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This simple Skillet White Pesto Chicken and Orzo is the perfect winter dinner. Quick, easy, and so delicious! Pan-seared Italian seasoned chicken in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. Cooked together with orzo pasta for a quick dinner made in one skillet. Everyone at the dinner table loves this dish. Itโs great for a weeknight but fancy enough to serve up at your next holiday dinner. Itโs a hit all around!
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Ingredients
- Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoesย
- Boneless chicken breasts or thighsย
- Kosher salt and black pepperย
- All-purpose flourย
- Italian seasoningย
- Salted butterย
- Garlic ย
- Dry orzo pastaย
- Chili flakesย
- Chicken brothย
- Heavy creamย
- Basil pestoย
- Parmesan cheeseย
- Fresh thymeย
December is always the craziest month. Itโs my favorite month of the year but also the busiest. And this December has been a lot. But Iโm so thankful for it and loving every second of the chaos!
On top of multiple work trips and my day-to-day schedule, thereโs been holiday fun, and most of my brothers are now in town. My parentโs house is once again full! Per usual, this means theyโre all looking for dinner. I always try to have simple recipes like this skillet chicken on rotation this time of year! Easy dinners are key to keeping everyone happy and well-fed!
Lately, everyone has requested the recipe I shared for Smothered Chicken a few months ago. They love that dish, especially the creamy sauce.
When I set out to make this, I used that recipe as my base. But then I turned it into a quick-cooking spicy Italian dinner with lots of delicious basil pesto in the mix!
Here are the details
Step 1: the sun-dried tomatoes
Start with the sun-dried tomatoes. I love using a jar of oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Not only are the tomatoes delicious, but I also use the oil from the jar to cook the chicken. The oil is always seasoned, so it adds even more flavor. Just make sure itโs extra virgin olive oil.
Most people will discard the oil, but you must use it! It adds a lot of flavor to recipes.
Step 2: season and sear the chicken.
Sear the chicken with salt and pepper. Then, take each piece and dip it through some flour. The flour gives the chicken a coating for the yummy sauce to stick to. Additionally, the flour on the chicken will help to thicken the sauce.
Pan-sear the chicken in the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar. Then, just before pulling the chicken out of the skillet, sprinkle each piece with Italian seasoning.
Itโs a delicious mix and makes the chicken very flavorful.
Step 3: the orzo
When you pull the chicken out, add the orzo and some garlic. Then toss in some butter too. Let the butter toast around the dry 0rzo and add the chicken broth and cream.
Then mix in the pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and the chicken.
Step 4: bake
Next, add the parmesan cheese and take the whole skillet and put it in the oven to finish baking.
Itโs going to smell wonderful as you pull the skillet out of the oven. Like your favorite Italian restaurant!
This dish is everything youโd expect out of a multi-step recipe, but made in way less than an hour. Plus, everything is made in one pot. Simple, simple โ and we love that.
You can serve this up on busy weeknights, but I think itโs equally great for holiday dinners with friends and family. Iโm sure Iโll be remaking this over the holidays; weโre having a very special Christmas this year.
Looking for winter pasta recipes?ย Here are a few ideas:ย
Pesto Tortellini Zuppa Toscana
Creamy Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Pasta
One Pot French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
Basil Parmesan Pasta with Crispy Chicken, Prosciutto, and Arugula
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Lastly, if you make this Skillet White Pesto Chicken and Orzo, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, donโt forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Skillet White Pesto Chicken and Orzo
Ingredientsย
- 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained
- 6 boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- chili flakes
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
Instructionsย
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400ยฐ F. Drain 3 tablespoons of oil from the sun-dried tomato jar into a large skillet with sides. Chop the sun-dried tomatoes and set aside.2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the flour to a shallow bowl. Dredge the chicken through the flour and toss to coat.3. Set the skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear on both sides until golden, 3-5 minutes per side. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Remove the chicken from the skillet to a plate.4. To the same skillet, add the butter, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, garlic, orzo, and season with chili flakes. Cook until lightly golden, 2 minutes. Add the broth. Bring to a boil, cook for 3-5 minutes, then add the cream, pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes. Slide the chicken and any juices left on the plate back into the skillet.ย Sprinkle over the parmesan. Transfer to the oven and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around the chicken.5. Serve the chicken, orzo, and sauce topped with thyme. YUM.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Super easy, one-pot dinner. Instructions were clear and straight forward, will make this again!
Hey Alexandra,
Happy Friday!! Thrilled to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it and taking the time to comment!
This is really good, although I found it to be too many sun-dried tomatoes. Also 6 chicken breasts and 6 chicken thighs are two very different amounts. I used 6 chicken thighs and does NOT serve 6. Second time I made it I added sauted mushrooms, some canned artichokes, and fresh spinach.
Hey Teresa,
Awesome! Thanks for making this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it was a hit!
Happy New Year!๐ฅ๐
Delicious! Only change I plan to make next time is to maybe cube the chicken into bite size pieces before searing to make it more of a spoon & bowl type casserole.
Hey Antonia,
Happy Holidays!๐ Thanks for your comment and making this recipe so often, Iโm so glad it always turns out well for you!
Have a great weekend!
Can this be done in the crockpot?
Hi Paulina,
So sorry, I have not tested this recipe in the crockpot, but you could certainly give it a try!
My house smells like heaven with this in the oven. We enjoy it on rotation and itโs always delicious and fairly easy and quick !
Hey Robyn,
Really appreciate you making this recipe and reporting back. Thrilled it turned out well!
I have this recipe memorized- thatโs how often my husband and I make it! Itโs great every time. We often add in 1-2 shredded zucchini in right after the onions for some additional veggies and like it even better that way. Thanks for a great recipe.
Hi Hannah,
Happy Sunday! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe so often, I love to hear it always turns out well for you!
This was delicious, and my whole family loved it! I used gluten-free broken spaghetti since I couldnโt find gluten-free orzo. And I used dairy-free creamer for some of my dairy-sensitive people. (Still used butter and parmesan.) Everything was so tender and flavorful. Definitely adding this to our dinner rotation! YUM.
Hi Stacie,
Happy Sunday! Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear it turned out well for you!
We love this recipe!! What do you think about making it for a big crowd for Christmas? Are there parts you could make ahead of time?
Thanks so much, Sue! Sure, that would work nicely for you. I would make the entire dish then warm on low covered with foil for serving.
I hope you love this recipe!
Can you make this without heavy cream and substitute almond milk or wonโt be as creamy ?
Hey Gena,
Yes, you could use almond milk but it won’t be as creamy. If you are able to use heavy cream I would recommend that:) I hope you love this dish!
Such a delicious and easy meal. A good comfort dinner, perfect as the weather gets colder
Hey Maire,
Yay!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it was enjoyed! Have the best fall weekend!