Slow Cooker Parmesan Herb Chicken & Orzo
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This Slow Cooker Parmesan Herb Chicken and Orzo is creamy, comforting, and incredibly easy to make in the crockpot. It’s an easy, no-fuss crockpot meal with hearty flavors that will please the whole family.
If you love using your crockpot as much as I do, you’ll really enjoy my Slow Cooker Creamy Beef Stroganoff, and saucy Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala. If creamy, cozy dinners is your love language, I’ve got you covered with my one-pot creamy Garlic Chicken and Potatoes, Creamy Tuscan Parmesan Chicken, and Creamy Mushroom Garlic Chicken.
Why This Recipe Works
Great cold-weather recipe — It’s feeling very fall-ish around here. The air has definitely cooled off, the leaves are every shade of red and orange you can possibly imagine, and a huge rain storm just rolled through over the past couple of days…and all I can think about is this slow cooker parmesan herb chicken and orzo. It is the quintessential fall dish — hearty, warm, easy, comforting — all in one.
Simple ingredients — Chicken breasts, some seasoning, chicken broth, orzo, a few mushrooms and onions, that’s basically all you need to create this delicious chicken and orzo dish.
Easy — I’m a little bit obsessed with this simple crockpot meal. Chicken and buttery orzo made all together in your slow cooker with herbs and garlic and melty parmesan cheese?? It just doesn’t get better than this. Plus, this dish is as easy as putting it all in the slow cooker, cooking on low for a few hours, and then shredding the chicken and adding cheese. Talk about no muss, no fuss!
Parmesan — Is there any dish that can’t be made better with the addition of parmesan? I didn’t think so! So nutty and buttery, topping this slow cooker chicken dish with parmesan is the perfect way to round out its delicious flavor.
Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts — I’ve found boneless, skinless to be the easiest to shred for this dish. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you like.
- Italian Seasoning — A dash of Italian seasoning is all you need, or you can substitute Herbs de Provence if you like as well.
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth — Use low-sodium, then add salt later to taste. Much easier to add salt than remove it.
- Orzo Pasta — I love orzo in this dish but you can also use a larger pasta if you like, see below for note.
- Butter — Melt the butter ahead of time to pour right into the slow cooker.
- Mushrooms — I LOVE mushrooms and think they add so much amazing flavor and texture to this orzo chicken in the slow cooker. But you can eliminate them if you wish.
- White or Yellow Onion — Finely chop an onion to add to the slow cooker.
- Minced Garlic — Mince the garlic by hand or scoop it from a jar — either way, it’d delish!
- Salt & Pepper — Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Shaved or Finely Shredded Parmesan Cheese — Add that delicious parm at the end for a yummy, cheesy topping.
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper And Herbs — I am a garnish girl. For this slow cooker parmesan herb chicken and orzo dish, I finely chopped thyme and parsley to sprinkle over, along with a few cracks from my pepper mill.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Orzo
This recipe is so easy! All you have to do is:
- Season chicken with a bit of the Italian seasonings and salt and pepper on both sides. Then cook in a large nonstick skillet on the stove over medium-high heat 1-2 minutes on each side until browned on the outsides.
- Next add the chicken to a prepared slow cooker, and add on top of it the chicken broth, butter, mushrooms, onions, garlic, remaining Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for about 1-2 hours or low for 3-4. Stir in the orzo (see note if using something other than orzo) and cover and cook for an additional 30-45 minutes on high.
- Take the lid off and use two forks to shred the chicken breasts (this is easiest to do in a bowl or plate outside of the slow cooker). Add the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker, right on top of the orzo.
- Sprinkle the top of the dish with the parmesan and cover one last time for a few more minutes to let it melt and get all gooey and cheesy on top. Serve with fresh herbs and fresh cracked black pepper.
FAQs
You do not have to cook pasta first before you put it in a slow cooker, however you should wait till the rest of the ingredients are nearly done cooking before adding it, otherwise it will get way too mushy.
Another key is to make sure there is enough liquid in the crock for the pasta to cook in. If not, add some water or chicken broth when you add the pasta as well.
Generally speaking, it’s better to cook chicken in a slow cooker at a lower temperature for a longer period of time because low-and-slow cooking results in a more tender and juicy meat.
However, if you add liquid to the slow cooker and cook it on high then it will still be pretty tender and tasty as the liquid helps keep the chicken from drying out as it cooks.
