One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo
Creamy cajun orzo is a versatile one-pot dish made with tender chicken thighs, a delicious cajun seasoning blend, and creamy orzo cooked in broth until al dente. The whole family will love this flavorful main dish. Dairy free and easily can be made gluten free.
Looking for more delicious recipes? Try my easy crustless pizza bowls, loaded ground turkey nachos, or blackened cod fish taco with slaw.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this cajun orzo with chicken:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Homemade Cajun seasoning – smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, ground black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, dried thyme.
- Olive oil
- Dairy free butter
- Yellow onion
- Red bell pepper
- Fresh garlic
- Tomato paste
- Chicken broth
- Coconut cream or full fat coconut milk – a great heavy cream replacement. You can also use oat milk or any milk of choice.
- Lemon juice
- Fresh herbs (optional) – for garnish, such as fresh parsley or fresh thyme. You can also use sliced green onion for a pop of color.
How to Make Creamy Cajun Orzo: Step By Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions and ingredient list will be in the printable recipe card below!
- Mix the Cajun seasoning spices in a small bowl until combined. Set aside.
- Add the chicken, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and the cajun seasoning blend. Mix until each piece is thoroughly coated.
- Heat a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter. Add the seasoned chicken pieces. Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until browned but not cooked through (it’ll finish cooking later). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes stirring occasionally until softened. Stir in the tomato paste.
- Add in the dry orzo and chicken broth. Stir to combine then nestle the partially cooked chicken back in. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer over low heat. Stir occasionally until the orzo is al dente and the chicken is tender, about 9-11 minutes.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in the coconut cream (or milk of choice), and fresh lemon juice. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Helpful Tips
- If you’re strapped for time you can use a rotisserie chicken, but add cajun seasoning to the orzo to amplify that flavor.
Quick Tip: If you don’t like things on the spicier side, use 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Storage
Store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations
Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.
How can you make this creamy cajun orzo recipe using what you already have? Here are some ideas…
- No chicken thighs? – you can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Use another type of protein – andouille sausage, shrimp, scallops, etc. But fully cook them then add them back to the pot just before serving so they don’t get overcooked.
- Make it plant based – use vegetable broth and cooked white beans instead of chicken.
- Make it gluten free – use gluten free orzo and cook it according to package directions.
- Add-ins – red pepper flakes, sun-dried tomatoes, or dairy free parmesan cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cajun seasoning spicy?
It has a kick, but because you make your own cajun seasoning for this cajun chicken orzo, you can easily adjust the spice level by adding less black pepper and cayenne.
How much seasoning should I use for a store-bought blend?
You’ll need 1 tablespoon of cajun seasoning for 1 pound of chicken.
More Chicken Recipes
I hope you love this Creamy Cajun Orzo! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment & a star rating below. Thank you!
One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo
Creamy cajun orzo is a versatile one-pot dish made with tender chicken thighs, a delicious cajun seasoning blend, and creamy orzo cooked in broth until al dente. The whole family will love this flavorful main dish. Dairy free and easily can be made gluten free.
Ingredients
Cajun Chicken
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon diamond crystal kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Creamy Cajun Orzo
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dairy free butter or unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup orzo
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons coconut cream or full fat coconut milk or milk/cream of choice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice plus more if needed to taste
- kosher salt to taste
- minced parsley or sliced green onions (optional) for garnish
Instructions
- Mix the Cajun seasoning spices in a small bowl until combined.
- Add the chicken, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and the cajun seasoning blend to a large bowl. Mix until each piece is thoroughly coated.
- Heat a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter. Add the seasoned chicken pieces.
- Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until browned but not cooked through (it'll finish cooking later). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes stirring occasionally until softened. Stir in the tomato paste.
- Add in the dry orzo and chicken broth. Stir to combine then nestle the partially cooked chicken back in. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer over low heat. Stir occasionally until the orzo is al dente and the chicken is tender, about 9-11 minutes.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in the coconut cream (or milk of choice), and fresh lemon juice. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
See the blog post for helpful tips, storage, and recipe FAQs.