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This One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo is the perfect winter dinner…quick, easy, hearty, and delicious! Pan-seared Italian seasoned chicken breasts in a creamy sun-dried tomato and spinach sauce. Cooked together with orzo pasta for a complete dinner made in just ONE skillet. Truly one of those all-in-one dinners that everyone at the table will love. Great for a weeknight, but equally fancy enough to serve up at your next holiday dinner. You can’t go wrong with this warming skillet dinner.
It’s hard to believe that we’re entering the second week of December and are only just two and half weeks out from Christmas…and only three and half weeks from the New Year. Where is the time going!?
As I type this up I’m getting ready to take-off for NYC. By the time you all read this, I will be in the city. I have to say, I’m really excited for this trip, but equally excited to return home on Thursday, and finally be HOME for the remainder of the year. I know many of you travel for work weekly, but as you all know, I’m such a homebody at heart. So I’m excited to have some time to enjoy the remainder of December with my family. Anyone else in the same mindset?
With that in mind, I’m always looking for the easiest recipes this time of year. The days are incredibly short and things are busy between work and holiday prep. Quick and simple dinners that everyone at the dinner table will eat are what I strive to create.
Enter this skillet creamy sun-dried tomato chicken and orzo.
To make this all-in-one dinner…
Start with a skillet. I love using a cast iron skillet, but any oven-safe skillet or even dutch oven works great. You’ll want to season the chicken up with a few dried herbs and spices…oregano, paprika, and just a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Then sear the chicken until it’s golden.
PS. if you don’t have a cast iron skillet, check out the current Staub giveaway we’re hosting on Instagram!
Next up, remove the chicken from the skillet, add a bit of butter, plus some shallots, garlic, and orzo. I love toasting the dry orzo pasta in butter for additional flavor. The butter browns and the orzo takes on a delicious nutty flavor.
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Moving along, add a splash of white wine. Then add pretty much everything else. Cream, a little parmesan cheese, fresh spinach and of course sun-dried tomatoes. Slide the chicken right into the sauce, then transfer the whole skillet right to the oven. Bake for about ten to fifteen minutes…
And then? Dinner is done. Yes, this is that SIMPLE.
So how does it taste?
I know simple skillet dinners can get a bad rap for being boring, but this is anything but boring. The sauce is creamy, hinted with lemon, garlic, and just a touch buttery too. The orzo is perfectly cooked and has a little nutty flavor.
And the chicken has a wonderful herbed flavor with a bit of heat from the crushed red pepper. It’s everything you’d expect out of a multi-step recipe, but made all in one skillet…and all SO GOOD.
What I love most about this recipe is the fact that it’s a complete dinner all-in-one. You have your protein, your carbs, and even your vegetables. I can serve this up on busy weeknights, but it’s equally great for holiday dinners with friends and family. I’ll be remaking this as soon as I get home. My family members are slowly starting to make their way back to Colorado for Christmas, so this is going to be on repeat.
Looking for other one skillet dinner ideas…check out these.
If you make this one skillet creamy sun-dried tomato chicken and 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!
One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo.
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 530 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or small thighs
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1/3 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained
- juice of 1 lemon
- fresh rosemary, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet set over medium-high heat. Rub the chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil, the oregano, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken. Sear on both sides until golden, about 3-5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet.3. To the same skillet, add the butter and shallot, cooking until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and orzo, cooking until lightly golden, 2-3 minutes. Add the wine and de-glaze the pan. Add 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, cook 3-5 minutes, then add the cream, mustard, parmesan, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes, stirring until the spinach has wilted. Slide the chicken and any juices left on the plate back into the skillet. Transfer to the oven and cook, uncovered for 10-15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.4. Serve the chicken topped with lemon juice and rosemary, if desired.
My family absolutely loved it!!! So tasty and creamy and most importantly easy! Half baked harvest turns me into a gourmet chef and my husband loves it 🙂
Hey there,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback! Love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Great recipe.
Any wine pairing suggestions from anyone?
Hi Ross,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback! I would do a cabernet sauvignon. Love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Hi, from Cleveland! Finally made this tonight! I felt like I was eating at a nice restaurant and could easily make this for entertaining and impress my friends! So easy and the lemon and rosemary at the end brings out all the flavors. A big winner!
Hi Dina,
Fantastic!! I love to hear that the recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try. Have the best week:)) xT
Hi! I am dying to try this recipe this week and have everything I need to make it–yay! However, my husband has gluten sensitivities. Could I sub wild rice in place of traditional pasta or would you suggest an alternative pasta?
Hi Claire,
I would use GF orzo or Arborio rice for this recipe. Please let me know if you give it a try, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
I was skeptical about this recipe I didn’t think the chicken would cook properly HOWEVER this was AMAZING the chicken was cooked perfect the orzo was creamy and delicious my kids devoured it and my companion who is picky loved it this is definitely in my recipe Arsenal forever thank you!!
Hi Candace,
Happy Friday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xx
Just made this today! It was soo tasty and easy to make! I’ll definitely be making this again! Minimal prep and just one pot! Thank you!!
Hi Kathy,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xx
I have never cooked with wine and do not drink wine at all. Would you recommend a substitute for the wine?
Hey there,
You can use broth in place of the wine. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Delicious and easy to prepare. Can’t wait to try more Half Baked Harvest recipes. Gourmet restaurant quality meal that I am adding in to my rotation of meals to prepare
Hi Robyn,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear that it was a hit!! xTieghan
Delicious and easy to prepare. Can’t wait to try more Half Baked Harvest recipes. Gourmet restaurant quality meal!
Hi Robyn,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear that it was a hit!! xTieghan
Can I substitute a different pasta instead of the orzo? If so, what would you recommend? I ordered all the ingredients through a grocery delivery service l; the store was out of orzo and I can’t find it anywhere. But I really want to make the meal this week because I have everything else for it. This was highly recommended to me by a friend whose made it a few times and her family loves it!!
Hi there,
I would use another small noodle similar to orzo, something like macaroni would work well! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it!! xxTieghan
Made this meal for the 2nd time!! Still a family favorite.
Hi Danielle,
Fantastic! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xx
Made this one tonight and oh my goodness it was so DELICIOUS! Thank you so much! Can’t wait to get your cookbooks!
Hi Victoria,
Fantastic!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend:) xT
One of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had!! We used thighs but t look forward to making it a with jumbo shrimp.
Hi Kathleen,
Fantastic!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend:) xT
This was delicious. Everyone loved it. Super easy and flavourful. Will be making again for sure xx
Hi Natalie,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! xx
Made this with chicken last week with a plan to make it again but forgot the chicken. Substituted shrimp in and boy was it delicious! Great recipe!
Hey Jayme,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! xx