Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo Recipe
Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo is a comforting and flavorful one-pot Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and creamy Parmesan sauce combined with orzo pasta. Perfect for an easy, hearty dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into small cubes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 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
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
Pasta
- 1 cup orzo pasta
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, season the cubed chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, ensuring even coating to build flavor.
- Add to Slow Cooker: Place the seasoned chicken at the bottom of your slow cooker. Add in the minced garlic, diced onion, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes on top for aromatic richness.
- Pour Broth and Cook: Pour 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth over the ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours or on high for 1 to 1.5 hours until the chicken is nearly cooked through.
- Add Cream and Orzo: Stir in the heavy cream and orzo pasta into the slow cooker. Continue cooking on low for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, checking occasionally until the orzo is tender but not mushy.
- Finish with Spinach and Cheese: Stir in the fresh spinach and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until the spinach wilts and the cheese melts into the creamy sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed, then serve hot.
Notes
- Add orzo later in the cooking process to avoid overcooking and mushiness.
- Use fresh spinach instead of frozen for better texture and flavor.
- Grate your own Parmesan cheese for superior melting and enhanced flavor.
- When reheating leftovers, add a splash of chicken broth to loosen the sauce and keep it creamy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 594 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 532 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: Slow cooker chicken, creamy Tuscan chicken, orzo pasta recipe, easy Italian dinner, sun-dried tomatoes chicken, one-pot slow cooker meal
