– 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
– 2 cups chicken broth
– 1 cup orzo pasta
– 1 cup heavy cream
– 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
– Salt and pepper, to taste
– Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Creating this Creamy Parmesan Chicken and Orzo is simple if you follow these steps:
1. Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
2. Sear the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Sauté the Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add Broth and Orzo: Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Stir in the orzo pasta and let it simmer for about 10-12 minutes, allowing the orzo to absorb the broth.
5. Create the Creamy Sauce: Once the orzo is tender, reduce the heat and stir in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Mix well until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy.
6. Combine with Chicken: Slice the cooked chicken and place it back into the skillet with the orzo. Stir everything together to coat the chicken in the creamy sauce.
7. Adjust Seasoning: Taste the dish and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
8. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over the dish before serving for an added pop of color.
This straightforward approach ensures that you can whip up Creamy Parmesan Chicken and Orzo without any stress.