Cajun Chicken Orzo
, Updated Sep 06, 2025
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Cajun Chicken Orzo – this one-pot chicken breast recipe is packed with flavor and easy to prepare. Deliciously creamy and comforting and one of my favorite meals for busy weeknights.
You will also love my Cajun Dirty Orzo and reader fave Cajun Shrimp Pasta!
Creamy orzo with chicken and Cajun seasoning… I know, it doesn’t sound all that exciting but this quick one-pot meal is just so incredibly tasty.
If you are looking to expand your chicken breast recipe repertoire then this is a MUST make. And with the orzo and chicken cooking together in one pot it also cuts down on the dishes. A truly winning chicken dinner!
Best of all, it’s so quick and easy to make that it’s hard to beat when you’re racking your brain for something the whole family will enjoy.
Looking for something to bring to that summer barbecue? Or maybe having friends over for dinner and want something to impress everyone? Then this truly winning chicken dish is just the thing!
Cajun Chicken Orzo Ingredients
- Chicken breasts cut into strips or bite sized pieces. Skinless chicken thighs can also be used, if you like.
- Cajun seasoning – this store-bought spice mix is a delicious blend of paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, black pepper and oregano is always in my spice drawer. It adds depth of flavor and a little bit of spice and can be used in so many ways.
- Orzo – this small pasta shape resembles rice or grains of barley. It’s used a lot in Italian and Greek recipes – I grew up eating it and love it! Orzo is best cooked in broth, similar to risotto, for maximum flavor and creaminess. (Check out this Creamy Orzo With Rosemary Browned Butter recipe).
- The rest of the ingredients are olive oil, butter, onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, shredded spinach, cream and Parmesan cheese.
- You may be tempted to throw in more vegetables or handfuls of fresh herbs, but it’s really not necessary – the secret to this dish is its simplicity!
How to make Cajun Chicken Orzo
Full measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Please take a look at the steps and video before attempting this recipe!
- Combine the chicken, Cajun seasoning and salt. Heat the butter and oil in a large pan (a Chef’s pan with a lid is ideal) and pan fry the chicken until it starts to color.
- Add the onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste and stir to combine. Cook over low heat for five minutes, stirring frequently.
- Stir in the orzo, cook for a minute or so then add the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Orzo absorbs liquid readily so keep an eye on the pan and add a little extra water, as needed, if the pan gets too dry.
- Uncover the pan and test the orzo – it should be almost tender but with a little bite to it. Stir in the shredded spinach so that it wilts.
- Stir in the cream and add the grated Parmesan. You should have a deliciously indulgent sauce, creating a perfectly creamy dish. Check the seasoning and serve with extra Parmesan cheese.
Leftovers and Storage
This creamy Cajun chicken orzo tastes best as soon as cool enough to devour! Leftovers will keep for a couple of days in an airtight container in the fridge.
To reheat, add a splash of water or broth and bring to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Alternatively reheat in a microwave until piping hot, stirring halfway through.
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HAVE YOU MADE MY CAJUN CHICKEN ORZO RECIPE? Please leave a rating, post a photo on my Facebookpage, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #supergoldenbakes and make my day!
Cajun Chicken Orzo
Video
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts , cut into small strips
- 1-3 tbsp Cajun seasoning Note: if your seasoning is spicy add ½ tbsp
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tbsp butter
- 1 large onion , finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (tomato purée)
- 1 cup (200g) orzo pasta
- 1 cup (240ml) chicken broth or stock made with a stock cube
- 1 cup (30g) shredded spinach
- ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream (double cream)
- 3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese , plus extra to serve
Instructions
- Combine the chicken, Cajun seasoning and salt. Heat the butter and oil in a large pan (a Chef’s pan with a lid is ideal) and pan fry the chicken until it starts to color.3 chicken breasts, 1-3 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp olive oil, ½ tbsp butter
- Add the onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste and stir to combine. Cook over low heat for five minutes, stirring frequently.1 large onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Stir in the orzo, cook for a minute or so then add the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Orzo absorbs liquid readily so keep an eye on the pan and add a little extra water, as needed, if the pan gets too dry.1 cup (200g) orzo pasta, 1 cup (240ml) chicken broth
- Uncover the pan and test the orzo – it should be almost tender but with a little bite to it. Stir in the shredded spinach so that it wilts.1 cup (30g) shredded spinach
- Stir in the cream and add the grated Parmesan. You should have a deliciously indulgent sauce, creating a perfectly creamy dish. Check the seasoning and serve with extra Parmesan cheese.¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream, 3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Notes
To reheat, add a splash of water or broth and bring to a simmer in a saucepan. Alternatively reheat in a microwave until piping hot, stirring halfway through.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
absolutely delicious! easy. I had extra peas, corn and fresh mushrooms that I added. otherwise followed exactly !!!
did add a few extra splashes of water!!
I’ve made this recipe multiple times and it is amazing! When I made it today I didn’t have any tomato paste so I used a few tablespoons of marinara and a spoonful of flour to thicken and I didn’t have any spinach so I substituted for fresh parsley and it was fill amazing!
I had all of the ingredients and made this after a tiring day at work! Super easy to put together, followed exactly and it is excellent! Def a keeper!
Can a substitute be used for Parmesan?
Hi Carol, any hard Italian cheese can be used such as Grana Padano, Pecorino etc. You can leave it out also, if preferred
Love it! Easy to make…
It just needed around a cup more of water and that was it…
I usually use my own chicken broth which make this more yummy!
My son loved this so much, he tried to pack up the leftovers before his dad could take seconds, will be making often. Thank you for sharing.
Now that made my day! ❤️
This recipe sounds delicious!
What are your thoughts on making this with shrimp instead of chicken?
Yes that would work great. The shrimp only need to cook for a few minutes (from raw) until they turn pink so you can add them at the end. Take a look at this recipe also https://www.supergoldenbakes.com/wordpress/shrimp-orzo/
Made this tonight. Very easy to make and so delicious. Definitely will make again.
Wow! This recipe was AMAZING, I am going to make it again very soon.
So glad you like it!
Wow wow!!! I cooked this tonight it was restaurant quality!!!! The only thing I did was I kept adding more water while it was cooking as it does dry out really quickly. I always use freshly grated Parmesan which makes a real difference!!! Super easy and just so tasty!!!
Glad you liked it and thanks for taking the time to comment ❤️