This simple one-pan, 30-minute creamy hen and orzo is made with seared, well-seasoned hen thighs, mushrooms, spinach, contemporary basil pesto, cream, and orzo simmered proper in the identical skillet. Minimal prep and cleanup like most of my dinner recipes.
Creamy One-Pan Hen Orzo with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Basil Pesto
I’ve made so many one-pan hen and orzo recipes over time (whats up, beautiful Greek hen orzo and springtime cherry tomato spinach hen orzo!), and this creamy model with spinach and mushrooms is impressed by all of them. It’s every thing I like in a easy skillet meal — simple, flavorful, and prepared in about half-hour. Though it’s fast, it tastes like one thing you’d order at a comfy Italian restaurant—similar to this hen burrata pasta. Tender hen, sautéed mushrooms, and contemporary spinach get tossed with orzo pasta in a creamy basil pesto sauce, all made in a single pan for minimal cleanup.
One-Pan Creamy Hen Orzo
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This simple one-pan, 30-minute creamy hen and orzo is made with seared, well-seasoned hen thighs, mushrooms, spinach, contemporary basil pesto, cream, and orzo simmered proper in the identical skillet. Minimal prep and cleanup like most of my dinner recipes.
Servings 4
Energy 721kcal
Elements
Hen
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
- 1.5 lb skinless boneless hen thighs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
Mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 oz child bella mushrooms or crimini
- salt and pepper
Orzo
- 1 cup orzo raw
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning or Herbs from Provence
- ½ teaspoon paprika or extra
- 2 cups hen inventory
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 oz contemporary child spinach
- ½ cup heavy cream
- â…“ cup basil pesto
- contemporary basil for garnish
Directions
Sear the Hen
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Warmth a forged iron skillet over medium warmth for 3 minutes.
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Slice hen thighs into giant items. Season throughout with paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper, utilizing 1 tablespoon of olive oil to rub the spices in or on the hen.
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Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet. Sear hen for five minutes with out transferring it.
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Flip, scale back warmth to low-medium, and cook dinner one other 5 minutes, or till the inner temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Take away hen from the skillet, leaving juices behind.
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Tip: Hold warmth at medium or decrease to keep away from burning whereas nonetheless getting a very good sear.
Cook dinner the Mushrooms
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In the identical skillet, add sliced mushrooms seasoned with salt and pepper.
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Cook dinner over medium warmth for about 2 minutes per facet till browned and softened. Take away half of the mushrooms to a plate.
Make the Orzo
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Add raw orzo, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the skillet with cooked mushrooms. Cook dinner the orzo and coat with seasonings and hen juices on medium warmth for 1 minute.
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Pour in 2 cups hen inventory. Deliver to a boil, then simmer on medium-low for five–10 minutes, stirring sometimes to forestall the orzo from sticking to the underside of the pan, till the orzo is cooked via. You may need so as to add additional hen inventory if the orzo dries out too quick.
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Stir in spinach over the last 2–3 minutes of cooking in order that it barely wilts (however the spinach shouldn’t be overly cooked and mushy).
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Add heavy cream and â…“ cup basil pesto. Stir to mix. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. If the orzo is simply too dry, add a small quantity of additional hen inventory + additional small quantity of heavy cream.
Assemble
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Stir within the reserved mushrooms. Nestle the cooked hen on high. Reheat gently on low. Garnish with contemporary basil leaves (and/or chopped basil).
Notes
- Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta. You need to use cooked rice as an alternative of orzo (scale back cooking instances accordingly). Or use enjoyable small shapes like ditalini, small shells, or pearl couscous.
- Make it dairy-free: Use coconut cream or cashew milk and a plant-based pesto to make a dairy-free model.
- Make it gluten-free: Use orzo clearly labeled as “gluten-free”. Or, merely use long-grain rice as an alternative.
- Scale back energy by utilizing chopped cauliflower or cauliflower rice as an alternative of orzo.
- You need to use both heavy cream or half-and-half – each work equally nicely!
