Description
A comforting one-pot pasta dish featuring creamy sauce and Cajun spices, perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (diced)
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup diced onions
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup bell pepper (diced) (optional)
- 1.5 cups orzo pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the diced chicken, seasoning it with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove the cooked chicken and set aside, keeping the bits in the pot.
- In the same pot, add the diced onions and minced garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes, then stir in diced bell pepper if using.
- Mix in the orzo, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until the orzo is tender.
- Stir in the cooked chicken and grated Parmesan cheese until creamy and well combined. Adjust seasoning as necessary.
- Ladle the warm mixture into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
You can customize the dish by adding spinach, shrimp, or sausage. Adjust Cajun seasoning based on heat preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, creamy orzo, one-pot meal, quick dinner, family recipe, comfort food