Creamy Garlic Butter Pepper Jack Chicken Orzo (Printable)
Tender chicken and orzo in a rich garlic butter sauce with Pepper Jack and spinach.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
02 - 1 tsp paprika
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
04 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Orzo & Aromatics
05 - 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta uncooked
06 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 5 cloves garlic minced
08 - 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
→ Liquids & Creaminess
09 - 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 cup whole milk
11 - 1/3 cup heavy cream
→ Cheese & Finish
12 - 1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese
13 - 2 cups baby spinach roughly chopped
14 - 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley optional
15 - Lemon wedges for serving
# Directions:
01 - Season the chicken pieces with paprika salt and black pepper
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute the chicken until golden and cooked through 5 to 6 minutes. Remove to a plate.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Melt remaining butter. Add garlic and onion saute until fragrant and translucent about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in orzo toasting lightly for 1 minute. Pour in broth and milk stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the skillet.
05 - Bring to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered stirring occasionally for 8 to 10 minutes until orzo is mostly tender and much of the liquid is absorbed.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and cooked chicken. Mix in spinach and Pepper Jack cheese stir until spinach wilts and cheese melts 2 to 3 minutes.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The orzo absorbs all that creamy, spicy goodness and becomes impossibly rich without needing any heavy technique
- Its the perfect balance of heat from the pepper jack and comfort from that luscious garlic butter sauce
02 -
- The orzo continues thickening the sauce as it sits, so if it looks too liquidy while cooking, give it another minute or two
- Pepper Jack heat levels vary wildly between brands, so taste a small piece before adding to gauge the spice level
03 -
- Grate your own Pepper Jack from a block instead of using pre-shredded cheese for the smoothest melting
- Don't skip the toasting step for the orzo, it adds a subtle nutty flavor that makes the whole dish taste more complex