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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!
Really disappointed…Chicken without skin under broiler just got dried out, not crispy. “Juice from 1 lemon” was added to printed recipe after I printed it – it’s not on my copy. The chicken was really bland. The orzo turned to glue in my slow cooker within 15 minutes – also really bland.
The recipe doesn’t say skinless chicken, it says boneless chicken. The chicken in the picture has skin on. Also the fact that the meal was bland is on you; learn how to properly salt your food.
Don’t be a dick. The recipe doesn’t specify whether to use skin on or skin off breasts. Also Tieghan has repeatedly said in the comments to a bunch of people that it doesn’t matter which kind of chicken you use.
Can’t blame people for doing what the recipe “creator” says is ok.
Hi Laura,
So sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe, please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
Not sure what happened with this one, but seemed a little sour. Maybe my lemon was too large or something! (Did not used vinegar as seems to be a common error) My broccoli was also a little too hard still. On to the next amazing HBH recipe!
Hey there,
So sorry this recipe was not enjoyed, please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
I’m very excited to try this tonight. I will do good ol’ reliable stove top for my first outing. I will say the instructions for stove top are missing the parmesan and cream additions.
UPDATE:
Made it for a friend who also has both of your books, and it was a success! I used bone-in chicken breasts; added chicken broth instead of water; adjusted my times and it worked out great on stovetop. Thank you!
Hi Alicia,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
Hey Alicia,
I hope you love the recipe, the parmesan and cream is added in step 2. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was SO delicious and I loved the flavors. I made the stove-top version. I used asparagus instead of broccoli which worked really well. Since I used thin-sliced chicken breasts, I cut down some of the chicken cook time so it wouldn’t dry out.
As many others have discovered it is just apple cider, not vinegar! And it is so yummy with the cider. I actually poured myself a glass of it to drink with the meal and it paired nicely 🙂
Hey Brittany,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
Hi!
Would skin or no skin chicken breast work best?
Making tomorrow 🙂
Hi Kate! Either will work just fine, it just depends on what you prefer! XTieghan
Delicious!!
Hey Linda,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
This was great! I hesitated to make the orzo because creamy sounded “mushy” in my mind. I decided to just follow the recipe as written (Duh) and I’m glad I did. The orzo was our favorite part!
Hey Tanya,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
My husband and I really enjoyed this recipe! The apple cider added a bit of sweetness which was so good with the creaminess of the heavy cream. So good!
Hey Lisa,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
Anyone have a substitute for apple cider?? About to start cooking and realize I forgot it!!!
Apple juice? Chicken broth? It’ll lose some of the sweetness tho.
Hi Allison,
You could use apple juice in place of the apple cider. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
How would you adjust the IP timing if using whole wheat orzo? Thanks! ☺️
Hey Jules,
Unless there is a huge difference in cooking time with whole wheat orzo, I would follow the recipe as is. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this today in my slow cooker. It was so yummy and will definitely make again.
Hey there,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
I made this last night and it turned out super yummy . . . although I may have used a little two much lemon. 🙂
Hi Beverly,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
I’ll start by saying that I love every recipe that I have done of HBH! This one failed, I’m not sure why. When I saw the vinegar, lemon juice, wine and mustard together, I almost deleted one (or subbed with chicken stock) but I thought no, go with the whole recipe.
It was so sour, tried a little extra cream and a sprinkle of sugar, didn’t help.
Has anyone else had this issue?
Thank you for all of the wonderful recipes!
Where did you see vinegar? Did you use apple cider vinegar instead of apple cider?
omg – That is EXACTLY what I did . . . so it wasn’t tooo much lemon. lol! I used apple cider VINEGAR instead of apple cider.
Made this for a dinner I hosted for friends and it was a hit!! Just the right amount of rich, salty, sweet, creamy goodness. So easy and very minimal clean-up, what else could you want in a recipe.
Hey Hailey,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Wish I read your comment befor making it for dinner tonight, the vinegar really didn’t taste good ???♀️
Hi Sam,
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe. To be clear, the recipe calls for apple cider, not vinegar, so this is why you had some issues. I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
I did the same with the ACV??♀️
Did not turn out good at all.
I made this tonight in the instapot. It was awesome. I saw this recipe and I had every ingredient on hand except apple cider. It’s the perfect time of year to have apple cider in the fridge so this was a great recipie to make. It was warm and comfy meal with great flavor. Thank you. I love your flavor combinations. ?
Hey Mary,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
I am so bummed! This was expensive and a disaster. I have made 20 of your recipes and all were fabulous! This was not! The orzo was like glue and broccoli was hard. After broiling the gorgeous chicken it was dry! The flavor was amazing. I would chop the shallots, I would cool the orzo separately – and I would take the chicken out at 3 hours not 4 and then broil with butter.
Hey Barbara,
So sorry this recipe was not enjoyed, please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
Are you supposed to remove the chicken from the Dutch oven after searing it? I reread the recipe 3 times and couldn’t tell. It seems weird to keep in after and boils the chicken but maybes that’s the point? It was very good regardless!!
Hey Caroline,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for making it! No need to remove the chicken:) xTieghan
Made quite a few adjustments to make this work with what I had on hand. Swapped breasts for thighs (skin off – doesn’t look nearly as crispy as the image), cut out the apple cider & added chicken broth for flavor. It wound up being more savory than I think it would have been with the sweetness of the cider, but I LOVED it. I also had to swap orzo for arborio rice because my local store didn’t have orzo (what a shame!). Decided to add in some gruyere cheese + Parm to the rice and WOW it took it to the next level. Since my chicken didn’t have any skin it looked a little dull, so I went ahead and turned some of the crockpot juices into a sauce. I love that these recipes can be customized and still turn out great.
Hey Courtney,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for making it! Thanks for sharing what worked well for you. xTieghan
Hi Courtney did you cook the Arborio for the same amount of time as listed in the recipe for the Orzo? I want to try this too!