Description
Creamy Chicken Orzo is a comforting one-pot meal blending tender chicken, smooth plant-based cream, and delicate orzo pasta infused with savory herbs and natural vegetarian Worcestershire sauce. Ready in under 40 minutes, this dish offers a rich, velvety texture and mild flavor perfect for cozy family dinners or quick weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Pasta
- 2 large chicken breasts, diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup orzo pasta
Liquids and Sauces
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1/2 cup plant-based cream
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Vegetables and Herbs
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Seasonings
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces for even cooking. Mince the garlic cloves finely. Chop fresh thyme and parsley. Measure all ingredients ahead for an efficient cooking process.
- Sauté the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced chicken and cook until golden and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken pieces from the skillet and set aside, leaving the flavored oil in the pan.
- Cook Garlic and Orzo: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the orzo pasta and stir to coat it with oil. Toast the orzo for 1-2 minutes to enhance its nutty flavor and prevent sticking.
- Add Broth and Simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural). Stir to combine. Cover the skillet and let the orzo simmer for approximately 10 minutes until tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in Cream and Chicken: Once the orzo is cooked, gently fold in the plant-based cream and cooked chicken pieces. Warm through for a few minutes as the sauce thickens to a creamy texture. Add chopped parsley and thyme, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Notes
- Cut chicken into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Toast orzo briefly before adding broth to improve flavor and texture.
- Plant-based cream controls richness without heaviness.
- Add fresh herbs at the end to maintain bright flavors.
- Allow the dish to rest covered for a couple of minutes after cooking to meld flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Creamy Chicken Orzo, Plant-based Cream, One-Pot Meal, Comfort Food, Quick Dinner, Vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce