Mediterranean Chicken Orzo Recipe
This Mediterranean Chicken Orzo is a flavorful and comforting one-pot dish combining tender shredded chicken, sweet grape tomatoes, briny olives and capers, fresh baby spinach, and creamy feta cheese, all cooked with orzo pasta in a savory chicken broth with white wine and Mediterranean herbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup little tomatoes (grape, cherry, etc.), halved
- 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1 tablespoon capers, drained
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 2.5 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked shredded or rotisserie chicken
- 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics and Orzo: Heat olive oil and butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the halved tomatoes, Kalamata olives, capers, dried oregano, minced garlic, and orzo pasta. Cook, stirring often, for about 2 minutes until the butter melts and the ingredients start to soften.
- Deglaze with Wine and Add Broth: Pour in the dry white wine and let it bubble for 30 seconds to deglaze the pot. Then stir in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Simmer Orzo: Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low so the liquid simmers gently. Cook uncovered for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the orzo from sticking, until the pasta is tender but still al dente. Be careful not to let the liquid reduce too much before orzo is cooked.
- Add Chicken, Spinach, and Feta: Stir in the cooked shredded chicken, fresh baby spinach, and crumbled feta cheese until well combined.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pot from heat and cover it for 3–5 minutes to allow the spinach to wilt and the feta to slightly melt while the orzo absorbs more broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for a convenient shortcut.
- Make sure not to let the broth reduce too much during simmering to keep the orzo moist and tender.
- Can substitute dry white wine with additional chicken broth or a splash of lemon juice for acidity if preferred.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on stovetop with a splash of broth to restore creaminess.
Keywords: Mediterranean chicken orzo, one pot chicken pasta, orzo pasta recipe, feta chicken recipe, easy stovetop dinner
