Description
This Chicken Marsala Orzo is a creamy, comforting one-pan dinner that combines juicy chicken, earthy mushrooms, tender orzo, and a rich Marsala-inspired sauce. Elegant enough for entertaining but simple enough for weeknights, it’s a dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cutlets or halved
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1¼ cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Fresh thyme, for garnish
- Fresh parsley, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Cut chicken into thinner cutlets, pat dry, season with salt and pepper, and dredge lightly in flour.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a skillet. Cook chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Mushrooms & Aromatics: In the same pan, add remaining butter, mushrooms, shallots, and garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant.
- Add Tomato Paste & Orzo: Stir in tomato paste, then add dry orzo and toast for 1–2 minutes.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour in chicken broth, bring to a simmer, then add heavy cream. Cook 8–10 minutes, stirring often, until orzo is tender and creamy.
- Finish Dish: Nestle chicken into the orzo mixture and simmer 2–3 minutes more.
- Serve: Garnish with thyme and parsley. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Dredging chicken adds crispiness and helps thicken the sauce naturally.
- Pat mushrooms dry before cooking to ensure they brown instead of steam.
- Toast the orzo briefly for added depth of flavor.
- Stir orzo often while cooking to prevent sticking.
- Add cream only after orzo is partly cooked to prevent separation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, One-Pot Meals, Comfort Food
- Method: Stovetop, Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Chicken Marsala Orzo, creamy chicken pasta, mushroom orzo, one pan chicken orzo, comfort food chicken recipe