Creamy Cajun Chicken With Orzo is the perfect recipe for busy weekdays, but will also be a welcome hit for the weekends. This recipe is full of wonderful Cajun flavor, succulent chicken, and a wonderful built-in sauce. It's creamy and savory and it comes together in no time.
Flavorful chicken, cooked alongside onions, garlic, and kale start the process. Then orzo simmers the built-in creamy, savory sauce and creates the perfect meal when you need delicious in a hurry!
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Who doesn't love a quick and easy meal with minimal clean-up. I'll wait while you think. The answer? No one!
Cajun seasoning makes everything tastes amazing. I have my recipe below or you can use your favorite store bought version. I used bone-in chicken thighs because that's what I had on hand, but feel free to use boneless, skinless thighs or even chicken breast! Use what you love!
As for the orzo, it's one of my favorite pastas when I need a quick dinner. And, it's delicious. If you've never tried it, I urge you to. It's amazing! I love it, my husband loves it, and the kids devour it. It's a win-win!
As for the veggies in this creamy Cajun chicken skillet, I used kale. I like that it cooks quickly, but also because its texture holds up well. Feel free to substitute spinach or any other veggie of choice. Make this your own!
ingredients
- Bone-in Chicken Thighs
- Cajun Seasoning
- Avocado Oil
- Salted Butter
- Yellow Onion
- Garlic
- Kale
- Orzo
- Chicken Broth
- Heavy Cream
- Parmesan
- Kosher Salt
- Fresh Ground Black Pepper
how to make cajun chicken with orzo
Creamy Cajun Chicken Skillet is gonna be your new go-to when you need dinner on the table in a hurry and something that will please everyone. It's simple and delicious and quick. Here's the basic rundown of how I did it!
- Make the cajun seasoning (Or grab your favorite store bought version)
- Season the chicken
- Sear the chicken thighs on both sides
- Remove the chicken and cook the onions, garlic, and kale just a bit
- Add the orzo, cooking just a few more minutes until it gets a little toasted
- Nestle the chicken thighs back into the orzo and veg mix
- Add the broth and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the orzo is tender
- Remove from the heat and stir in the cream, parmesan cheese and finish with the lemon juice.
- Enjoy!
recipe frequently asked questions
Is this Cajun Chicken recipe Gluten-Free?
All you would need to do to make this recipe gluten-free is use a gluten-free orzo or pasta. There is no other substitution needed.
Is this recipe Dairy-Free?
This Creamy Cajun Chicken Skillet recipe does contain heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Heavy cream can be substituted with your favorite non-dairy milk or coconut cream. The parmesan can be swapped with nutritional yeast.
What about other veggie options?
If you cannot find or don't like kale, spinach would be my first choice as a veggie substitute for this Cajun Chicken Skillet. However, you can use any green veggie you like in this recipe. Anything from zucchini to broccoli to asparagus would be fantastic!
Do I have to use chicken thighs?
I am team chicken thigh all the way. I think that they just have a better flavor. For this particular recipe I used bone-in because that's what I have. Boneless, skinless thighs would be fantastic as well! However, if you like a breast better, feel free to use that! Any option you choose will be great!
turn this recipe into a side dish
I could gorge myself on the orzo in this recipe. If you need a quick side dish idea, simply leave the chicken out. Sauté the veg in little butter and follow the remainder of the recipe. This would be delicious and should come together in about 15 minutes!
recipe tips, tricks, and variations
- Store the leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Simply reheat leftovers in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel.
- Use whatever pasta you love. I use orzo because it cooks quickly, but any bite-sized pasta will work great. You may have to add a little extra liquid and cooking time.
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If you guys make this Creamy Cajun Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Recipe
Cajun Chicken With Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs you can use boneless, skinless thighs or chicken breasts instead
- Cajun seasoning see below for recipe
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 med onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bunch kale, ribs removed and torn into small pieces
- 1½ cups orzo
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- juice of 1 lemon
- kosher salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Make the cajun seasoning. (Or grab your favorite store bought version)
- Liberally season the chicken.
- On medium-high heat, sear the chicken thighs, on both sides, in the avocado oil. Approximately 5-7 minutes per side.
- Remove the chicken. Add the butter to the skillet and cook the onions, garlic, and kale until the onions and kale are softened a bit.
- Add the orzo, toasting it in the butter and veg mixture for 2-3 minutes.
- Nestle the chicken thighs back into the orzo and veg mix.
- Add the broth, reduce heat, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the orzo is tender. Approximately 20-25 minutes.
- Remove from the skillet from the heat and carefully stir in the cream, parmesan cheese and finish with the lemon juice. Add kosher salt and pepper, to taste.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- 3 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 2 tablespoon Granulated Garlic
- 2 tablespoon Granulated Onion
- 2 tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 1 tablespoon Dried Oregano
- 1 tablespoon Dried Thyme
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 tablespoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne, Optional
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Cajun Chicken Skillet recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
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