Need a quick and easy dinner tonight? This creamy Spinach Artichoke Orzo with Chicken takes 30 minutes to cook in one skillet and never skimps on flavor. You’ll love the layers of pan-seared chicken breasts, orzo pasta, spinach, and artichokes in every bite!
We all have nights where we don’t feel like cooking or don’t have time for it. That’s where one-pot chicken dinners come in handy! Whether it’s Chicken Marsala or Harissa Chicken with Chickpeas, they’re always to best choice for getting a delicious, nutritious, and filling dinner on the table in a flash.
Table of Contents
The best part about this recipe is that everything is cooked in the same skillet and it’s ready in just 30 minutes. This means that you not only get to indulge in an elegant, yet easy meal while skipping the cleanup!
Ingredients notes
- Chicken Breasts – Boneless & skinless, sliced in half horizontally.
- Orzo – Orzo (AKA risoni) looks just like arborio rice (used to make risotto) but it’s actually a short-cut pasta. It cooks, tastes, and feels just like regular pasta but is the size of a grain of rice or barley. Orzo is often used in minestrone soup and one-pot meals where rice would normally be used.
- Flour
- Shallot & Garlic
- Chicken Broth – Or, try swapping in my slow cooker bone broth.
- Dry White Wine – If you prefer not to cook with alcohol, you can substitute it with an extra splash of lemon juice or more chicken broth.
- Cream Cheese
- Canned Artichoke Hearts
- Spinach – I prefer to use baby spinach leaves.
- Lemon Zest & Juice
- Olive Oil & Butter
- Garlic Powder, Salt & Pepper
How to make it
Start by seasoning the chicken with salt and pepper, then toss it in the flour and garlic powder. Cook the seasoned and coated chicken in a skillet until cooked through and golden on both sides. Add the butter and cook for a few more minutes, then transfer it to a plate.
Cook the artichokes in the same pan with more butter. Move them to the plate with the chicken when done.
Next, saute the shallots and garlic with a bit of salt and pepper in the pan. Add the orzo after a few minutes.
Pour the wine and broth into the pan. Bring it up to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is just about al dente.
Stir the cream cheese into the mixture until it melts. Next, add the spinach, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
Nestle the cooked chicken and artichokes in with the orzo pasta and spinach and leave it to simmer for a few minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Tips and variations
- If you don’t have orzo pasta, replace it with rice or another short-cut pasta.
- This recipe can easily be made dairy free by replacing the butter with olive oil and the cream cheese with dairy free cream cheese, cashew cream, or full fat coconut milk.
- Don’t want to cook with wine? No problem. Substitute the white wine for a splash of lemon juice or more chicken broth.
- Make this recipe with as many other vegetables as you like, such as broccoli, peas, green beans, cauliflower, or kale.
- Don’t forget to finish it off with lots of parmesan cheese and a little extra lemon zest on top!
What to serve with it
I’ll typically serve this creamy spinach and artichoke orzo chicken on its own because it’s really filling. However, there’s nothing wrong with giving this meal a boost with a few light dishes on the side. The creamy, tangy, and savory flavors pair well with:
Erin’s wine pairings
- Chardonnay will complement the bright flavors and creamy sauce in this recipe.
- If you’d prefer a red, go with a Pinot Noir or Barbera.
- If you’re having trouble pairing a wine with the artichokes (they’re notoriously difficult to pair), you should have success with Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, or Beaujolais.
- MORE → the 8 BEST Wine + Chicken Pairings.
More easy chicken recipes
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Full Recipe
Spinach Artichoke Chicken Orzo
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless & skinless, sliced in half horizontally)
- Kosher salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons butter (divided)
- 1 shallot (minced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup orzo pasta (uncooked )
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 4 ounces cream cheese (cubed)
- 1 8.5-ounce can quartered artichoke hearts (drained and rinsed)
- 3 cups spinach leaves
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (+ 1 Tablespoon lemon juice)
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour and garlic powder in a shallow bowl and coat the chicken pieces in the flour.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden, about 3-5 minutes per side. Add 1 TBSP butter and cook 2 minutes longer. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 TBSP butter to the now empty skillet. Once melted, add the artichokes. Cook undisturbed for 2 minutes or until golden. Set aside with the chicken.
- Add the shallots, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper to the empty skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes, until fragrant. Add the orzo. Cook another 2 minutes.
- Add the broth and wine and bring to a simmer, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until orzo is just shy of al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the cream cheese until melted and combined. Add spinach and stir until wilted. Stir in lemon zest and juice and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Nestle the chicken and artichokes in the orzo and simmer for 5 minutes, or until warmed through. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t have orzo pasta, replace it with rice or another short-cut pasta.
- This recipe can easily be made dairy free by replacing the butter with olive oil and the cream cheese with dairy free cream cheese, cashew cream, or full fat coconut milk.
- Don’t want to cook with wine? No problem. Substitute the white wine for lemon juice or more chicken broth.
- Make this recipe with as many other vegetables as you like, such as broccoli, peas, green beans, cauliflower, or kale.
- Don’t forget to finish it off with lots of parmesan cheese and a little extra lemon zest on top!
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2022. It was updated in 2024 to add new information. The chicken artichoke orzo recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
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