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This one-pan Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a quick pantry meal that involves barely any prep and can be throw together in just 10 minutes. It’s the perfect weeknight meal that’s full of cozy flavors.
Why You’ll Love Marry Me Chicken Orzo
If you’ve tried my Tuscan One-Pan Orzo or my Monterey Chicken One Pan Orzo you know how easy my dump-and-bake method is. This Marry Me Chicken version is creamy and comforting, full of tangy sun-dried tomatoes, hearty orzo, tender chicken, garlic, and basil.
Plus, with almost no prep time required, this marry me chicken orzo is the perfect recipe to keep in your back pocket when you don’t have time to prep ingredients but also crave a homemade comfy dinner.
Key Ingredients
In addition to pantry staples like chicken stock and seasonings, here are the key ingredients you’ll need for my Marry Me Chicken Orzo.
Orzo – this is a rice-shaped pasta is hearty and delicious.
Chicken – my preference for chicken is rotisserie so you can skip the cooking process.
Sun-dried tomatoes – a whole jar of tomatoes will be used, drained of the oil. But save the oil for future use. It’s so flavorful and great for pan frying.
Spinach – you can use fresh or frozen spinach that has been thawed and drained.
Basil – in addition to spinach, we are also adding aromatic basil.
Parmesan – grated parmesan adds lots of sharp flavor. I always prefer to grate it myself or get a good quality brand of grated parmesan without fillers. Boars head makes a great one.
One-Pan Orzo Flavor Variations
This dump and bake one-pan orzo method can be used with various flavors profiles. My Monterey Chicken Orzo and my Tuscan Chicken Orzo are very popular and went viral on social media for a reason – they take 10 minutes to prepare and you only have to use one pan. Here are some other flavor options you can try:
Lemon Parmesan – skip the tomatoes and spinach and instead add a 1/4 cup of lemon juice, the zest of one lemon, and 1.5 cups of grated parmesan along with the basil and remaining ingredients. This yields the most vibrant and zesty flavor.
Mediterranean – adding feta cheese, 1/4 cup of lemon juice and withholding the basil will add a Mediterranean spin on this orzo that’ll be incredibly delicious!
Creamy tomato – omit the sun-dried tomatoes and use 16 oz of marinara sauce, 2 cups of chicken stock and a 1 cup of heavy cream.
Try These Modifications
Substitute the orzo – if you are looking for a higher protein, lower carb option, you can swap the orzo for a chickpea rice like Banza.
Swap the spinach for broccoli – you can easy switch up the greens and utilize chopped broccoli florets instead of using spinach.
Cherry tomatoes instead of the sun-dried tomatoes are a great option if you prefer. I would use a pint of grape or cherry tomatoes
How to Make Marry Me Chicken Orzo
Much like my Tuscan Chicken Bake, in this easy two step recipe we are going to toss all the ingredients into one pan and bake. It’s that simple!
First, we’ll dump all the ingredients into a casserole dish that’s been sprayed with non-stick spray. Mix all the ingredients well, evenly distributing them and trying to submerge the spinach and basil down into the liquid as much as possible. Then top it with parmesan.
Pop it in the oven for about 35 minutes or until the orzo is tender. I’ll usually take a small spoonful of the orzo from the middle and ensure it’s perfectly tender.
Let it rest on the counter for 10-15 minutes to allow the pan juices to be absorbed. It’ll seem a little liquidy when it immediately comes out of the oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
As with most pasta recipes, the best way to reheat this marry me chicken orzo is to add a splash of chicken broth/stock or even a splash of cream or milk before reheating. Heat it in the microwave until warmed through and the liquid will help rehydrate the pasta (as it absorbs the liquid as it cools).
Once it bakes and cools, leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Orzo is the shape of grain or rice, but it’s actually a pasta that’s shaped similar to rice. As with most pastas, it does not need to be rinsed before use.
The term “marry me” to describe this pasta dish originate from Marry Me Chicken, which is a method of cooking chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, basil and cream sauce. It’s so good, it’s worthy of marrying the one who made it!
Looking for More Easy Pasta Recipes?
One-Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta
I hope you enjoyed this recipe for this one-pan Marry Me Chicken Orzo recipe. Be sure to comment below with any questions or feedback!
If you make these or any other recipes, don’t forget to tag me on IG @BadBatchBaking to be featured on my story. Seeing your recreations makes my day!
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One-Pan Marry Me Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
- 16 oz dry orzo
- 2 cups chicken stock unsalted
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 4 cups loosely packed baby spinach leaves, torn or 8oz frozen box spinach thawed and drained
- 0.5 oz container fresh basil leaves stems removed
- 1-8 oz jar sun-dried tomatoes oil drained**
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2/3 cup parmesan, grated or shredded plus extra for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with non-stick spray.
- Add all the ingredients into the baking dish. Mix everything together so the ingredients are evenly distributed, working the spinach and basil down into the liquid and ingredients are in a flat layer. Sprinkle extra parmesan on top if desired.
- Bake uncovered in the oven for 35 minutes or until the orzo is tender (I will try a bite to ensure it’s cooked through). Allow the orzo casserole to rest on the counter for 10 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Give everything a good mix and serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Here are some additional photos for your Pinterest board:
This was such an easy dish! All in one pan, me and my husband were shocked I just had plates and one pan to wash! Easy and delicious!!
Hi Eryn! I am so happy to hear that. It’s almost weird how easy this recipe is, especially considering the taste 🙂