Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo Recipe
Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cajun Chicken
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for seasoning chicken
- as needed PoggioliEats Cajun seasoning
- as needed salt
- as needed black pepper
For the Creamy Orzo
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for searing chicken
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 white onion, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups orzo
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 lemon, juiced
- as needed fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
- as needed Parmesan cheese, for garnish
- as needed black pepper, for garnish
- as needed lemon, extra wedges for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board. Drizzle generously with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season generously with PoggioliEats Cajun seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Rub the seasoning evenly over the chicken breasts to coat them.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Once hot, place the seasoned chicken breasts in the pan and sear on both sides until they are golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set aside to rest before slicing.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
In the same pan, add 3 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the diced white onion and diced yellow onion. Sauté the onions until they soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 1 minute.
⏱️ 8 min
- 4
Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. Let it cook down for 1–2 minutes, stirring continuously, to deepen its flavor.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Add 2 cups of orzo to the pan. Toast the orzo for another 1–2 minutes, stirring to ensure it absorbs all the flavors from the pan.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Slowly add 3 cups of chicken stock to the pan, stirring often. Continue cooking and stirring until the orzo is tender and the sauce becomes creamy, similar to risotto, about 10-15 minutes.
⏱️ 15 min
- 7
Lower the heat. Stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream, 1 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1 cup of fresh spinach, and the fresh lemon juice squeezed from 1 lemon.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Mix all the ingredients until the spinach wilts and the sauce is smooth and glossy.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Slice the rested chicken breasts. Plate the creamy Cajun orzo. Top with the sliced chicken. Finish with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley, a grind of black pepper, and a little extra fresh lemon for brightness.
⏱️ 3 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo Recipe
For the Cajun Chicken
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for seasoning chicken
- as needed PoggioliEats Cajun seasoning
- as needed salt
- as needed black pepper
For the Creamy Orzo
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for searing chicken
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 white onion, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups orzo
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 lemon, juiced
- as needed fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
- as needed Parmesan cheese, for garnish
- as needed black pepper, for garnish
- as needed lemon, extra wedges for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board. Drizzle generously with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season generously with PoggioliEats Cajun seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Rub the seasoning evenly over the chicken breasts to coat them.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Once hot, place the seasoned chicken breasts in the pan and sear on both sides until they are golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set aside to rest before slicing.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
In the same pan, add 3 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the diced white onion and diced yellow onion. Sauté the onions until they soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 1 minute.
⏱️ 8 min - 4
Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. Let it cook down for 1–2 minutes, stirring continuously, to deepen its flavor.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Add 2 cups of orzo to the pan. Toast the orzo for another 1–2 minutes, stirring to ensure it absorbs all the flavors from the pan.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Slowly add 3 cups of chicken stock to the pan, stirring often. Continue cooking and stirring until the orzo is tender and the sauce becomes creamy, similar to risotto, about 10-15 minutes.
⏱️ 15 min - 7
Lower the heat. Stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream, 1 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1 cup of fresh spinach, and the fresh lemon juice squeezed from 1 lemon.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Mix all the ingredients until the spinach wilts and the sauce is smooth and glossy.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Slice the rested chicken breasts. Plate the creamy Cajun orzo. Top with the sliced chicken. Finish with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley, a grind of black pepper, and a little extra fresh lemon for brightness.
⏱️ 3 min