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Top-down view of Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Orzo featuring pan-seared chicken and bright green broccoli in a creamy sauce.

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Orzo: A Creamy One-Pan Skillet Meal

A comfort-food classic featuring pan-seared chicken chunks, tender broccoli, and orzo pasta tossed in a thick, glossy pale yellow cheese sauce. Perfect for a 40-minute weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 580
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Recipe Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs Chicken Breast Cut into 1-inch chunks (680g)
  • 1.5 cups Orzo Pasta Measured dry, then cooked (300g)
  • 2 cups Broccoli Florets Steamed (150g)
  • 2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese Shredded (200g)
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan Cheese Finely grated (50g)
  • 1.5 cups Whole Milk (360ml)
  • 0.5 cup Heavy Cream (120ml)
  • 3 tbsp Butter (42g)
  • 3 tbsp All-purpose Flour (24g)
  • 1 tsp Dried Herb Flakes Parsley or Oregano

Equipment

  • 1 Black Cast Iron Skillet Large size for one-pan finishing.
  • 1 Steamer Basket For the broccoli.

Method
 

Prep and Sear
  1. Pat chicken dry and season. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet and sear chicken chunks until golden brown with visible sear marks. Remove from skillet.
  2. Boil orzo in salted water until al dente. Steam broccoli florets simultaneously until bright green and tender. Drain and set aside.
The Sauce and Finish
  1. In the skillet, whisk butter and flour. Slowly add milk and cream, whisking until thick. Stir in cheddar until glossy and pale yellow.
  2. Fold orzo, broccoli, and chicken into the sauce. Dust heavily with grated parmesan and sprinkle with dried herb flakes before serving.

Notes

Freshly grated cheese is essential for the glossy texture.
If the sauce thickens too much, use reserved pasta water to thin it.