Cajun Chicken Orzo

Name: Cajun Chicken Orzo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 3 boneless chicken breast ((cut into bite-size pieces)); 1/2 tsp salt; 1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning; 2 tbsp unsalted butter; Drizzle of olive oil; 1/2 medium onion ((diced)); 4 garlic cloves ((minced)); 3 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes ((cut into smaller pieces)); 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 3 mini pointed peppers ((diced)); 1 cup orzo; 2 cup chicken broth; 1 cup frozen sweet peas; 1 tsp dry parsley leaves; 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream; 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese; Fresh parsley leaves; Parmesan cheese; Red chili pepper flakes ((optional))

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This Cajun Chicken Orzo is bursting with flavor and is so easy to prepare! Loaded with juicy chicken, veggies, and spicy, creamy orzo, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.

This creamy cajun chicken orzo is such a versatile dish. You can adjust it based on your preferences, and it’s done in 45 minutes, with the prep time.

Looking for some delicious yet easy-to-make meals? Consider trying out these options: cajun salmon pasta, chicken orzo soup, or cajun shrimp and rice pilaf.

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Ingredients
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Is Orzo a Pasta or Rice
Instructions
Expert Tips and Tricks
Substitutions and Variations
How to Serve
Storage
FAQ
More Recipes that You’ll Love
Related
Pairing
Recipe

Ingredients

Chicken breast: We need three medium size boneless and skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces.
Salt: Just a little bit of salt to add flavor. Feel free to adjust based on your taste preferences.
Cajun seasoning: Cajun seasoning will add spiciness to this recipe. The amount of seasoning I added to the recipe will give mild spiciness. Please refer to the Substitutions and Variations section for other alternatives.
Butter: We need a couple of tablespoons of unsalted butter to sauté the chicken.
Oil: I added just a drizzle of olive oil. I like using a combination of butter and oil since the butter will aid in browning the chicken, and the oil will help keep the butter and meat from burning.
Onion: I used half a medium-sized onion diced into small pieces.
Garlic: Fresh garlic will give a fantastic taste to the dish.
Sun-dried tomatoes: I used sun-dried tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil. If the olive oil becomes solid, if you keep it in the fridge, leave it on the counter until it reaches room temperature. It will be much easier to take out sun-dried tomato pieces.
Tomato paste: Tomato paste will thicken the sauce and blend the ingredients. It will enhance other flavors of the dish.
Smoked paprika: A little bit of smoked paprika adds depth and flavor to the recipe.
Mini-pointed peppers: I wanted to add fresh veggies to this recipe, and these mini-pointed peppers were perfect. They are so colorful and full of flavor.
Orzo: I used one cup of orzo for this recipe. I use two to two and a half cups of liquid for every cup of orzo.
Chicken broth: As the orzo soaks up a lot of liquid, we need chicken broth to help cook the orzo and other ingredients. You can use chicken stock as well.
Sweet peas: I used frozen sweet peas for this recipe. It does not need long to cook, and it will add some nutrients to this meal.
Parsley: I used both dry and fresh parsley leaves.
Heavy whipping cream: I added a bit of heavy whipping cream to add creaminess to this meal.
Parmesan cheese: Parmesan cheese will add lots of flavor and texture. Feel free to add more based on your preferences.

See recipe card for quantities.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Quick and easy: With a bit of preparation and easy instructions, this one-pot creamy cajun chicken and orzo is perfect for busy weeknights.
Flavor: This recipe bursts with flavor. From juicy and spicy chicken to creamy and cheesy orzo, this recipe is so comforting.
Texture: This dish has many different textures, from tender chicken pieces, orzo, crunchy peppers, and creamy and cheesy sauce.
Versatile: You can adjust the spices and other ingredients, like different types of meat or veggies.

Is Orzo a Pasta or Rice

Orzo is a type of pasta that looks similar to rice. It’s made from durum wheat. I like orzo because it’s small and you can use it in soups, stews, and many other dishes.

Instructions

To ensure you can easily follow all the steps, I recommend washing, cutting, and measuring all ingredients before you start cooking.

Add chicken, salt, and Cajun seasoning to a medium-sized bowl. Toss until combined.
Add butter and oil to the skillet and heat until melted. Add chicken and sauté the chicken for 5 minutes on medium-high heat, occasionally mixing.
Add onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, smoked paprika, tomato paste, and mini-pointed peppers. Stir to combine. Cook for 3-5 minutes, mixing frequently.
Add orzo and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook on medium-low, with a lid slightly ajar, for 20 minutes. Mix frequently, as the orzo will get stuck to the bottom of the skillet.
Add frozen sweet peas, and dry parsley leaves, and cook for 3-5 minutes.
Add grated parmesan and heavy whipping cream. Stir to combine.
Serve in a bowl, and add more grated parmesan and fresh parsley leaves. Enjoy!

Creamy cajun chicken orzo in skillet overhead shot.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Prepare and measure all ingredients before you start cooking: This recipe requires some mixing, so to ensure you don’t have to measure ingredients while cooking, prepare all ingredients in advance.
Don’t walk away: Orzo can stick to the pan relatively quickly, so don’t walk away from the pan.
Mix often: To ensure that the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan, you will need to mix frequently.
Adjust the liquid if needed: If the orzo soaks up the liquid quickly, add more. Add it gradually so you don’t end up with too much liquid.

Substitutions and Variations

Adjust spices: The amount of cajun seasoning I added will give mild to medium spiciness. If you prefer more spiciness, add more cajun seasoning or cayenne pepper.
Add greens: Add some chopped spinach or kale to add more nutrients and vitamins.
Use different meat: Shrimp or sausage are great options if you don’t want to use chicken. Shrimp requires short cooking time, so add it towards the end.
Use rice instead: If you don’t have orzo, you can substitute it for short-grain Arborio rice. You may need to adjust the liquid accordingly.
Optional toppings: I like to add parmesan flakes and freshly chopped parsley leaves. If you want to add more heat, another option would be to add red pepper chili flakes.