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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 did this in my instant pot and it turned out great! The chicken was not dry at all. Love a yummy, simple recipe for a bust week night!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks xTieghan
Hi! I just wanted to say that I cooked this and it was very tasty. I read the comments right after I placed everything in the slow cooker and I took the chicken out after 90 mins. It was tender and tasty. Also I tasted the orzo before adding in the cream and it was delicious. Next time I make this I may consider skipping the creamy part. Overall very creative and yummy dish Tighan
Hi Raven! Thanks so much for trying out this recipe. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. xTieghan
Made this, it was absolutely amazing I used chicken thighs, in the pressure cooker and rice and lentils instead of orzo
I was going to ask about subbing rice. How much rice and lentils did you use.
Yum! Sounds amazing. Thanks so much for trying out this recipe! xTieghan
I agree with it being too dry. I don’t think slow cooker is the way to go, for boneless chicken. It’s just too long of a cooking time for it. It turned out ok because it was covered in the sauce and was able to save it. Great idea and good ingredients/ flavor, but do stovetop or instapot.
I agree, this type of recipe doesn’t make sense to do in a slow cooker. I made it on the stovetop and it was very good. I didn’t use quite as much wine as called for (kids), and added chicken broth to add more liquid. I also had to cook the orzo longer than called for. The flavors were very good and I’ll definitely make again!
Easy and comforting weeknight recipe for fall! Used 1 cup chicken stock instead of dry white wine. Cooked chicken for just under 3 hours on low in slow cooker and came out great – went with skinless chicken so did not put it under broiler. Added Spinach + a little butter to the orzo as well!
So delicious! Did the instant pot version and it was excellent! Thank you for another great recipe! ?
Any suggestions for subs on the broccoli? Saw someone used asparagus and I am not a fan…
Hi there! I would say zuchinni, kale, or spinach 🙂 xTieghan
Is it ok to use a Spiced Apple Cider. That is all I could find
Amazing!! My family absolutely loved the flavor!! Thank you so much for the recipe.
Thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it! xTieghan
This one was just okay – nothing special. I had a really juicy lemon so I only used half of the juice for this recipe, and still my husband & I both noticed that it had a very strong bitter/tangy taste, like there weren’t enough flavors to balance out the mustard and lemon. Also I don’t understand the point of putting the chicken under the broiler (especially boneless skinless breasts) but I did it and would suggest that it’s unnecessary. We ate it and I will eat the leftovers but I don’t think I’ll make it again. Sorry. But there are sooo many better HBH recipes.
Hello-
I’m not able to find Apple Cider 🙁 I plan to do the Instant Pot version. So should I do 2 cups of white wine? Sub the Apple cider with Chicken broth or water? What do you think?
I have a related question. Does this recipe call for apple cider or apple cider vinegar? What can be substituted if you don’t have apple cider? Thanks!
Hello! I would sub the apple cider with a little bit of white wine and a little but of chicken broth! 🙂 Hope this helps. xTieghan
Made this in the slow cooker and it was very tasty, but next time I do it I will use thighs as although the chicken was flavourful it was a touch dry for our tastes. Thanks for sharing this recipe Tieghan!
I keep reading the orzo is over done. Can I cook this on the stove top and then add it when I am finished and just add the broccoli to cook in the crock pot?
Hi Lindsay! You can definitely cook it separately and add it later if you’d like! xTieghan
Any gluten free suggestions to replace the orzo in this dish (Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo)
Hi there! You could pair it with some yummy veggies or mashed potatoes 🙂 xTieghan
Or rice is gluten free! I am also gluten free
Hi! I just wanted to confirm that for the insta pot version you remove the chicken before doing the orzo? I’m sure it goes without saying wanted to verify!