Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Orzo (Printable)
Creamy one-pot orzo with tender chicken, vegetables, and a rich savory sauce for a comforting weeknight meal.
# 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
# How-To Steps:
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 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 chicken broth, then add 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 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 Advice:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pot which means you get all the comfort of pot pie with zero pie drama and almost no dishes.
- The orzo soaks up the savory broth and cream until each bite is velvety and rich but the whole thing comes together in under an hour.
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 continue to thicken as it sits so if it seems a little loose right off the heat just give it a couple of minutes.
03 -
- Dice all your vegetables the same size so everything cooks at the same rate and you never bite into a chunk of raw carrot.
- Use a rotisserie chicken and frozen vegetables to cut your prep time down to almost nothing on busy weeknights.