Description
A creamy, one-pot comfort food featuring tender chicken, vibrant broccoli florets, and gooey melted cheese tossed with orzo pasta. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners or family gatherings, this dish combines convenience with indulgent flavour.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
2 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped
1 ½ cups orzo pasta
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil
½ cup whole milk or heavy cream
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional: 1 tsp smoked paprika or Italian seasoning, ½ lemon juiced, crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
Pat chicken dry. Heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Sear diced chicken for 5–6 minutes until golden. Remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in orzo and toast for 1–2 minutes.
Add chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Return chicken to the pan and simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
When orzo is nearly al dente, add broccoli florets. Cook until broccoli is tender-crisp and orzo is creamy.
Reduce the heat to low. Stir in milk or cream, cheddar, and Parmesan. Mix until cheese melts and sauce thickens. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or lemon juice. Serve hot.
Notes
Frozen broccoli can replace fresh—add slightly later to avoid overcooking.
For a lighter version, use reduced-fat cheese and skim milk.
Rotisserie chicken can replace raw chicken to save time.
Leftovers reheat best with a splash of broth or milk to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-pot stovetop cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups (approx.)
- Calories: ~480 kcal
- Sugar: ~3 g
- Sodium: ~620 mg
- Fat: ~22 g
- Saturated Fat: ~11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~9 g
- Trans Fat: ~0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: ~40 g
- Fiber: ~3 g
- Protein: ~32 g
- Cholesterol: ~105 mg