Description
Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo is a comforting and flavorful one-pot dish perfect for easy weeknight dinners. Tender chicken breasts simmer in a rich, creamy sauce infused with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, combined with fresh spinach and tender orzo pasta for a deliciously hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Slow Cooker Mixture
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Additional Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Begin by seasoning the chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to prepare them for searing and slow cooking.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear them for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. This step is optional but adds additional flavor and texture.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: In your slow cooker, mix together the heavy cream, chicken broth, minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined.
- Add Chicken to Slow Cooker: Place the seared chicken breasts into the slow cooker, ensuring they are fully covered by the creamy mixture.
- Cook Chicken: Set the slow cooker to low and cook the chicken for 4 hours or until it is fully cooked and tender.
- Add Orzo Pasta: After 4 hours, open the slow cooker lid and add the orzo pasta. Make sure the orzo is submerged in the liquid.
- Add Spinach and Continue Cooking: Stir in the fresh spinach leaves, replace the lid, and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and the spinach is wilted.
- Combine Ingredients: Once the orzo is cooked, stir everything thoroughly to combine the creamy sauce, chicken, pasta, and spinach evenly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the dish with fresh basil leaves if desired before serving for a fresh aroma and extra color.
Notes
- If you prefer, you can skip searing the chicken to save time, but searing adds more depth of flavor.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control the saltiness of the dish.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil can be used; just drain well before adding.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a mixture of milk and cream cheese.
- Fresh basil leaves are optional but highly recommended for garnish to enhance the Tuscan flavor.
