Creamy One Skillet Chicken with Mushrooms and Orzo! In just 30 minutes you can have this delicious ONE PAN MEAL ready and on the table! Using easy to use Orzo pasta that cooks up in a flash!
You can use breasts or thighs in this chicken and orzo recipe
Break out your big skillet for this easy dinner! Rachel and I love this 12″ cast iron from Lodge. No cast iron? No worries! Any large pan will do including your dutch oven.
Start by searing your chicken. Heat your pan to medium high heat. Add a small amount of oil to the pan. You don’t want pools of it splattering al lover your nice clean stove top…and it isn’t necessary to get a good sear! Just a tablespoon or two.
PRO TIP: Go heavy on the salt and pepper which will help to make a delicious crust. Add the chicken to the hot pan and DO NOT TOUCH for 3-4 minutes. If the chicken sticks, it isn’t ready. Flip when it releases easily and sear again on the other side.
Can I use bone in chicken for this recipe?
- You bet! Simply increase the searing time to about 15 minutes total. The inside will not be cooked though but will continue to cook with the orzo. Chicken is at it’s best when internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
- If you don’t own a meat thermometer we love this one from OXO. This little thing has saved many a meal. You won’t believe the difference in a perfectly cooked piece of chicken!
Remove your chicken and cover to stay warm.
Add your mushrooms to the hot skillet and saute’ until brown. PRO TIP: Wait until your mushrooms have reached desired color before salting. Salt can slow down the browning process of mushrooms.
Next add the orzo and garlic and give it a little toast. Another layer of flavor!
Can I use half and half instead of heavy cream?
- You can! Since there is such a small amount, 1/4 cup, I tend to go big with full on cream, but half cream/half milk mixture will work fine.
- Omit the cream entirely if you prefer and have a less creamy more rice like texture. No other changes in the recipe required. Simply omit the cream.
Finish the dish! What should I serve with this Creamy Chicken Orzo Skillet with Mushrooms?
- We keep it pretty simple. Steamed broccoli or a simple salad with our 3 Minute Dijon Lemon Vinaigrette is a perfect balance.
A few other one pan meals your family will love!
20 Minute Shrimp and Orzo Skillet
Easy One Skillet Pork Chops and Mushroom Gravy
30 Minute Chicken and Tomato Sauce Skillet
One Pot Spanish Chicken and Rice
To one pan delicious meals ready in a flash!
Clink!
Kathi
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Creamy One Skillet Chicken with Mushrooms and Orzo
Ingredients
- 6 boneless chicken thighs or 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 8 oz sliced cremini mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 1/4 cups chicken stock
- 1/4 cup cream
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
- salt and pepper
- garnish with parmesan if desired and more fresh thyme
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry chicken. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper on both sides
- Heat large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat.
- Add olive oil and butter. Heat about two minutes until bubbly.
- Place chicken in pan, sear for about 4 minutes on each side until a nice crust forms. (chicken will not be cooked through but will continue cooking with orzo).
- Remove seared chicken to plate and keep warm.
- Add mushrooms to hot skillet and sauté until golden.
- Reduce heat to medium.
- Add garlic and orzo to pan and sauté for 2 minutes or until orzo is lightly toasted and garlic is fragrant.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
- Add chicken stock, cream and thyme.
- Nestle chicken on top of orzo mixture.
- Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until internal temp of chicken reaches 165 degrees and orzo is tender. NOTE: About half way thru stir chicken and orzo around a bit to be sure it isn't sticking.
- Top with parm and serve with a simple salad or fresh steamed veggies.
Notes
Nutrition
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I might receive a very small commission, at no additional cost to you, should you chose to purchase that linked item. I only link to items I know and trust. Clink!
Sheena says
Did this recipe used to include spinach? I used to make it a few times a month, so good! I forgot about it until recently but this looks a bit different than I remember.
