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.