Do you ever want to eat a creamy risotto, but don’t have the energy to make a perfect risotto? You’re in luck because this creamy mushroom orzo with pan fried chicken is the recipe for you! The beauty of using orzo instead of rice, is that it has a similar shape and size, but it’s much easier to cook. However, the texture will not be exactly the same. With orzo you’ll get the hint of chewiness associated with pasta, instead of the soft bite associated with rice. When you’re in a rush, we think the trade off is worth it!
Important tips for a rich and creamy mushroom orzo
Another thing to note about risotto style dishes is that it is a good idea to skip washing your rice/pasta (as long as you do not suspect it is dirty). Washing your orzo before cooking it will remove all the excess starch coating the pasta. This starch is important because it helps create a creamy saucy texture when you are reducing the mushroom sauce. We think this video by Adam Ragusea does an excellent job of explaining this in more detail.
Although the pan fried chicken is not technically going into the mushroom orzo, it is still an integral part of this dish. It is crucial that you cook the chicken first and use the juices from the cooked chicken. This will add more depth of flavor to your pasta. In order for the chicken to create enough juices, it is suggested that you use chicken thighs with bone and skin. Most of the delicious fat on chicken meat is actually in and under the skin. So if you remove the skin, you’re going to be losing out on lots of rich chicken juices. Generally, meat with bone will be juicier because it has been cut up less to remove the bone. Be sure to remember this so your creamy mushroom orzo tastes delicious!
Creamy Mushroom Orzo With Pan Fried Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
Mushroom orzo
Instructions
Chicken
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Rub seasonings onto chicken with a small amount of olive oil.
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Heat oil in large non-stick pan at medium heat. Pan should have high sides ~3", or use a medium-large pot.
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Add chicken to pan and cook smooth side down for 5 min. Do not move so it can brown.
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Flip chicken and cook an additional 4 min. Then place on a plate to cool.
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Remove any burnt char from the pan, but leave all the chicken juices. You will use the chicken juices in the pan to enhance the flavour of the mushroom orzo.
Mushroom orzo
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Add oil and sautee onion in pan with chicken fat until translucent on medium heat. ~5 min
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Add mushrooms and garlic to pan. Cook until mushrooms are brown. ~5 min.
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Add broth and orzo. Cook with lid until orzo is soft. ~15 min Bring heat to simmer if bubbling too much.
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Add butter to pan and mix gently.
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Add juices from chicken plate into the orzo.
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Garnish with chopped parsley.
