Description
A restaurant-quality one-pan meal combining tender chicken, vibrant basil pesto, and al dente orzo in a silky cream sauce. This Italian-inspired dish delivers bold Mediterranean flavors in 30 minutes with no hassle.
Ingredients
Boneless skinless chicken breasts 1.5 lbs (about 3 medium)
Orzo pasta 2 cups uncooked
Basil pesto ¾ cup
Heavy cream 1 cup
Parmesan cheese grated ¼ cup
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) or preheat stovetop pan over medium-high heat
Cube chicken into 1-inch pieces and season with salt and pepper
Cook chicken in olive oil until golden and nearly cooked through (5-6 minutes)
Add orzo to the pan and sauté for 2 minutes
Pour in pesto and stir to fully coat the orzo and chicken
Stir in heavy cream and simmer until sauce thickens slightly (6-8 minutes)
Finish by stirring in grated Parmesan and toss everything together until chicken is fully cooked and orzo is tender
Notes
For best results use fresh basil pesto and avoid overcooking orzo to maintain al dente texture
Chicken can be substituted with firm white fish like cod
Serve with grilled zucchini or steamed broccoli for extra vegetables
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1090mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 63g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 180mg