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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!
Not gonna sugar-coat it, this was my first HBH failure. I adjusted the servings to 3 and used the crock pot (low) method. No bueno! The chicken was overcooked and the orzo gummy. It’s a shame because it smelled so good!
I salvaged the meat for chicken salad and put the cooked shallots on a frozen pizza with the fresh parm. While it was a bummer, I’m not afraid to take another stab at it if you have recommendations. Maybe I should try it in the Instant Pot.
Hey Binnie,
So sorry to hear this, next time, I would maybe just simply cut the recipe in half and same with the cooking time. If you reduced the recipe you would also want to reduce the cooking time. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Followed recipe exactly, but like others, orzo was gummy. What suggestions do you have? Because otherwise would have been so good.
Hi Margie,
So sorry to hear this! It sounds like the orzo could have been overcooked, next time I would reduce the orzo cook time by 5-10 minutes. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Can you sub the apple cider for anything? I have applesauce
I would definitely not use the apple cider vinegar. We couldn’t eat the meal it was so vinegary/acidic. Apple sauce or chicken broth a good substitute for the vinegar.
The recipe does not call for apple cider vinegar, it simply calls for apple cider, I even include a link in the ingredient list:) xTieghan
Hi Jenny,
I would use either apple cider or apple juice:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Easy, quick and soooo good! Was running late and whipped this up spontaneously after noticing the recipe earlier and realizing I had all the ingredients. It tasted like fine dining. Used rice instead of Orzo for GF and it was delicious! Thank again for another keeper!
Hi Melissa,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving 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,
I think that would work well for you. I hope this dish turns out amazing, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Easy, quick and soooo good! Was running late and whipped this up after noticing the recipe earlier and realizing I had all the ingredients. It tasted like fine dining. Used rice instead of Orzo for GF and it was delicious! Thank you!
Hey Melissa,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
I want to make this recipe! You have it listed as 442 calories/person, but when I enter it into MyFitnessPal directly from your page, it lists it as 672 calories/person. How do you determine your calories per portion? I noticed it on another recipe I really wanted to make, the stuffed pasta shells, but it was just too many calories.
Maybe consider having a smaller portion of the yummy calorie rich food with a big salad or veggies:) Then you get the best of both worlds!
Hey Debbie,
We use an online system where the ingredients are inputted and the calories are produced, as always it is just an estimate:) xTieghan
I absolutely loved this – but I think I screwed up by making it in the morning almost exactly then broiling the chicken to re-heat at dinner time – unfort the chicken came out quite dry 🙁 but I think that was a self-own on my part! Very easy to make and the shallots add so much flavor. I live in London and wasn’t sure where to find apple cider so just used regular apple juice, which was fine.
Hey Emily,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, so sorry your chicken turned out dry! Please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
OMG I wish I had read the recipe. I misread and used apple cider vinegar! It was inedible. Maybe I should try again, as it was so easy to make! Ugh!!!
Oh my gosh I’m so glad I read your post because I was about to do the same thing ?
OMG. Can’t believe I also used apple cider vinegar. UGH. Dish ruined. Should have read more carefully but so many of us made the same mistake. I bet it’s absolutely delicious w apple cider (NOT vinegar).
So sorry about this Allison, let me know if you try again with apple cider:) xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight and it was hands down amazing. The flavors of the mustard, wine, garlic, herbs, and apple cider (the juice, not the vinegar 😉 perfectly complimented one another. I made mine in the insta pot and the prep/cook time was sub 45 minutes for me. So easy and so delicious! I definitely sautéed the chicken for a little too long because I was nervous about it not cooking all the way through, but it did! The orzo was perfectly cooked and the cream and parm were perfect finishers. If you have the time I’d definitely recommend cooking it in the insta pot, especially if you’re wanting the orzo al dente.
Hi Katie,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
Not sure what I did wrong but the recipe came out very soupy. I followed the crockpot recipe
Hey Bianca,
So sorry to hear this. Was there anything you adjusted in the recipe? How long did you cook for? Please let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight, and it was excellent!! Followed exactly and it was delicious! This one is a keeper!!
Hi Ann,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
Did you really mean to put a whole cup of vinegar? It was inedible.
It was 1 cup of actual apple cider, not vinegar. What a bummer, I hate when I misread recipes! It happens to all of us
REALLY wish I had read the comments before this! Will try again another time. But yikes, one bite and that is not a mistake I will make again.
OMG Tracy I did the same thing! The family was like…ummmm…this is somewhat burning! I totally misread that also and when I was pouring it in I was thinking this was a lot! ??
Hi…it’s apple cider, not apple cider vinegar 🙂
Hi Tracy,
Not at all, I can imagine that would taste horribly, the recipe calls for apple cider, not vinegar:) xTieghan
Horrible. It was dry and the cider vinegar is a horrible addition. I was so disappointed.
I think you were supposed to use Apple Cider, not Apple Cider vinegar….
Hey Heidi,
So sorry you did not enjoy the recipe, but there is no apple cider vinegar in this dish, the recipe calls for apple cider which I even link in the ingredient list:) xTieghan
Great recipe – family loved it!
I don’t love Thyme – substituted Rosemary.
Easy prep – will definitely be making again.
Thank you Tieghan. You are a super talented creative lady!
And so generous to share those talents.
Hey Bobbie,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
Way too vinegary, i cooked in Dutch oven – maybe that’s why? I’d cook again using half the vinegar.
I added cream & cheese at the end it was omitted from stove top directions.
Did you use apple cider vinegar? The recipe calls for apple cider.
I just made this and it was great but it was heavy on the Dijon and we love mustard!
I saw that some people used apple cider vinegar. That made me laugh because whhyyyy?!
I didn’t have apple cider so I used apple juice. I also did 1/2 cup of white wine and 1/2 cup of chicken stock which I would do again. My orzo took forever, like 20 min in the slow cooker. My husband and I liked this (the chicken was to die for) except the orzo just tasted like Dijon which was overbearing. I will make it again with less than 1 Tbsp, def not 2. Thank you Teighan!!
Hey Wrenn,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!! Thanks for sharing what worked well for you. ? xTieghan
Hi Liz,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try. This dish calls for apple cider, not apple cider vinegar:) I hope this helps for next time. xTieghan