Tender chicken breasts paired with a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and hearty orzo is such a good combination, it’ll make you want to marry the person who made it for you! Introducing my One-Pan “Marry Me” Chicken Orzo, an easy, delicious take on the classic “Marry Me” chicken. This dish is the perfect weeknight dinner: it comes together with just one pan and and in a matter of minutes, making it the perfect cozy and comforting weeknight dinner.
Friends, have you heard of “marry me” chicken? Rumor has it that it began with Ina Garten’s “Engagement Roast Chicken,” but since then, it has been recreated hundreds of times. The lore behind this recipe is that it’s so good, that if you make it for you boyfriend, he will want to marry you. Who knows if that’s actually true, but one thing that is true? This recipe is DELICIOUS!
My take on the classic “marry me” chicken pairs it with one of my favorite ingredients: orzo! Orzo is a thin, rice-like pasta that can be a little easier to digest than traditional pasta. And, when paired with this creamy, sun-dried tomato sauce and chunks of tender chicken, it is truly an unbeatable combination. Talk about comfort food! This recipe is so warm and cozy, and I love making it on a cold night to instantly warm me up!
What You Need to Make This Creamy Chicken Orzo
- Chicken Breast: Boneless, skinless chicken breast is the key to making this recipe!
- Olive Oil: To cook the chicken, I like to choose a better-for-you oil such as olive oil.
- Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible. The flavor is truly unbeatable!
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Make sure that the sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, so that they have the best flavor.
- Seasonings: To perfectly season this chicken, we’ll be using a blend of italian seasoning, paprika, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.
- Orzo: Orzo is a short-cut pasta that looks like a large grain of rice. It’s a delicious form of pasta to eat when you don’t want to feel super full and sluggish!
- Chicken Broth or Water: While I love using chicken broth to add flavor to the orzo, you can also use water, if you prefer.
- Full-Fat Coconut Milk or Heavy Cream: I prefer to use full-fat coconut milk to keep this recipe dairy-free, but heavy cream also works well, here.
- Fresh Spinach: Spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals and is the perfect way to sneak extra veggies into this recipe.
- Parmesan Cheese: There is nothing better than taking a bite of creamy, cheesy pasta, and freshly grated parmesan cheese is the perfect addition to this recipe!
How to Make This Perfect One-Pan Chicken Dish
To make this recipe, start by preparing the chicken. Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and slice them into cubes. Set them aside while you prepare the skillet.
Heat a skillet, on the stove, over medium heat, and add in the oil. Once the oil is hot, add in the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the edges start to cook. Then, add in the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, italian seasoning, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper, and cook for 3-4 more minutes.
Then, add in the orzo and broth and stir well. Reduce the heat to medium, then cover the pan and allow it to cook for 12 minutes. Remove the cover every few minutes and stir, to ensure that the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
Once the orzo is cooked through, add in the coconut milk or heavy cream and spinach and stir until the spinach is wilted. Finally, add in the freshly-grated parmesan cheese and stir one last time.
Once it’s done, remove it from the heat, serve it immediately, and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Gayle McLeod
Ingredients
- 1.5 Pounds Boneless, Skinless Chicken breast, cut into cubes
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 4-5 Cloves Garlic, mashed
- ¾ Cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes , packed in oil and drained
- 2 Teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 Teaspoons Paprika
- ½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Cup Orzo
- 2 ¾ Cups Chicken Broth or Water
- ¾ Cup Full-Fat Coconut Milk or Heavy Cream
- 2 Large Handfuls Fresh Spinach
- ¾ Cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- To make this recipe, start by preparing the chicken. Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and slice them into cubes. Set them aside while you prepare the skillet.
- Heat a skillet, on the stove, over medium heat, and add in the oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add in the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the edges start to cook.
- Then, add in the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, italian seasoning, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper, and cook for 3-4 more minutes.
- Then, add in the orzo and broth and stir well.
