Description
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzo is the ultimate one-pan weeknight winner. Tender chicken, creamy orzo, crisp broccoli, and melting cheese come together in a single skillet for comforting flavor with minimal cleanup. This family-friendly dinner cooks in about 30 minutes, packing protein and wholesome vegetables into every bite. Perfect for busy nights; leftovers store well, and parsley or extra cheese on top adds a fresh finishing touch. Great for meal prep, it reheats smoothly and satisfies even picky eaters.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups small broccoli florets
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or mozzarella
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Optional: chopped parsley or extra cheese for topping
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Season diced chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika; cook until lightly golden.
- Stir in onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Stir in uncooked orzo, chicken broth, and milk.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and cover.
- Simmer 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender.
- Add broccoli and cook 3–4 minutes until tender.
- Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy.
- Garnish with parsley or extra cheese and serve warm.
Notes
- You can swap broccoli for spinach or peas for variation.
- Leftovers reheat well; sauce may thicken slightly—stir in a splash of milk.
- Use cooked/shredded chicken to save time on busy nights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzo, one-pan dinner, 30-minute meal, creamy pasta, weeknight recipe, family-friendly, chicken orzo with broccoli, easy cheese sauce, skillet dinner, comfort food