Marry Me Ground Chicken and Orzo
Creamy, hearty, and made in one pan, this dairy-free recipe for “Marry Me” Ground Chicken and Orzo is the perfect addition to your dinner rotation. Packed with protein, pasta, veggies and drenched in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, this 30 minute meal is sure to satisfy.
This is one of those dinners you will be requested to make time and time again. And to be honest, you probably won’t mind making it over and over again because it’s just that good and honestly that simple to make.
I have been workshopping variations of this recipe for well over 4 months and I can tell you with the utmost certainty that your family is going to love this dish.
When I first made Kale Junkie’s Marry Me Chicken Orzo my main critique was that I just wanted to be a little lazier and not chop raw chicken but instead use a ground meat option to cook and crumble in the pan instead.
I tested this recipe with sausage as well as chorizo first but I felt like the flavors of the sausage and the chorizo overpowered the flavors of the sun dried tomatoes and the creamy sauce. Keeping the ground meat with a neutral flavor like ground chicken and ground turkey allowed the other flavors in the dish, that make it a “marry me” dish shine.
Why We Love One Pan Chicken and Orzo Pasta
The flavor is phenomenal, the ease of making exceptional, and the leftovers are a dream. We love this dish for so many reasons and we will continue making it time and again because it’s:
- A one-pan recipe. This dish comes together in one pan. Nothing is removed from the pan once it goes in and it all cooks together beautifully.
- Ready in 30 minutes or less. It seriously cooks up in under a half hour and with only one pan doing the work, clean up is also a dream!
- Ultra-flavorful. The creamy sun-dried tomato sauce takes the orzo and chicken to the next level.
Dairy-Free Changes to Marry Me Chicken and Orzo
One ingredient keeps this dish deliciously dairy-free. Coconut milk.
Be sure to select a full-fat coconut milk to add thickness, creaminess, and a hint of flavor to the dish. Alternatively you can replace the full-fat coconut milk with a heavy cream substitute, I would recommend Country Crock Plant Cream or Califia Farms Heavy Whip Substitute in this recipe.
How to Make One Pan Ground Marry Me Chicken and Orzo
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Chicken– You can also use ground turkey if you don’t have any ground chicken.
- Garlic– Minced or grated on a microplane.
- Sun dried tomatoes– I like to drain them from the juices and also like to buy the julliene cut. If you can’t get pre-cut sun-dried tomatoes you will want to chop them up yourself before adding them into the dish.
- Spices– A blend of Italian seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika season this dish.
- Orzo pasta– Uncooked.
- Broth– Chicken broth or vegetable broth work best in this recipe.
- Coconut Milk– Full-fat coconut milk from a can.
- Spinach– Fresh or frozen will work well in this dish.
Step-by-Step Directions for Marry Me Ground Chicken and Orzo Pasta
- Cook chicken: In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown and crumble ground chicken.
- Season chicken: Once cooked through, add minced garlic, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Italian seasoning, paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir to coat and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Add pasta and broth: Next, add 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta and chicken broth. Cover and cook for about 12 minutes, or until orzo is cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in remaining ingredients: Once the orzo is cooked through, add fat coconut milk and spinach.
- Reduce sauce: Stir to mix into the dish and cook for about 3-5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Dish out: Remove from heat and serve.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
When you are ready to make this quick and easy one pan marry me ground chicken and orzo recipe, here are some kitchen tools you might find helpful along the way.
- Large, deep skillet– Used to cook this dish from start to finish, you will want to make sure you also have a pan with a lid.
- Liquid measuring cup– I have said it before and will say it again, a 4-cup liquid measuring cup is life changing.
- Microplane– As someone who loathes mincing garlic and truly can’t stand the jarred stuff, grating garlic over a microplane is my go-to move for adding garlic into just about any dish.
What to Serve with Dairy-Free Marry Me Ground Chicken and Orzo
This is honestly a one pot meal. You’ve got your carbs, protein, healthy fat, and vegetables covered in this dish so if you want to serve it up as is, no judgement here.
For additional sides that pair perfectly with this creamy chicken and orzo dish, here are some ideas you might like to try next time.
- Add a crusty bread to the side. Slices of fresh baked sourdough, a hearty multi-grain loaf, or crispy french bread are perfect.
- Toss together a fresh garden salad or a crunchy cucumber salad.
- Pair it with a seasonal vegetable such as fresh cooked asparagus, zucchini, or a corn.
Storing, Freezing, and Reheating Your Leftovers
Whether you are looking to store your leftovers from this dairy-free pasta dish or planning to make a batch in advance, we’ve got you covered!
- Storing– Place your leftover Marry Me Ground Chicken and Orzo in a refrigerator safe container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing– Place into 2-cup serving souper cubes tray to freeze, then pop the frozen cubes into a freezer safe storage container for up to 3 months.
- Thawing– Remove the desired amount from the freezer the night before you plan to reheat and place in a refrigerator safe container to thaw overnight.
- Reheating– Place desired amount in a microwave safe bowl and re-heat in 30 second intervals. Alternatively you can reheat in a skillet on low heat, adding a little extra broth to prevent burning the sauce, until it is heated through.
One Pan Pasta Dishes to Make Next
- Vegan One Pot Garlic Pasta
- One Pan Ground Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Orzo Pasta
- Vegan Gnocchi with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
If you tried this dairy-free marry me ground chicken and orzo recipe please let me know in the comments below!
You can also share a picture of it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy so I can see all of your life after dairy adventures!
Looking for more delicious dairy-free recipes and tips? Sign up for my newsletter below to get the most helpful recipes, tips, and products for your life after dairy.
Marry Me Ground Chicken and Orzo
This simple, flavorful, one pan dish makes the perfect all in one meal. Loaded with lean ground chicken, tender orzo pasta, and packed with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, this filling, dairy-free dish is sure to hit the spot.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Chicken
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced or grated
- ¾ cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 cup Orzo Pasta, uncooked
- 2 ¾ cup Chicken Broth
- 1 can Coconut Milk, full-fat
- 2 cups Fresh Spinach
Instructions
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown and crumble 1 pound of ground chicken.
- Once cooked through, add 4 cloves minced garlic, ¾ cup Sun Dried Tomatoes, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir to coat and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Next, add 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta and 2 ¾ cups broth. Cover and cook for about 12 minutes, or until orzo is cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Once the orzo is cooked through, add 1 can of full fat coconut milk and 2 cups of spinach.
- Stir to mix into the dish and cook for about 3-5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Notes
- Recipe adapted from Kale Junkie’s Marry Me Chicken and Orzo
- Vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken broth.
- Frozen spinach can work in place of fresh spinach.
- Ground Turkey works in place of the ground chicken,
Some of the links above contain Amazon affiliate links. These are products and brands I use in my kitchen daily. They pay me a small commission for the referral at no additional cost to you.