- Professional Tip: hold an additional splash of hen broth and cream helpful in case you need a looser, saucier consistency.
- Toppings: I like sprinkling hen orzo with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, crimson pepper flakes, contemporary herbs, or toasted pine nuts!
Storage and Reheating Suggestions
- Refrigerate: Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days (it’s greatest to not freeze).
- To reheat, pop it within the microwave briefly bursts or heat it on the stovetop over low warmth. If the sauce thickens, simply stir in a splash of cream, milk, or half-and-half to deliver it again to life!
Vitamin
Energy: 721kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 45g | Fats: 42g | Saturated Fats: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 16g | Trans Fats: 0.03g | Ldl cholesterol: 200mg | Sodium: 996mg | Potassium: 1152mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4605IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 4mg
How you can Make Hen Orzo (Step-by-Step Images)
- Collect your elements. I’ve laid every thing out right here (labels included!) to make it simple so that you can see what you will want:
- Warmth a forged iron skillet over medium warmth for 3 minutes. In the meantime, slice hen thighs into giant items and season with paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper, rubbing in olive oil.
- Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet and sear the hen for five minutes on both sides. Take away the hen, leaving the juices behind.
- In the identical skillet, cook dinner sliced mushrooms seasoned with salt and pepper. Cook dinner about 2 minutes per facet till browned. Take away half of the mushrooms to a plate.
- Stir raw orzo, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, and salt into the skillet with the remaining mushrooms. Add hen inventory, deliver to a boil, then simmer for five–10 minutes, stirring sometimes.
- Stir in spinach throughout the previous few minutes simply till wilted.
- As soon as the orzo is tender, stir in heavy cream and basil pesto. If wanted, add additional hen inventory and a splash of cream to maintain the orzo creamy. Add again the reserved mushrooms and nestle the cooked hen on high. Gently reheat and garnish with contemporary basil earlier than serving.
Variations, Substitutions, and Add-Ins
- Swap the protein. This creamy hen orzo is tremendous versatile—you may swap the hen for cooked sausage, shrimp, scallops, salmon, and even steak strips.
- Load up on veggies. Combine in sun-dried tomatoes, kale, arugula, asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, or bell peppers. My private favourite? Add halved cherry or grape tomatoes and thank me later!
- Add cheese. My husband eats this dish provided that it is sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago. You too can use Gruyère or Pecorino Romano.
- High with toasted pine nuts. Since pesto usually contains pine nuts, I like including a handful on high (particularly calmly toasted) – they’re crunchy and so nutty!
- Extra topping concepts. I topped hen orzo with contemporary basil. Different contemporary herbs I’d use listed below are thyme, oregano, chopped inexperienced onions, or chives.
- Make it spicy. Stir in crimson pepper flakes or a touch of sizzling sauce for a bit of warmth—begin small and alter to your style.
- Use completely different pasta. No orzo? Test your grocery retailer’s pasta aisle — you may discover enjoyable small shapes like ditalini, small shells, or pearl couscous that work simply as nicely on this one pan meal.
- Dairy-free choice. Use coconut cream or cashew milk and a plant-based pesto to make a dairy-free model with out shedding the creaminess.
Serve With
- Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls
- Savory Bacon and Cheese Scones
- Greek-Impressed Salad with Avocado and Capers
- Arugula Salad with Lemon Zest, Parmesan, and Balsamic Dressing
- Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing
- Apple Spinach Salad with Honey-Mustard Lemon Dressing
Extra Orzo Recipes
- Creamy Shrimp Orzo with Spinach, Artichokes, and Solar-Dried Tomatoes
- Hen Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes, Spinach, and Basil Pesto
- Greek Shrimp Orzo with Tomatoes and Feta
- Lemon Shrimp Orzo with Asparagus
- Creamy Hen Orzo with Butternut Squash and Spinach
- Italian Sausage Orzo Soup with Spinach and Portobello Mushrooms
- Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo with Sausage
