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Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzo

Cheesy chicken broccoli orzo is a one-pot, cheddar cream orzo dinner with tender chicken and vivid green broccoli. Toasted orzo simmers in broth and heavy cream, then finishes with melted sharp cheddar so every spoonful has creamy, stretchy cheese.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 760
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika to taste
Cooking base
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 garlic, minced
Orzo and sauce
  • 1.5 cup orzo pasta
  • 3 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cup broccoli florets, cut small
  • 1.5 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 Fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Cook the chicken
  1. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika to taste. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes until golden and cooked through; remove and set aside.
Build the orzo base
  1. In the same pan, cook the minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the orzo and toast for 1 minute, then pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
Simmer and finish
  1. Cook the orzo uncovered for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, until tender. Add the broccoli florets in the last 4 minutes of cooking so they turn bright green and are just tender.
  2. Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar and Parmesan until melted and the orzo is creamy. Return the cooked chicken to the pan and stir to combine, then taste and adjust seasoning.
Serve
  1. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

Notes

For the creamiest texture, stir frequently once the orzo starts simmering so it cooks evenly and thickens in the cheddar cream sauce. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce. Freezing is not recommended because the cream sauce may break when thawed. If you want a lighter swap, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and add the cheese off heat to reduce separation.