- Reduce the heat to medium, then cover the pan and allow it to cook for 12 minutes. Remove the cover every few minutes and stir, to ensure that the orzo doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Once the orzo is cooked through, add in the coconut milk or heavy cream and spinach and stir until the spinach is wilted.
- Finally, add in the freshly-grated parmesan cheese and stir one last time.
- Once it's done, remove it from the heat, serve it immediately, and enjoy!
Rate & review
SELECT A RATING and tell me what you think!
What others are saying
It’s delicious & easy to make! All the flavors I love wrapped into one dish. The entire fam loved it. I gave my teenage girls the recipe to make & they nailed it. Thank you!
Yay! I am so thrilled that your teenage girls were able to make it! Thank you so much for your review!
I would use cream instead of coconut milk next time. It’s more of an Italian dish. The coconut makes it taste like Thai food which doesn’t really complement the sun-dried tomatoes.
Hi Katie, I’m sorry to hear that! You can also use heavy cream in this recipe, if you prefer ☻
Is there a good gluten free substitute for orzo?
Hi Donna, I recommend this gluten-free Orzo by Jovial foods! https://rstyle.me/+qb_FTAJdyrcBQLkCzgrKgQ
Love this!
New here. Stumbled across this recipe and have already made it twice. (And told my siblings to make it too.)
Notes: we used coconut milk first time and heavy cream the second time; both equally tasty. We also added mushrooms and used GF orzo which takes a bit longer.
Thank you for an excellent weeknight meal!
I am so thrilled that you loved this recipe, Katie!! Thank you so much for making it and for sharing it with your siblings, that means SO much to me!
We doubled this recipe and it was a hit!!! So easy and flavorful!
Woohoo! I’m thrilled to hear that, Aida! Thank you for your review!
This is the first recipe of yours that I have made, and I LOVE it. I’ve made it a couple times just as you instruct. I need more recipes like this that are so delicious and healthy and easy. I have 3 little boys including a baby, and I can mostly make this with one hand 😉 Even my picky husband likes it. It really hits the spot.
Wow! Elizabeth, thank you for giving my recipes a shot! If you like healthy and easy recipes, try out my new quick and easy chicken parmesan. I think you’ll love it! https://kalejunkie.com/quick-and-easy-chicken-parmesan/
What a wonderful meal this was. So flavourful and it truly is a keeper in your repertoire of recipes. I usually use cream in these typ of saucier dishes but the coconut milk was lovely. The kids even ate this dish and asked for seconds!
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed it, Diana! Thank you so much for making it and for leaving such a kind review!
Made it twice already. The second time I had to double the batch because my family, (family of 5) devoured it the first time and were looking for left overs the next day!
Wow, I am so happy to hear that, Leslie! Thank you for your review!
Made it twice already. The second time I had to double the batch because my family, (family of 5) devoured it and were looking for left overs the next day! Delicious and easy to make. Thank you for sharing your recipes!
I LOVE hearing that, Leslie!! Thank you so much for making it and for sharing it with your family!
Amazing! This was quick, easy and absolutely delicious. My husband asked me to put it in our monthly meal rotation from here on out.
Woohoo! I am so happy to hear that, Lauren! Thank you so much for making it!
I saw your video on instagram and I said let me try “Marry Me” Chicken Orzo. It was the best decision I have made regarding dinners! My entire family loved Loved LOVED it. It was simple to make. Did not take long to make and it is the best meal I have made in a long time! If I didn’t make it myself, I would have thought I ordered it from a restaurant. So glad I found you on instagram. I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes!!
I am so thrilled to hear that you loved this recipe, Laura! Thank you so much for making it and for all of your support. This truly means the world to me!
Hands down one of our new favorite recipes! Honestly, every single recipe I have tried from Kale Junkie has been amazing! It’s rare for me to find so many from one person that I love. I usually have to dig. Being from Louisiana, my family and I appreciate so much flavor and many I’ve come across are always missing something…not these!! So flavorful and delish!!