Looking for easy slow cooker dinners? This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Orzo is a simple, comforting chicken recipe the whole family will love — ideal for busy weeknights.
All ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store or likely already in your pantry.
This slow cooker dish combines tender chicken and creamy orzo with fresh vegetables and a touch of Parmesan for a satisfying, fuss-free meal.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Orzo:
- Chicken: raw boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, minced garlic
- Onion: yellow onion, diced
- Tomatoes: sun-dried tomatoes (optional)
- Broth: chicken broth or stock
- Pasta: uncooked orzo
- Cream: heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
- Vegetable: fresh spinach, chopped
- Cheese: grated Parmesan
How to make Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Orzo:
Place the cubed chicken in a medium slow cooker. Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, diced onion, and chicken broth. Stir to combine and cover with the lid.
Cook on low for 5–6 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked.
When the chicken is done, stir in the uncooked orzo, heavy cream, and chopped spinach. Cover and cook on low for another 20–30 minutes, or until the orzo is tender.
Finish by stirring in the grated Parmesan. Serve warm with your favorite sides.
How to store this creamy orzo chicken:
Fridge: After cooling to room temperature, transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Place cooled portions in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 90 days. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Tips and tricks for this delicious meal:
More ways to boost flavor:
Add one or more of these to suit your taste:
- Lemon juice or lemon zest
- Red pepper flakes for heat
- Fresh herbs like parsley or rosemary
- Dijon mustard for depth
- Chopped red bell pepper for color and sweetness
Meat options:
Boneless skinless chicken breasts work well, but skinless chicken thighs are a great alternative. For variety, try Italian sausage or ground chicken sausage instead of plain chicken.
More chicken recipes:
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken with Zucchini
- Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
- Rotisserie Chicken Bacon Alfredo
- Cheesy Chicken Taquitos
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (optional)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups fresh spinach, chopped
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Add chicken, seasonings, minced garlic, diced onion, and chicken broth to a medium slow cooker. Stir and cover.
- Cook on low for 5–6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in the orzo, heavy cream, and chopped spinach. Cook on low 20–30 minutes more, until the orzo is tender.
- Stir in Parmesan and serve.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 51 g |
Protein: 38 g |
Fat: 28 g |
Saturated Fat: 16 g |
Sodium: 1135 mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Quick resources for easy dinner planning:
- Family meal plans to simplify weekly cooking
- Kitchen tools and essentials to make cooking easier
- Cookbooks focused on family-friendly dinners
- Budget-friendly meal plans and ideas
- Video recipes and tutorials for hands-on guidance
If you try this recipe, tag us on Instagram @julia.pacheco.cooking and tell us how you liked it!