Marry Me Chicken Orzo (Gluten Free)
Marry me chicken orzo is a creamy, one-pan skillet dinner made with tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and perfectly cooked orzo, all brought together with rich, melty Boursin cheese. A one-pan, cozy, balanced meal that feels indulgent but is surprisingly simple to make!
Servings: 6 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 shallot diced
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (in olive oil) drained and roughly chopped
- 12 oz Gluten Free Orzo I like Jovial Foods Brown Rice Orzo
- 5 cups chicken broth
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper
- 2.5 cups cooked chicken I used rotisserie, cut into 1 inch pieces/shredded
- 3 cups raw spinach roughly chopped
- 1 package Boursin Garlic & Herb Cheese
- Grated parmesan for serving
- Fresh basil for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the shallot and the garlic and stir for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add in the sun-dried tomatoes and stir for 30 seconds.
- Pour the orzo into the pan along with the chicken broth, salt, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and cook, stirring often, until the orzo is done and most of the broth has been absorbed, about 15-16 minutes.
- Add the chicken, spinach, and Boursin cheese. Stir over medium low heat until the cheese is melted and the spinach is wilted.
- Serve topped with fresh basil and parmesan. Enjoy!
Notes
- Orzo absorbs liquid quickly, so stir frequently as it simmers to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. Remove the skillet from heat as soon as the orzo is tender and most of the broth has been absorbed – it will continue to thicken as it rests. Overcooking is the main reason orzo turns mushy.
- If the sauce thickens too much, stir in a splash of warm chicken broth to loosen it and restore that creamy texture.
- This marry me chicken orzo is also easy to customize. You can use whatever kind of chicken you want, add mushrooms for extra depth, or increase the crushed red pepper for more heat. Small adjustments like these keep the structure of the dish the same while allowing you to make it your own.
- Store leftover marry me chicken orzo in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The orzo will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so the texture will thicken slightly.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 994mg | Potassium: 721mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1572IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3mg