Tuscan Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
1 small onion, finely diced
1 to 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (2 chicken breasts)
7 ounce jar sundried tomatoes, drained from oil
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Italian seasoning, to taste
2 heaping teaspoons minced garlic
1 ½ cups orzo
⅓ cup dry white wine
3 cups broth
Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
1 cup heavy cream
⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
3 cups fresh baby spinach
Steps
Cut 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in half lengthwise
Cutting the chicken in half will help it cook faster
Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat, letting the oil coat the bottom of the pan
Place the halved chicken breasts in the pan in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes per side
Season the top half of the chicken with some salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning to taste
After 3 minutes, flip the chicken breasts over to cook the other side and season the other half with some more salt, black pepper, and italian seasoning to taste
After 3 minutes, remove the chicken breasts from the pan and set aside
Add 2 more tablespoons of olive oil to the same skillet and add all the chopped onion to the pan
Stir and saute the onion as it softens and cooks for 5 minutes over medium heat
Add 2 teaspoons of minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds
Add the drained sun dried tomatoes and stir to combine with the onion and garlic
Add 1 and a half cups of dried orzo pasta to the pan
Stir the orzo as it toasts for a few minutes with the onion, garlic and tomato
Pour in a third of a cup of dry white wine and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pan until the wine has evaporated
Pour in 3 cups of broth to the pan and season with some crushed red pepper flakes to taste
Stir again to distribute the broth and ensure all the orzo is fully submerged in the cooking liquid
Add the partially cooked chicken breasts back to the pan and nestle them within the orzo
Once the broth is gently boiling, cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes
Halfway through, remove the lid and give everything a stir to ensure the orzo isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pan and to flip the chicken breasts over
Recover and continue to simmer
Remove the lid after 15 minutes and stir the orzo again
Remove the cooked chicken breasts from of the pan and set to the side
Pour 1 cup of heavy cream to the pan and stir to combine
Add a third of a cup of grated parmesan cheese and stir again
Add in 3 cups of fresh baby spinach, gently stir and cover with the pan with a lid until the leaves are just wilted
On the side, cut the chicken breasts into thin strips
Remove the lid from the pan
Stir the cooked spinach in with the orzo
Add the sliced chicken breasts to the skillet and spread the chicken strips in an even layer across the top and enjoy your tuscan chicken orzo