Expert Tips for Perfect Crockpot Chicken Orzo
- If you’re worried about “mushy” orzo from adding it to the slow cooker, you can cook the orzo separately and simply stir it in at the end of your cooking time, when you add the shredded chicken back in. If you are cooking the orzo separately, you should only add 2 cups of chicken broth in the crockpot with the chicken and throw out any remaining broth at the end.
- Pro tip: Cooking the orzo in chicken broth gives it much more flavor than cooking it in water.
- This slow cooker parmesan herb chicken and orzo dish will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
More Orzo Recipes to Try
- Orzo is such a versatile kitchen staple! I love this variation for One Pot Greek Chicken and Orzo, it somehow feels bright and comforting at the same time.
- This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is the perfect light and fresh soup for Spring and Summertime.
- Creamy Parmesan Spinach Orzo is one of my favorite side dishes – ever! It goes great with any cozy chicken dish to make a delicious, complete meal.
When you make this recipe, snap a photo and tag me on social – I love connecting with you and seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!
Slow Cooker Parmesan Herb Chicken & Orzo
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, OR 4-6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups orzo pasta , (see note)
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup sliced, mushrooms
- 1 medium white or yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt , (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper , (or to taste)
- ½ cup shaved or finely shredded parmesan cheese
- freshly cracked black pepper and herbs (such as thyme or parsley) for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken with a bit of the Italian seasonings and salt and pepper on both sides. Cook in a large nonstick skillet on the stove over medium-high heat 1-2 minutes on each side until browned on the outsides.
- Transfer chicken to a greased slow cooker. Add chicken broth, butter, mushrooms, onions, garlic, remaining Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours. Stir in orzo, cover and cook for another 30-45 minutes on high.
- Uncover and use a fork to pull chicken out of the slow cooker. Stir contents of slow cooker, then return chicken to slow cooker, on top of the orzo mixture.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese over chicken. Cover and cook until cheese is melted, about 5-10 minutes. Serve with fresh herbs and cracked black pepper if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
She changed the recipe after so many of us had bad results with the original recipe.
I notice that she states to add the orzo in the last 30-45 minutes of cooking. Perhaps that’s why most of you are having mushy orzo results. Orzo is a pasta, pasta doesn’t need to cook for very long.
Hello. I’m an hearing impaired . I would like to share your opinion. Your recipe look so good and I did cooked last Thursday but the orzo really really coat and overcooked. I want to perfect slow cook for your recipes. Help me!!!
Same issue as everyone else, orzo was mush. Should have read the comments before making this. Chicken was good though
After reading through the contents, and consulting the recipe again, I think that perhaps the instructions were modified based on feedback? I’m going to try this one soon because it sounds wonderful (though it will have to be a weekend meal as it needs a small bit of attention with the multiple steps- no biggie, I have plenty of ‘just put all the stuff in and let it cook for 8 hrs whilst you are at work’ crockpot recipes for during the week). Thank you for the recipe!
I wish I had read the comments before making this last night! I thought 2 hours was too long for orzo!!! Don’t be out off, the chicken and general flavour was really good. Will definitely do it again but only adding the orzo for maybe 15-20 minutes. I also think it doesn’t need so much butter!
I opted for 2 breasts. Any thoughts if this will change the consistency of the orzo? Feeling skeptical about putting in the orzo. I may cook it separately.
Hi followed this recipe exactly–chicken thighs (I always use them in the slow cooker because I think breasts get too dry) & on low for four hours. The chicken was INCREDIBLE! My one year old had two full pieces & would’ve had more if I let her! The only problem was the orzo was mush…the flavor was fantastic but had the consistency of oatmeal. Any tips on preventing this? I thought maybe adding it in later in the cooking process? Thanks for the great recipe, definitely making it again!
1 cup orzo
All you have to do is brown your chicken on the stove for a couple of minutes, then throw it int he slow cooker with your orzo, liquids, mushrooms, and seasonings, and let it cook for a few hours. A few minutes before you’re ready to eat, just stir the orzo and sprinkle parmesan cheese all over the top. Cover it for about 5 more minutes so it gets all melty and ooey gooey delicious and then serve it up!
I made this tonight. It was good, not outstanding, but good for a weeknight meal. But, I have a hard time finding slow cooker meals that are outstanding. Having read other reviews I did the following:
– used 3 organic chicken breasts, 2 cups of chicken broth, 1/2 of the juice from a lemon, and all other ingredients as listed in the recipe
– I opted not to add the orzo. Cooked it separately and added it at the end.
Served with asparagus and French bread!