Description
A creamy, garlicky, and comforting weeknight dinner made in the slow cooker. This easy recipe combines tender chicken, orzo pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach in a rich parmesan sauce with minimal prep time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1.5 cups dry orzo pasta
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 tablespoon reserved oil from sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Trim chicken breasts if necessary and season lightly with salt and pepper. Place chicken at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle minced garlic and dried basil over the chicken. Pour in the chicken broth.
- Add the dry orzo pasta and stir gently to submerge it in the liquid.
- Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and the reserved tablespoon of tomato oil. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2.5 to 3 hours or on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, until chicken is cooked through and orzo is al dente.
- Shred the chicken directly in the pot using two forks.
- Add the cubed cream cheese and stir vigorously until completely melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Add the fresh spinach on top and stir until wilted.
- Stir in the grated parmesan cheese. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil or parmesan if desired.
Notes
If using frozen chicken, add 30-60 minutes to the cook time. Check orzo near the end of cooking to prevent mushiness. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth. For dairy-free, use dairy-free cream cheese and nutritional yeast. For vegetarian, substitute chicken with chickpeas or white beans.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, tuscan chicken, orzo pasta, weeknight dinner, creamy chicken, gluten-free option, easy recipes, comfort food