Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo
Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo
Ingredients
For the Spicy Chicken and Broccoli
- 8 ounces chicken breast
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1 jalapeno, small, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon butter, quartered
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
- as needed salt
- as needed cracked black pepper
For the Cheddar Orzo
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped (yellow or white)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- as needed salt
- as needed cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup orzo, dry
- 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- as needed Everything Seasoning, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Dice the 8 ounces of chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Prepare 3 cups of broccoli florets. Thinly slice 1 small jalapeno, if using. Place the diced chicken in a bowl and season with 1/2 teaspoon of the smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of the garlic powder, salt, and cracked black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil and 1 tablespoon of butter (quartered) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and sizzling, add the seasoned chicken to the pan. Cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Add the 3 cups of broccoli florets and the thinly sliced 1 small jalapeno (if using) to the skillet with the chicken. Season the vegetables with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, along with salt and cracked black pepper. Stir everything together and cook until the broccoli is tender-crisp. Remove the cooked chicken and broccoli mixture from the skillet and set it aside in a bowl.
⏱️ 8 min
- 4
Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent. Add 1 clove of minced garlic to the pan and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Season with salt and cracked black pepper.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Stir in 1/2 cup of dry orzo, toasting it lightly for about 1 minute until slightly golden. Pour in 1 cup of vegetable or chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover the skillet, and cook until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the orzo is tender.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Stir in 2 tablespoons of whole milk, 1 tablespoon of sour cream, and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese is fully melted and the orzo is creamy and well combined.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Return the cooked spicy chicken and broccoli mixture to the skillet with the creamy cheddar orzo. Stir everything together until heated through and well combined. Serve immediately in bowls. Garnish with Everything Seasoning, if desired.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo
For the Spicy Chicken and Broccoli
- 8 ounces chicken breast
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1 jalapeno, small, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon butter, quartered
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
- as needed salt
- as needed cracked black pepper
For the Cheddar Orzo
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped (yellow or white)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- as needed salt
- as needed cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup orzo, dry
- 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- as needed Everything Seasoning, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Dice the 8 ounces of chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Prepare 3 cups of broccoli florets. Thinly slice 1 small jalapeno, if using. Place the diced chicken in a bowl and season with 1/2 teaspoon of the smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of the garlic powder, salt, and cracked black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil and 1 tablespoon of butter (quartered) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and sizzling, add the seasoned chicken to the pan. Cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the 3 cups of broccoli florets and the thinly sliced 1 small jalapeno (if using) to the skillet with the chicken. Season the vegetables with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, along with salt and cracked black pepper. Stir everything together and cook until the broccoli is tender-crisp. Remove the cooked chicken and broccoli mixture from the skillet and set it aside in a bowl.
⏱️ 8 min - 4
Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent. Add 1 clove of minced garlic to the pan and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Season with salt and cracked black pepper.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Stir in 1/2 cup of dry orzo, toasting it lightly for about 1 minute until slightly golden. Pour in 1 cup of vegetable or chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover the skillet, and cook until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the orzo is tender.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Stir in 2 tablespoons of whole milk, 1 tablespoon of sour cream, and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese is fully melted and the orzo is creamy and well combined.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Return the cooked spicy chicken and broccoli mixture to the skillet with the creamy cheddar orzo. Stir everything together until heated through and well combined. Serve immediately in bowls. Garnish with Everything Seasoning, if desired.
⏱️ 2 min