Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Orzo (Printable)
Creamy one-pot orzo with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and a rich savory sauce. Cozy comfort food in every bite.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup carrots, diced
03 - 1 cup frozen peas
04 - 1 cup celery, diced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Base & Pasta
07 - 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
08 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 cup whole milk
10 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
→ Seasonings
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley, plus extra for garnish
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
# Directions:
01 - Melt butter in a large pot or deep skillet over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir to coat evenly. Cook for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste.
04 - Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, then add the milk. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
05 - Add orzo, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the orzo is al dente and the sauce thickens.
06 - Stir in the heavy cream, cooked chicken, and frozen peas. Simmer for 3–5 more minutes until the chicken is heated through and the peas are tender. Adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Remove from heat and let sit for 2–3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken further. Garnish with extra parsley and serve warm.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It delivers every comforting flavor of chicken pot pie without the fuss of making a crust.
- Everything cooks in one pot, which means cleanup is almost nonexistent on a tired evening.
02 -
- Stir the orzo frequently while it simmers because it loves to stick to the bottom of the pot when you look away even for a minute.
- The sauce will seem thin at first but it thickens considerably as it rests, so trust the process and resist adding more flour.
03 -
- Dice all your vegetables roughly the same size so every spoonful has a balanced mix of flavors and textures.
- Rotisserie chicken is the smartest shortcut here, just shred it while still warm and it falls apart effortlessly.