Recipe for Orzo and Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes combines some of my favorite ingredients, like pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano and cheese (which is not surprising for someone coming from Mediterranean region).
The dish resembles risotto, yet it is quick to make and full of Italian flavor. It is prepared in one pot or skillet by frying chicken, onion, sun dried tomatoes and orzo, and slowly adding chicken stock until all liquid is absorbed (no need to cook pasta separately). You can use either standard type of orzo (risoni) or smaller one, called “risini” (like I did).
My Orzo and Chicken pasta was so good, I can’t wait to make it again!
Orzo and Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2/3 cup sun dried tomatoes drained from oil
- 1-2 Tbsp oil from tomatoes
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 1/3 cup orzo pasta risoni
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 cup wine red or white
- 3 1/2 cup chicken stock warm (hot is even better)
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp dry thyme
- 1/4 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar optional
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt black pepper
- grated Parmesan cheese
- chopped parsley optional
Instructions
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Cut chicken breast in bite-sized cubes and season with salt and pepper.
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Put olive oil and oil that you reserved when draining tomatoes in a pan or skillet and heat over medium high heat. Fry the chicken until golden. Remove from pan and set aside.
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Saute onion until translucent. Add garlic and fry for a few seconds until garlic is fragrant.
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Add orzo and fry about 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned.
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Stir in tomato paste, sun dried tomatoes, wine, oregano, thyme, lemon zest, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Return chicken cubes to the pan.
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Cook, adding chicken stock one ladle at a time and stirring often, until orzo is soft. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
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Serve immediately, sprinkled with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
This is a very interesting recipe as I live in Greece and we use orzo a lot. On reading it through you don’t mention when to add the sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. I look forward to hearing from you as I want to make this.
Sun dried tomatoes are added in step 5, together with tomato paste, wine and spices.
I have’t cooked with Orzo in ages! Great recipe. Pinning for later 🙂
Thanks for pinning!
So so delicious! I have made this recipe twice this month and it is always a big hit!
Great! I’m so happy to hear that.
We love orzo – I’m going to try this for Sunday dinner this week.
Great! Let me know how it turned out.
Made this last night and it was a huge success! Followed the recipe exactly except for adding Italian seasoning in place of the thyme (I couldn’t find any at the local store). The chicken was moist and there was so much flavor from the lemon and balsamic vinegar. Served with garlic bread and a vegetable medley and can’t wait to eat the leftovers for lunch! Thanks!!!
Awesome, Dana!!