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This simple Skillet White Pesto Chicken and Orzo is the perfect winter dinner. Quick, easy, and so delicious! Pan-seared Italian seasoned chicken in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. Cooked together with orzo pasta for a quick dinner made in one skillet. Everyone at the dinner table loves this dish. It’s great for a weeknight but fancy enough to serve up at your next holiday dinner. It’s a hit all around!
Ingredients
- Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- Boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- All-purpose flour
- Italian seasoning
- Salted butter
- Garlic
- Dry orzo pasta
- Chili flakes
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream
- Basil pesto
- Parmesan cheese
- Fresh thyme
December is always the craziest month. It’s my favorite month of the year but also the busiest. And this December has been a lot. But I’m so thankful for it and loving every second of the chaos!
On top of multiple work trips and my day-to-day schedule, there’s been holiday fun, and most of my brothers are now in town. My parent’s house is once again full! Per usual, this means they’re all looking for dinner. I always try to have simple recipes like this skillet chicken on rotation this time of year! Easy dinners are key to keeping everyone happy and well-fed!
Lately, everyone has requested the recipe I shared for Smothered Chicken a few months ago. They love that dish, especially the creamy sauce.
When I set out to make this, I used that recipe as my base. But then I turned it into a quick-cooking spicy Italian dinner with lots of delicious basil pesto in the mix!
Here are the details
Step 1: the sun-dried tomatoes
Start with the sun-dried tomatoes. I love using a jar of oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Not only are the tomatoes delicious, but I also use the oil from the jar to cook the chicken. The oil is always seasoned, so it adds even more flavor. Just make sure it’s extra virgin olive oil.
Most people will discard the oil, but you must use it! It adds a lot of flavor to recipes.
Step 2: season and sear the chicken.
Sear the chicken with salt and pepper. Then, take each piece and dip it through some flour. The flour gives the chicken a coating for the yummy sauce to stick to. Additionally, the flour on the chicken will help to thicken the sauce.
Pan-sear the chicken in the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar. Then, just before pulling the chicken out of the skillet, sprinkle each piece with Italian seasoning.
It’s a delicious mix and makes the chicken very flavorful.
Step 3: the orzo
When you pull the chicken out, add the orzo and some garlic. Then toss in some butter too. Let the butter toast around the dry 0rzo and add the chicken broth and cream.
Then mix in the pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and the chicken.
Step 4: bake
Next, add the parmesan cheese and take the whole skillet and put it in the oven to finish baking.
It’s going to smell wonderful as you pull the skillet out of the oven. Like your favorite Italian restaurant!
This dish is everything you’d expect out of a multi-step recipe, but made in way less than an hour. Plus, everything is made in one pot. Simple, simple – and we love that.
You can serve this up on busy weeknights, but I think it’s equally great for holiday dinners with friends and family. I’m sure I’ll be remaking this over the holidays; we’re having a very special Christmas this year.
Looking for winter pasta recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Pesto Tortellini Zuppa Toscana
Creamy Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Pasta
One Pot French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
Basil Parmesan Pasta with Crispy Chicken, Prosciutto, and Arugula
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Lastly, if you make this Skillet White Pesto Chicken and Orzo, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Skillet White Pesto Chicken and Orzo
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 437 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained
- 6 boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- chili flakes
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Drain 3 tablespoons of oil from the sun-dried tomato jar into a large skillet with sides. Chop the sun-dried tomatoes and set aside.2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the flour to a shallow bowl. Dredge the chicken through the flour and toss to coat.3. Set the skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear on both sides until golden, 3-5 minutes per side. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Remove the chicken from the skillet to a plate.4. To the same skillet, add the butter, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, garlic, orzo, and season with chili flakes. Cook until lightly golden, 2 minutes. Add the broth. Bring to a boil, cook for 3-5 minutes, then add the cream, pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes. Slide the chicken and any juices left on the plate back into the skillet. Sprinkle over the parmesan. Transfer to the oven and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around the chicken.5. Serve the chicken, orzo, and sauce topped with thyme. YUM.
Notes
Italian Seasoning: Mix 2 tablespoons dried basil, 2 tablespoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, and 1 teaspoon dried sage. Store in a sealed container.
I made this it was fabulous. I wish you would create a recipe book with the recipes featured on this page. I would definitely buy it.
Thanks so much, Dee! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, I appreciate you making it! Happy Holidays! xx
This was delicious. Make sure you have your heat up high enough to sear the chicken properly. Packed full of flavor. Will definitely make again.
Hi Holly,
Perfect!! Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it and your comment! xT
I fixed this exactly as written except I fixed it for 4 servings and it automatically adjusted the amounts for the ingredients. It was absolutely delicious. This will be on my rotation….love love loved it
Hey Linda,
Awesome!! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for making it! Have the best weekend! xxT
We love this recipe! I wanted to share it with our extended family so I made some minor adjustments and baked it in a 9×13. Actually made 6 recipes in 6 dishes and baked for the family Christmas. They loved it too! Thank you!
Hey Rachel,
Wow!! That’s awesome:) I’m so glad your family has been enjoying this recipe and appreciate you making it often! Have the best week! xx
I’m really excited to try this recipe. I was just wondering if the orzo could be replaced with risotto rice? I really want to try this recipe, but I cannot eat pasta.
Hey Lucy,
You bet, that will work nicely for you! I hope you love this dish, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Delicious and easy! We all loved it. I used half cream and half milk just to make it a little healthier.
Hey Cindy,
Happy Thursday:) Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! Xx
Your recipes are always a hit! Thank you so much for your content. I especially love these one skillet recipes.
Hey Tracy,
Thank you so much for your kind message and trying so many recipes:) Have a great week! xT
Super easy and really delicious
Thanks so much, Grace! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thank you for giving it a try! Enjoy the short week:) x
The recipe name says White Pesto (had to google the recipe) but in the ingredients, it calls for basil pesto……
Which one should be used?
Hi Amy,
You can follow the recipe instructions using basil pesto:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
I tried this last night and it was delicious! One question, would it work to dice the chicken into smaller pieces instead of leaving it as whole breasts?
Hey Bronwyn,
Wonderful! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear it turned out well! Totally, smaller pieces of chicken would be just fine for you to use! Xx
Another winner! Practically licking our plates – haha! I only did 4 chicken breasts with this and it seemed to work well. And in all fairness, measured the parmesan with my heart 🙂 I am always delighted when I make an HBH recipe. Between the cookbooks (can’t wait for the new one!) and the website I always have a happy family. Thank you, Tieghan 🙂
Hey Cat,
Wonderful! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it turned out well! Thanks so much for your kind message:) x
Followed directions/recipe exactly and was absolutely delicious. Pretty easy, too! Will definitely be adding this one into the rotation!!
Hey Cait,
Thrilled to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for making it and your comment:)
Oh my WOW!!! Absolutely amazing!! The kids don’t get excited when I tell them we are having chicken surprise for dinner. It usually means I pulled chicken out of the freezer and I’ll throw something together (baked chicken and Mac n cheese).
This recipe looked great, along with the reviews. Surprisingly I had 90% of the ingredients! I had to sub half n half and dried thyme, but here I am, licking my bowl clean. Thank you for the unexpected surprise!
Hey Melissa,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe, love to hear that it was a winner! Have the best weekend! x