Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo Recipe
This Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo is a comforting and flavorful one-pot meal featuring tender chicken, creamy sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach cooked with orzo pasta. Perfect for an easy, hands-off dinner with rich Italian-inspired flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours low or 2-3 hours high plus 30 minutes additional
- Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes (using low setting)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (in oil, drained)
Liquids and Pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo pasta
Finishing Touches
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Broth: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place the chicken in the slow cooker along with minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and chicken broth.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Shred the Chicken and Add Orzo: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and orzo pasta.
- Finish Cooking: Cover and cook on high for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and creamy. Stir in the fresh spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for more tenderness and flavor, or chicken breasts for a leaner option.
- Drain sun-dried tomatoes well to avoid excess oil in the slow cooker.
- Adjust seasoning at the end if needed, adding more salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning to taste.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, though the sauce will be less rich.
- The recipe can be doubled for larger groups but may require a larger slow cooker and longer cooking times.
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, Tuscan chicken orzo, creamy chicken recipe, one-pot meal, slow cooker dinner, comfort food, Italian chicken
