With a seasoned, creamy sauce, this Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a comforting dinner packed with nutrition! Made in the slow cooker to keep busy nights easy, this recipe is a one-stop meal you'll make over and over again.
All the comforting tastes of fall but packed with pops of color and healthy ingredients. This crockpot chicken orzo requires minimal time in the kitchen but packs a punch of flavor in every bite, just like this Cajun chicken pasta recipe or this Tuscan chicken recipe.
Made with a blend of silky Alfredo sauce and savory sundried tomatoes, this dinner recipe comes together in your slow cooker to make weeknights a bit less stressful. Although it has a comforting feel, like chicken and noodles, it's packed with both spinach and carrots for a dose of nutrients, too.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients: You won't find anything out of the norm in this marry me chicken with orzo. In fact, most of the ingredients you probably have on hand already.
- Minimal effort: Let your crockpot do the work for you! Although some slicing and dicing is involved, the bulk of the effort is hands-off, making for easy cleanup.
- Versatile: The recipe is easy to adapt and adjust based on your flavor preferences that day.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: You'll want to cut these into bite-sized pieces so that they cook quickly. Other chicken cuts will work, but may give off more juice.
- Alfredo sauce: Your favorite jar from the grocery store is perfect, though you can make your own, like in this chicken Alfredo, if you prefer to.
- Chicken broth: Adds tons of flavor to the orzo pasta while it cooks.
- Sundried tomatoes: Sundried tomatoes in oil tend to be more flavorful than those packaged in a bag. If you have the choice, opt for the ones in oil. Just make sure to drain them first.
- Parmesan: Shredded cheese works best as it helps make the sauce creamy, but the finely grated cheese will do just fine.
- Orzo pasta: Great for slow cooking as it absorbs the extra sauce perfectly.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Rice: In place of the orzo, you can make the marry me chicken orzo recipe into more of a casserole by using rice instead.
- Spicy: Give the chicken orzo a spicy kick by adding red pepper flakes to the mix.
- Protein: For a seafood twist, replace the chicken with shrimp. You'll need to adjust the cooking time, though, as shrimp will cook faster than chicken.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken with Orzo
This recipe really is about letting your crockpot do the work for you. Once you get everything in, you don't need to add or adjust until 30 minutes before serving.
- Step 1: Prep the chicken. Add the chicken and chicken broth to the crock pot, then sprinkle in the seasonings, garlic, onion, carrots, and sundried tomatoes.
- Step 2: Pour the sauce. Slowly pour in the Alfredo sauce, taking care to ensure everything is covered.
- Step 3: Begin slow cooking. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or speed it up by cooking on high for 2.5-3.5 hours.
- Step 4: Add the orzo. In the last 30 minutes, add the orzo, spinach, and parmesan. Cover the crockpot and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
- Step 5: Serve. Give everything a stir to combine, and then serve it in bowls garnished with more Parmesan and parsley.
Expert Tips
- Cut of chicken: If you choose to use chicken thighs in place of breasts for the marry me orzo, know that more liquid will be given off, resulting in the sauce not being as creamy.
- Keep an eye on cooking time: Keep a close eye on the crockpot in the last 30 minutes as the orzo cooks. It can cook very quickly, and you don't want it to turn out mushy.
- Thaw the chicken: Do not use frozen chicken in the slow cooker. Let your chicken thaw overnight in the fridge before you need it.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Leftover creamy chicken orzo can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for 2 months. Let it cool fully before you store it.
- Reheating: If it's in the freezer, let it thaw overnight in the fridge first. Then, reheat it on the stove over low-medium heat until warmed through. It does thicken upon sitting, so you'll want to add a splash of water or chicken broth to make it creamy again.
Serving Suggestions
Marry me chicken and orzo is the perfect dinner to prepare when you want something comforting, just like a pink sauce pasta. Below are a few ways to adapt the meal to suit your needs that night.
- Serve it alongside crockpot cornbread to stretch the meal a bit.
- Complete the dinner with cherry cobbler or apple crisp for a complete Sunday night dinner.
Recipe FAQs
No. If you add the pasta at the start while everything cooks, it will become too soft by the time you're ready to eat.
Keep a close eye on the crockpot in the last 30 minutes of cooking. If you feel it's looking too thick or dry, add a bit more Alfredo sauce if you have it, or a splash of water or chicken broth to keep it moist.
Any small-shaped pasta will work for the sundried tomato chicken orzo. However, they will cook differently. So, adjust the cooking time as needed for the pasta you choose and watch it closely.
More Delicious Crockpot Pasta Recipes
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Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken Orzo
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
- ¾ cup chicken stock
- 3 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes drained and chopped
- 15 ounce jar Alfredo sauce
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 cups spinach chopped
Instructions
- Add chicken to a 6-quart slow cooker. Then, pour in chicken broth and season with garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, onion, carrots, and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Then, pour Alfredo sauce over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on high for 2½-3½ hours or low for 4-5 hours.
- Add orzo pasta, spinach, and parmesan cheese. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
- Stir before serving and garnish with parsley and parmesan cheese, and enjoy!
Notes
- Watch the orzo closely in the last half hour of cooking to ensure the pasta does not overcook and become too soft.
- Chop the chicken into even, bite-sized pieces so they all cook within the same time frame.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen says
If you are craving something with tons of flavor and is creamy. This chicken pasta recipe is for you.
Linda says
This looks good but sun dried tomatoes hurt my stomach. Could I substitute halved cherry or grape tomatoes?
Ryan Allen says
Yes, you can substitute cherry or grape tomatoes. It will change the flavor a little though.
Susan says
I cooked this today. It is delicious!
I used 2 large chicken breasts, sodium free chicken bouillon, and thawed out frozen spinach leaves. Plus everything else in the recipe.
I cooked on low for 4&1/2 hrs, then added the orzo, parmesan cheese & spinach for an additional 45 min. It came out perfect!
Thank you!
Ryan Allen says
So glad it turned out perfect! Using frozen spinach and sodium free bouillon is such a great idea. Thanks for sharing your method and timing!