Cheesy Bacon Chicken Ranch Orzo
Cheesy Bacon Chicken Ranch Orzo
Ingredients
For the Bacon and Chicken
- 6 bacon, slices
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper, as needed
- 1 tablespoon Mofo Delicious seasoning, or your favorite all-purpose seasoning, divided
- 4 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Orzo
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 1/4 cups orzo pasta, (16 ounces)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the bacon slices in a single layer in an oven-safe pan. Sprinkle with pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of "Mofo Delicious" seasoning.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 350
- 2
Bake the bacon for 30 minutes, or until it reaches your desired crispiness. Once cooked, remove from the oven, transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain, and set aside.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350
- 3
While the bacon cooks, season the chicken thighs on both sides with the remaining "Mofo Delicious" seasoning, oregano, and Italian seasoning. Massage the seasonings into the chicken well.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Cut the seasoned chicken into small, bite-sized cubes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Heat the olive oil in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken cubes and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and fully cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set it aside.
⏱️ 8 min
- 6
In the same pan, add the butter. Stir until it is fully melted.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Add the orzo pasta to the pan. Stir and toast the orzo for about 5 minutes, until it becomes slightly golden brown.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Pour in the chicken broth and give it a good stir. Bring to a simmer, then cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
⏱️ 20 min
- 9
Uncover the pan and stir the orzo again, ensuring nothing is sticking to the bottom. Pour in the heavy cream and stir for about 3 more minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken and become creamy.
⏱️ 3 min
- 10
Add the ranch dressing mix and stir to combine thoroughly. Then, add the grated Parmesan cheese and mix until it is fully melted and incorporated into the orzo.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
Crumble the cooked bacon. Add the cooked chicken and crumbled bacon back into the orzo mixture. Fold everything together until well combined and heated through.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cheesy Bacon Chicken Ranch Orzo
For the Bacon and Chicken
- 6 bacon, slices
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper, as needed
- 1 tablespoon Mofo Delicious seasoning, or your favorite all-purpose seasoning, divided
- 4 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Orzo
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 1/4 cups orzo pasta, (16 ounces)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the bacon slices in a single layer in an oven-safe pan. Sprinkle with pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of "Mofo Delicious" seasoning.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 350 - 2
Bake the bacon for 30 minutes, or until it reaches your desired crispiness. Once cooked, remove from the oven, transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain, and set aside.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350 - 3
While the bacon cooks, season the chicken thighs on both sides with the remaining "Mofo Delicious" seasoning, oregano, and Italian seasoning. Massage the seasonings into the chicken well.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Cut the seasoned chicken into small, bite-sized cubes.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Heat the olive oil in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken cubes and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and fully cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set it aside.
⏱️ 8 min - 6
In the same pan, add the butter. Stir until it is fully melted.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Add the orzo pasta to the pan. Stir and toast the orzo for about 5 minutes, until it becomes slightly golden brown.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Pour in the chicken broth and give it a good stir. Bring to a simmer, then cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
⏱️ 20 min - 9
Uncover the pan and stir the orzo again, ensuring nothing is sticking to the bottom. Pour in the heavy cream and stir for about 3 more minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken and become creamy.
⏱️ 3 min - 10
Add the ranch dressing mix and stir to combine thoroughly. Then, add the grated Parmesan cheese and mix until it is fully melted and incorporated into the orzo.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
Crumble the cooked bacon. Add the cooked chicken and crumbled bacon back into the orzo mixture. Fold everything together until well combined and heated through.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving.
⏱️ 2 min