions. I eyeballed it, but it would be great to know the exact recommended measurement for the future!
Hi Lauren,
A pinch of red pepper flakes is perfect, it’s really to your spice liking:) I hope this dish turns out amazing! xTieghan
Made this tonight!!!!! We loved it!
We will definitely be making this again.
Thanks for such a great recipe.
Hey Pat,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
I really loved this recipe, but did run into one issue. I followed the instant pot directions and my orzo did stick to the bottom of the pot some. How can I avoid this in the future?
Hey Molly,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!! So sorry to hear about the orzo, did you add it to the chicken? The chicken should really be covering the bottom of the pot for you. xTieghan
Can I make this without wine?
Hi Kristyn,
You bet, I would use chicken broth in place of the wine. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
what can you substitute for cream or coconut milk? cannot use dairy or coconut milk? thanks!
A friend of mine that’s vegan uses soy milk / unsweetened nut milk + olive oil (or other oil you like) or non-dairy creamer like milkadamia. No idea if this is similar taste wise.
Hi Melinda,
I would use any other dairy free milk that you enjoy! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
A few questions, on your Instagram story it looks like your chicken had skin on it. Did you use chicken thighs? Also can you substitute rice for the orzo? I have a gluten allergy:(
Also curious about subbing orzo with rice!
I made this tonight, (crock pot) and it unfortunately did not turn out well for me. I would definitely sub rice- as it holds up better than the orzo which became gummy and soaked up all the liquid by the time half my family could eat it. If you don’t sub the rice, eat immediately 🙂
Hey there,
So sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe, thanks for giving it a try. xTieghan
Hey Heather,
I would use arborio rice as it will cook pretty much like the orzo. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi Gina,
The IG story looks like 5-6oz boneless breast w/skin on. You can use skinless, but use care when removing them from the slow cooker so that they don’t fall apart.
DeLallo brand makes an amazing GF orzo pasta! I’m using it in this recipe.
The photos in the post above also clearly show chicken with skin on it.
Hey Cath,
You can use skin on chicken:) Or skin off, it’s really personal preference here. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
I hope you love the recipe Amanda!
Hi Gina,
You can use any chicken that you like for this recipe, bone-in, skin on, boneless, skinless, thighs, breasts, the dish will be great with any of those. I would use arborio rice as it will have a similar cook time to the orzo. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Looks amazing as usual! I love the option to cut the recipe for less people on the print page.
When cutting in half, do you cut the amount of water for the orzo in half?
I see you didn’t use apple cider in the video, but you used juice of 2 lemons. If I don’t use cider is it appropriate to double the wine?
Hey Karen,
If you cut the recipe in half then yes you will also cut the water in half. I used both wine and cider so I would recommend following the recipe as written:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
On your Instagram story of the recipe you didn’t add the apple cider? Did you add more wine instead?
Hey Alexa,
I added both the cider and wine, you can follow the recipe as written:) I hope you love this dish, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! Just want to be sure before I make this amazing recipe – for the stove top directions, you don’t do the step where you remove the chicken and put it in the oven? You add the orzo to the pot with the chicken still in it?
Thank you for including all three methods, it is so great!
Hi Stephanie,
Yes, that is correct, you can follow those instructions as written:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi Tiegan! This looks delicious. In the the instant pot recipe, do you remove the chicken and then cook the orzo and broccoli on its own? Thank you.
Hi Mary Jane,
Nope, you will keep the chicken in the pot and add the orzo and broccoli to that. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Cant wait to try! I know its a new recipe but has anyone tried with quinoa? Wondering I should use the same amount as the orzo!
Hey Alexandra,
An equal amount of quinoa should work well for you here. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Could I use a whole chicken in the crockpot and cook it for double the time?
Hi Diana,
I have not tried this, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I saw this on Instagram first thing in the morning and craved it ALL day so I sent my husband to the store to grab some of the ingredients we didn’t have.
Friends you DONT want to miss out on this one! Creamy, simple, and packed full of warm flavor! Comfort food to the max on this rainy Tuesday in Boston.
I made the instant pot version and it was ready in around 20 minutes, the perfect weeknight meal. Thank you so much Tieghan!
Hey Kate,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
Hello! Would using a substitute for the cream take away from this dish a lot? Do you recommend swapping for something else? Using less cream/parm? Trying to make it a little healthier!
Hi Maggie,
You could replace the cream with skim milk and still achieve a similar result. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I would do 1/2 as much vinegar, and Cooke orzo on the stove top before adding. Made as instructed the orzo was sticky and the vinegar too strong.
I don’t see any vinegar I’m the recipe. Perhaps you used apple cider vinegar instead of apple cider?
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try. Please note, there is no vinegar in this recipe, the dish calls for apple cider:) I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
Sometimes the boneless chicken breasts are so thick. Do you then cut them in half for this recipe?
Hi Robin,
I did not cut mine, but you certainly can if that is to your liking. I hope you love this dish, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan