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
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What others are saying
This recipe is a winner and so easy to make! Thank you for another delicious recipe!!! This one is going to be a regular at our house!
I am so happy to hear that, Jennie! Thank you for making this recipe and for your review!
This recipe is divine. A friend made it for me after having my 3rd baby ♥️ I want to make it myself & am wondering if you think using Arborio rice in place of orzo would work? Thanks!
Congrats on your third baby, Hannah! Arborio rice should work well in this recipe, but you may need to adjust the cook time.
I’ve made this recipe at least 10 times lol I normally just put the full bag of spinach in to add the extra veggies (it shrinks a ton) and double the garlic bulbs (the garlic is so yummy once cooked in the dish). I also add in some maggi magic masala. Soo good and so easy.
That sounds delicious, Kyra! Thank you so much for your review!
So easy and flavorful. A keeper for sure.
Thank you, Kathy!
This was absolutely delicious. My whole family loved it, I including three little ones. I followed the recipe exactly as written, wouldn’t change a thing! Will be making again. Thank you!!
Very good! I didn’t have any orzo so I made ziti on the side. The chicken mixture was delicious. Thanks!
This was delicious! I tried a similar crockpot version a friend made, with added onion and no sundried tomatoes. I decided to try and make that similar dish and found this recipe. I used sundried tomatoes packed in olive oil, chopped one small onion and sautéed it in that oil. Took out the onions added more oil and followed the rest of the recipe. I love the amount of chicken for protein and the amount of orzo, not eating an entire box of pasta for a recipe. I had fresh basil so I added lots while cooking and lots for garnish. I didn’t have any paprika but the dish had plenty of flavor and color. I had frozen spinach and that worked great. Definitely recommend watching the heat and stirring often, I will be trying your one pot Marsala & and one pot lemon orzo next!
BEYOND flavorful!! Chicken comes out perfectly cooked and it’s so high in protein! To cut the fat a bit we do half cup of whipping cream and half cup of sun dried tomatoes and a full 8 oz of orzo. Can’t recommend enough!
Good but a little too salty. I don’t know what to do to cut the saltiness but otherwise a good recipe
I used plant based chicken pieces and made it plant based and it was absolutely fabulous! I have also made this with chicken for family members and they loved it! Fantastic recipe that will have you wanting to lick the plate!
That sounds amazing, Rhonda! Thank you so much for making this recipe for your family, and for leaving a review!
Yum!
Delicious dinner. It will go into my rotation.
Yay! So happy to hear that, Elizabeth!