My favorite family dinners are 1-skillet-meals; only 1 pot to keep an eye on and less dishes! This 1-skillet chicken cherry tomato orzo is simple to make in 30 minutes (give or take). It is easily adjustable to picky eaters and, even though it is a 1 skillet meal, it looks super festive.

This is a great family weekday meal, but you will also swoon your guests at a dinner party with this insanely flavorful orzo. Let’s get cookin’.

a great family weekday meal; chicken cherry tomato orzo

How to make chicken cherry tomato orzo?

This easy family weekday meal comes together in 1 skillet and takes about 30 minutes to make.

I start by rubbing the chicken with oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. I then heat up 2 tbsp of oil in a cast iron or heavy bottom skillet and sear the chicken on both sides. Once they have turned golden brown I remove them from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.

Using the same skillet I heat up the rest of the oil and I add red onions, garlic and the orzo. I keep stirring until the onion are translucent. Now I add the wine and deglaze the pan, followed by half a cup of water and I bring it to boil.

When it is all bubbly, I add the cherry tomatoes, parmesan (optional) and the spinach. Once the spinach has wilted I slide the chicken and any juices left on the plate back into the skillet.

spinach and cherry tomatoes in skillet about to turn into a family weekday meal

Now I transfer the skillet to the oven and I cook it, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

I serve the chicken cherry tomato orzo topped with shaved or grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves.

How is this adjustable to picky eaters?

My kids still prefer smooth over ‘chunky’ sauces (‘I don’t like salad in it mom!’) so sometimes I prepare a simpler version (for them): I basically follow the recipe but I don’t add the orzo when the original recipe calls for it; I wait. I continue following the recipe until it says to put the chicken back in the skillet.

Now I first blend everything into a smooth sauce with an immersion blender. Into the smooth sauce I add the chicken and the orzo. I heat it up until bubbly and transfer the skillet to the oven and let it cook until both the chicken and the orzo are cooked. That’s it. Same delicious tasting chicken cherry tomato orzo, just silky smooth and without ‘salad in it’. LOL.

Smooth sauce or OG, we all love this 1 skillet chicken cherry tomato orzo. It’s perfect for a family weekday meal. And I am sure you will too. It is

full of flavor – wholesome – quick & easy to make – adjustable – & so delicious

Another great family weekday meal! Have you tried our others yet? This sweet and sour shrimp dish? Or our lentil bolognese? Thai lentil curry?

1 skillet chicken cherry tomato orzo

A dish full of flavor and wholesome ingredients prepared in one skillet. On the table in 30 minutes. And hardly any dishes after dinner!

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Oven Time 15

Total Time 35

Course Main Course

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (divided)
1½-2 lbs chicken breast (700-900gr)
1-2 tsp dried oregano
1-2 tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp crushed chili flakes (optional; I leave it out or only add ⅛ because of my kids)
salt and pepper (to taste)
1 medium-large red onion (diced)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1½ cup orzo (or sub (brown) rice)
¾ cup red wine
½ cup water
1 lb cherry tomatoes (450 gr)(depending on their size, cut in half)
¼ cup parmesan cheese (shaved or grated)
2 cups baby spinach leaves (washed and cleaned)

Instructions

Start by rubbing the chicken with oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Heat up 2 tbsp of olive oil in a cast iron or heavy bottom skillet and sear the chicken on both sides. Once they have turned golden brown, remove them from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.
Using the same skillet, heat up the rest of the oil and add red onions, garlic and the orzo. Keep stirring until the onion are translucent. Add the wine to deglaze the pan, followed by half a cup of water and I bring bring it to boil.
When it is all bubbly, add the cherry tomatoes, parmesan (optional) and the spinach. Once the spinach has wilted I slide the chicken and any juices left on the plate back into the skillet.
Now transfer the skillet to the oven and cook it, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
For serving: top with shaved or grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves.

Smooth sauce for pick eaters instructions:

Follow the recipe but don't add the orzo when the original recipe calls for it; just continue following the recipe until it says to put the chicken back in the skillet.
Now first blend everything into a smooth sauce with an immersion blender. Into the smooth sauce add the chicken and the orzo. Heat it up until bubbly and transfer the skillet to the oven and let it cook until both the chicken and the orzo are cooked.

Keyword 1 skillet

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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