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Tuscan Chicken And Orzo Skillet

Tuscan chicken orzo skillet with creamy orzo, sun-dried tomatoes, and wilted spinach, all finished in one pan. Golden seared chicken thighs rest over a Parmesan-rich broth for a restaurant-style Italian-American dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 760
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and aromatics
  • 4 boneless chicken thighs
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 onion
  • 4 garlic
Orzo skillet base
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
Seasonings and finishing
  • 0.5 cup parmesan, grated
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 3 cup baby spinach
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 fresh basil for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Season and sear the chicken
  1. Season boneless chicken thighs with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sear chicken thighs for 5-6 minutes per side until golden; remove to a plate.
Build the Tuscan orzo sauce
  1. Sauté diced onion for 3 minutes, then add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook 2 minutes.
  2. Add orzo pasta and toast briefly, then pour in chicken broth and heavy cream and stir to combine.
  3. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is nearly tender.
Finish with spinach and chicken
  1. Stir in grated parmesan and baby spinach until spinach wilts.
  2. Nestle chicken back on top, cover, and cook for 5 more minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
  3. Garnish with fresh basil for serving.

Notes

For the creamiest texture, keep the simmer gentle while orzo cooks, adding a splash more broth if it thickens too fast. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of water or broth. Freezing is not recommended because cream can separate. Dietary swap: use half-and-half plus an extra splash of broth for a lighter option (texture may be slightly thinner).