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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.
TO. DIE. FOR.
Hey Susan,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear that it was a hit! xx
I wanted to make a special meal for my husband’s 60th birthday and THIS hit the spot. So yummy and easy to make. Will definitely be making this again and again!
Hey Jodi,
Happy Monday!!⛅️ Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it turned out well for you:)
This is becoming a Sunday regular at our house. So yummy and tastes like you ordered it from a restaurant.
I use the thin chicken breasts that come individually packaged in a pack of 5 and they cook up SO good (I sear them for slightly less time since they are thin)
Thanks Teagan for this delicious one skillet meal.
Hey Shannon,
Happy Monday!!⛅️ Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it turned out well for you:)
Yum!! So many flavors! No leftovers with this one. Love the easy cleanup with one skillet!
Hi Lacey,
Happy Sunday!😃 Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was enjoyed:) xT
Incredibly simple, very elegant. Will definitely make again!
Hey Maggie,
Happy Sunday!😃 Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was enjoyed:) xT
Doesn’t look like yours but still super yummy. Thank you!
Hey Amanda,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was delish! Have a great weekend! xT
This is excellent and truly easy to make. My entire family (including 4 kids/teens) LOVED it. I actually subbed artichoke hearts and asparagus tips for the tomatoes and spinach and it worked beautifully. Definitely adding this to the rotation, it is delicious.
Hi Christina,
Happy Friday!! ☘️🌈 So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for trying it out! xT
Delicious, I keep coming back to this recipe! <3
Hi Jolie,
Amazing!! Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xx
This has been in the rotation since it was first posted, and it’s always an easy hit. It looks fancy, but comes together quickly and tastes amazing. Note: If you’re into hidden veggies, and/or you got a small zucchini in your food box that you don’t want to waste because you wouldn’t eat it otherwise, I suggest adding grated zucchini (about a cup or so) to the recipe.I just tried it the other day, and it was great. It didn’t change the flavor or texture or the outcome of the recipe. You couldn’t even tell it was in there. I added it in at the same time as the spinach and sun dried tomatoes. Also it was an idea I got from another HBH recipe, so thanks to Tiegan for that too.
Hey Tracy,
Amazing!! Love to hear that this recipe always turns out well for you, thanks so much for making it so often! xx
How do you prepare the chicken? How do you cut it?
Hi Lilly,
I serve the chicken pieces whole, the person eating it can cut it to their liking:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
I have made this recipe many times and it’s a hit! Made at parties and at home. My boys love it. My nephew says it’s his most favorite dish! He does like everything I cook lol! I love sun dried tomatoes so I’ll be cooking all your recipes that include them!
Hi Attia,
Happy Sunday! 😃 Thanks a bunch for making this recipe so often, so glad to hear it always turns out well for you! xx
Easy to make and delicious!
Hey Kim,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe, I’m so glad it turned out well for you! Have a great weekend:)
Seriously AMAZING!! I made half with Orzo pasta for my husband and half gluten free with wild rice for me… both were so tasty! Thank you for sharing- you are so talented!
Hi Dana,
Happy Monday!!🌴 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
Delicious!! Whole family loved it. Thanks!
Hey Rebecca,
Happy Friday!!☘️ Thanks a bunch for testing this recipe out and sharing your review, I’m so glad to hear it was delish! xx
I have made this twice and it is absolutely heavenly!! A restaurant quality dish!!! Love it❤️
Hey Christine,
Fantastic!!🌻 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
I will be making this tomorrow and would like to bring it to a friend’s for supper. Can i make it ahead of time? If yes, how should I heat it back up without overcooking the chicken? Thank you 🙂
Hey Laura,
I would make just up until the point of baking, cover it, and then finish baking at your friend’s house. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions! xx