Creamy Chicken Orzo

When I’m in the mood for a quick and easy one-pot meal, I make this creamy chicken orzo. I cook tender chunks of chicken and chewy orzo in a cream sauce with plenty of Parmesan cheese. This meal is warm and satisfying– perfect for cozy winter nights.

I’m a big fan of orzo since it’s so much easier to cook than risotto. With this creamy chicken orzo recipe, I don’t have to babysit the pot, stirring for hours and hours. It still has that creamy and chewy texture like risotto but with so much less work.

• 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into bite-sized pieces
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon ground paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
• ½ onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1½ cups dry orzo pasta
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream room temperature
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus more for topping

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Chopped fresh thyme
• Lemon juice