I think after 8+ months of spending the majority of our time at home, we can all agree that we’re sick of doing the dishes. Even more of a reason to make this recipe because it can be made in twenty minutes and it only requires one skillet. Little cleanup and lots of deliciousness – Win win!
I saw a meme the other day that couldn’t be more relatable. “What I love most about cooking three meals a day and cleaning up afterwards is probably the four minutes of free time you have left before it’s time to go to sleep.” IT ME!
Better get to cooking so I get more four minutes before bed… Ha Ha!
It wasn’t until 2019 that I stumbled upon the Mirepoix mix from Trader Joe’s. What is Mirepoix you ask? It’s a fancy way to say chopped vegetables. In this case, we’re talking about celery, carrots, and onions, which are most commonly used as a starter for soups, stews, sautes, and sauces.
Using a Mirepoix is a great way to cut back (quite literally) on chopping time and get straight to cooking. It’s a great shortcut! I buy my Mirepoix from Trader Joe’s, but I have seen them at several different grocery stores in the fresh produce sections.
Want to make this recipe dairy free?
The beauty of this recipe is that you don’t need to add the milk or the Parmesan cheese to achieve the same creamy flavors. Since you’re cooking the orzo directly in the skillet, the starches create creamy textures similar to a risotto. Y’all know I love cheese though, I like to add the Parmesan to make it a little extra creamy and salty.
If you omit the milk, be sure to replace the liquid with more chicken broth so that orzo has enough liquid to absorb.
What is orzo?
A lot of people mistake orzo for rice, but it is really just another form of pasta. It is a short grain pasta mostly made from white flour, however there are some whole wheat versions available. I love orzo! It is great for pasta salads or one skillet dinners such as this one!
What kind of chicken should I use?
Similar to the Mirepox starter, we’re cutting corners in this recipe. Grab a rotisserie chicken from the store and shred it up! Rotisserie chickens are super affordable and all of the work is done for you. If you’d like to cook your own, I’d recommend boiling in a pot of water and shredding with two forks. You do you!
The secret ingredient:
The secret ingredient to this dish is lemon juice. Don’t worry, if you’re not a lemon person, this isn’t going to over power the recipe. It’s just enough to enhance the rest of the flavors without taking over. Lemons are known as flavor enhancers for pasta, similar to salt, but without the extra sodium! Have you tried adding lemon juice to your pasta? Let me know!
I hope you’re enjoying these twenty minute meals as much I do making them. They challenge me to use minimal ingredients and figure out ways to create new recipes. This is the part of the job I LOVE doing! Well I just exhausted my four minutes in between dishes and bed so it’s time to log off! I hope you enjoy this meal!!
One Skillet Creamy Chicken Orzo Dinner
Ingredients
- 14.5oz container Trader Joe's Mirepoix starter (chopped celery, carrots, and onions)
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ milk
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 tsp parsley
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice or half lemon
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a non stick skillet. Saute Mirepoix starter for 2-3 minutes until celery, carrots, and onions become translucent. Add garlic and stir until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth and uncooked orzo to the skillet. Stir in salt, pepper, and parsley. Bring to a low boil and turn heat to medium low. Cook for 10 minutes until orzo absorbs most of the liquid.
- Add shredded chicken and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add lemon juice and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
- Serve with freshly chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
I’d love to hear from you once you get the chance to make this recipe. Leave a comment below with your review or any modifications you made! And don’t forget to tag @rightbackspatula on Instagram if you take any pictures!
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