Description
This Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo is a comforting, flavorful one-pot meal featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and Parmesan cheese, served over delicate orzo pasta. Perfect for an easy dinner with minimal prep, this dish combines Italian-inspired flavors with the convenience of slow cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, cut into small cubes)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 1 cup sun dried tomatoes (chopped, not in oil)
- 1 cup fresh spinach (roughly chopped)
Liquids and Dairy
- ½ cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
Pasta
- 1 cup orzo pasta
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Place the cubed chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper evenly over the chicken to ensure every bite is flavorful.
- Add Garlic, Onion, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Scatter the minced garlic and diced onion over the seasoned chicken. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes on top to infuse the dish with a rich, tangy sweetness.
- Pour in Chicken Broth: Gently pour the low sodium chicken broth over the ingredients in the slow cooker. This will help create the base for the creamy sauce and keep the chicken moist during cooking.
- Cook Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours or on high for 1 to 1.5 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Add Cream and Orzo: When chicken is almost done, stir in the heavy cream and orzo pasta. Cover and continue cooking on low for an additional 20 to 30 minutes until the orzo is tender and has absorbed some of the sauce.
- Stir in Spinach and Parmesan: Mix in the chopped fresh spinach and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir well until the spinach wilts and the cheese melts into the creamy sauce, adding layers of flavor and richness.
- Adjust and Serve: Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with extra salt or pepper if needed. Serve the creamy Tuscan chicken orzo hot and enjoy a comforting Italian-inspired meal.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer darker meat, which may add extra tenderness and flavor.
- Use sun-dried tomatoes not packed in oil to avoid excess grease in the slow cooker.
- If the sauce is too thick after cooking, stir in a little more chicken broth or cream to reach desired consistency.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, but the sauce will be less rich.
- If you want a gluten-free version, replace orzo with a gluten-free small pasta alternative or omit it and serve the chicken over rice or cauliflower rice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2.5 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: slow cooker chicken recipe, creamy Tuscan chicken, chicken orzo recipe, Italian slow cooker meals, one pot chicken dinner
