You know those days when the clock is your worst enemy, the kids are hangry, and the thought of making dinner feels like a monumental task? Yeah, I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit. That’s why this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo is a total lifesaver. It’s the kind of meal that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but the trusty slow cooker does nearly all the work for you. Imagine tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach all swimming in the most luxurious, creamy parmesan sauce with cozy orzo pasta. It’s pure, uncomplicated comfort in a bowl, and it’s about to become a regular on your dinner rotation.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo
- Set It and (Almost) Forget It: The slow cooker is the MVP here, doing the heavy lifting while you tackle your endless to-do list.
- Family-Friendly Comfort: This dish is a crowd-pleaser. Even the pickiest eaters can’t resist the creamy pasta and familiar flavors.
- Restaurant-Worthy at Home: It feels indulgent and fancy without the hefty price tag or the need for advanced cooking skills.
- Endlessly Customizable: Not a fan of spinach? Swap in kale. Want more veggies? Toss in some mushrooms. This recipe is wonderfully forgiving.
Gather Your Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to create this magic. The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity—no obscure ingredients required.
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Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo Recipe
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Creamy Tuscan chicken orzo recipe Effortless slow cooker tech for busy weeknight dinners Simple delicious onepot meal
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the Base: In your slow cooker, add the chicken breasts, uncooked orzo, sun-dried tomatoes, onion, and garlic.
- Pour and Season: Add the chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Give everything a gentle stir to combine.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. The chicken should be cooked through and tender.
- Shred and Creamify: Carefully remove the chicken breasts and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Add the Final Touches: Stir in the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and fresh spinach. Cover and let it cook for another 15-20 minutes on HIGH, or until the spinach has wilted and the sauce is creamy.
- Serve and Savor: Give it a good stir, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with a little extra parmesan and some fresh basil if you’re feeling fancy.
Notes
A creamy and comforting slow cooker meal featuring tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and orzo pasta in a luxurious parmesan sauce. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 servings
- Calories: 480 calories
- Sugar: 8 g
- Fat: 22 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Let’s Get Cooking: Your Easy Steps
- Combine the Base: In your slow cooker, add the chicken breasts, uncooked orzo, sun-dried tomatoes, onion, and garlic.
- Pour and Season: Add the chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Give everything a gentle stir to combine.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. The chicken should be cooked through and tender.
- Shred and Creamify: Carefully remove the chicken breasts and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Add the Final Touches: Stir in the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and fresh spinach. Cover and let it cook for another 15-20 minutes on HIGH, or until the spinach has wilted and the sauce is creamy.
- Serve and Savor: Give it a good stir, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with a little extra parmesan and some fresh basil if you’re feeling fancy.
My Go-To Slow Cooker
For this recipe, I always use my dependable 6-quart slow cooker. It’s the perfect size for this family-sized meal and I love that it has a programmable timer. If you’re looking for more easy ideas for this kitchen workhorse, check out my list of Favorite Set-It-and-Forget-It Slow Cooker Recipes.
Tips & Tricks for the Best Results
- Avoid Mushy Orzo: Keep an eye on the cook time. Orzo can go from perfectly al dente to a bit soft if it sits in the hot liquid for too long after cooking. If you won’t be serving it immediately, you can slightly undercook it.
- Cream Curdling: To prevent the heavy cream from curdling, always stir it in at the end during the last step of cooking. High heat for a long time can sometimes cause dairy to separate.
- Want More Flavor? For a deeper flavor, sear the chicken breasts in a hot skillet for 2-3 minutes per side before adding them to the slow cooker. It adds a wonderful caramelized touch.
- Leftovers: This dish stores beautifully! Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The orzo will continue to absorb liquid, so you may need to add a splash of broth or cream when reheating to bring back that creamy consistency.
What to Serve With Your Creamy Creation
This Tuscan chicken orzo is a hearty meal all on its own, but I love to round it out with a simple side. A crisp Easy Garden Salad with a light vinaigrette is perfect for cutting through the richness. A slice of crusty garlic bread is also non-negotiable in my house for sopping up every last bit of that incredible sauce.
A Note on Nutrition
While this is a comforting dish, it’s balanced with protein from the chicken and some greens from the spinach. A single serving of this creamy Tuscan chicken orzo contains approximately 480 calories, 35g of protein, 22g of fat, and 35g of carbohydrates. For more nutritional details, you can use a calculator like the one from MyFitnessPal.
This recipe has honestly saved more weeknights than I can count. It’s the meal I make when I need a guaranteed win that requires minimal effort. The smell that fills your house as it cooks is just an added bonus! I hope this creamy Tuscan chicken orzo brings as much ease and joy to your table as it has to mine.
Your Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo Questions, Answered
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Absolutely! Chicken thighs are a fantastic substitute. They’ll become incredibly tender and juicy in the slow cooker. Just be sure they are boneless and skinless for the best texture in the final dish.
How can I make this recipe gluten-free?
It’s an easy fix! Simply swap the regular orzo for a gluten-free variety (many brands like Jovial make a great one) and double-check that your chicken broth is certified gluten-free.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
You can, but with a small caveat. Cream-based sauces can sometimes separate or become grainy when thawed and reheated. For the best texture, I recommend enjoying it fresh or storing it in the fridge for a few days.
My sauce is too thin. How can I thicken it?
No worries! If your sauce needs a little help thickening, make a quick slurry by mixing one tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Stir this into the slow cooker during the last 15 minutes of cooking, and it will thicken up nicely.
What can I use if I don’t have a slow cooker?
You can make a fantastic version of this in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot on the stove! Sauté the onion and garlic first, then add the chicken and broth and simmer until the chicken is cooked. Shred the chicken, add the remaining ingredients (including the uncooked orzo), and simmer until the pasta is tender and the sauce is creamy.
More Cozy Dinners You’ll Adore
If you loved this hands-off meal, you have to try my Creamy Tuscan Salmon for a seafood twist. And for another pasta favorite that the whole family devours, my One-Pan Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is always a hit.