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Easy Chicken and Broccoli Orzo

A creamy and satisfying one‑pot dinner of tender chicken, orzo pasta, and bright broccoli florets tossed in a cheesy sauce — perfect for weeknights!
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Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings:4 servings
Calories:450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces orzo pasta
  • 2 cups broccoli florets fresh or frozen
  • 2 cups cooked chicken diced or shredded
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ cup heavy cream or milk/half‑and‑half
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated, plus extra for topping
  • to taste salt and pepper

Method
 

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orzo according to package directions. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli so it cooks with the pasta. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 30–60 seconds.
  3. Add the cooked orzo and broccoli to the skillet, then pour in the heavy cream. Stir to combine.
  4. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
  5. Add the cooked chicken and gently fold it into the pasta mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Serve warm with extra Parmesan on top if desired.

Notes

This version uses cooked chicken and a simple creamy sauce with Parmesan cheese. You can swap in rotisserie chicken, add herbs like parsley or lemon zest for brightness, or use milk/half‑and‑half instead of cream. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste. Typical creamy chicken broccoli orzo comes together in about 20–30 minutes.:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}