Kathi & Rachel says
Hi Sheena – you may be thinking of this one. https://laughingspatula.com/easy-chicken-orzo
Gwen says
This was really good and all 3 of my kids liked it (which is rare). I accidentally bought thin-sliced chicken breasts and they worked well. I would increase the amount of orzo a bit by 1/4-1/2 cup; otherwise, great dinner.
Debbie Narajowski says
I have made this several times and the flavors are outstanding.
MaryT says
Love this dish and so did my family in the fall and winter. For summer, we subbed out cream for lemon juice and the zest of that lemon. We added a handful of baby spinach to fold in, at the end. It was beautiful and plenty creamy, just a tad lighter. Believe me, once we hit fall and winter, we are back to the cream. Love this dish!!
Kathi & Rachel says
Thank you Mary! We are so glad you love it! Have you tried the shrimp version? Nice summer change up too. Thank you so much for the nice note!
April Bridges says
I have made this dish so many times! It is one of my favorite dishes of all time!!!!!
AnnaVonk says
Congratulations on the new arrival.
Kathi & Rachel says
Thank you! He is a doll and we are thrilled!
Maureen Foster says
I have made this recipe several times and really love it. It is very easy and tastes great.. Just about all the 30 minute meals are perfect. The one pan meals are perfect too. Please try them.
Karen Clark says
Delicious and simple. I cook every night and this was easy to make and packed full of flavor. I typically tweak recipes however there wasn’t really anything that needed changing here, I just added some bell pepper because I love the sweetness.
This will be a favorite go to dish for me!!!
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
We are so glad you loved this Karen! I make this dish often and never the same way twice. Check out our shrimp and orzo dish. It’s basically the same dish with a few tweaks. https://laughingspatula.com/20-minute-one-pan-shrimp-and-orzo-dinner/
Krista says
I have a swap question. Do you think this would work with vegetable broth as well? I don’t have chicken broth on hand, but have everything else.
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
You bet Krista! Hope you love it!
Cindy says
Thanks so much for the recipe, this was so good! I actually only had Mexican crema at home (at the risk of sounding pretentious), so I used it instead of the cream. The recipe was so simple but so creamy and flavorful. I love mushrooms! I served it with a little tomato cucumber onion balsamic side salad. It was a winner.
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
I love crema, what a great substitute! So glad you liked it Cindy!
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
Oh my gosh I LOVE Mexican crema! Thanks so much for the note!
Iris Korndorfer says
Such a nice easy recipe. No problems and really nice.
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
Best recipe compliment ever! It’s what we try to do! Thank you for taking the time to send a note!
Jill says
This was fantastic! Thank you for the recipe.
Stacey Hodgson says
Currently just finishing off in the pan. Can’t wait to try it.
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
I hope you love it! We had it AGAIN last week..such an easy dish!
Sara says
I made this for dinner tonight minus the mushrooms (didn’t have any), lactaid milk instead of cream, and lots of fresh lemon juice. It was so good!! Creamy, delicious, and super quick and easy. We loved it. Thank you!
Amber says
Does chicken broth work with this or would stock be the better way to go?
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
Hi Amber! I always think stock has more flavor but broth will be just fine! Good question!
Jen says
Thank you for this recipe! I was looking for a homemade mushroom chicken dish with orzo because I ran out of rice. I never have cream on hand so I used 1/3 of a block of Greek cream cheese. And combined it into the broth. I didn’t have spinach but had some red pepper that I sauted with the mushroom. As a fan of onion I cut up four green onions and added it to the broth. When I combined everything. I had some fresh brocolli that I tossed in at the end to steam. When it was done I topped it with some shredded Gouda (I love cheese). i needed a recipe for what I had on hand, and this was fantastic! I wouldn’t have been able to do it without it!
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
I love how you used what you had on hand! Makes my blogging heart zing! Hope you come back and visit often…love to see what you can do with a few more recipes! Have a wonderful day Jen!