Description
Satisfy your Cajun craving with this delicious One Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo Orzo recipe. Discover a quick and easy dinner solution now!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups (300g) orzo pasta, uncooked
- 3½ cups chicken broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
Instructions
- Step 1: Toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until golden brown on all sides and nearly cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. The chicken will finish cooking later, so don’t worry if it’s slightly underdone at this stage.
- Step 2: Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the pot with the chicken. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to let it burn.
- Step 3: Sprinkle in the uncooked orzo pasta and the remaining tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Stir continuously for 1-2 minutes, allowing the orzo to toast slightly and the spices to bloom in the oil.
- Step 4: Pour in the chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the orzo is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Step 5: Reduce heat to low and stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and butter. Continue stirring gently until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy and coats the orzo beautifully. If the mixture seems too thick, add a splash more broth; if too thin, simmer uncovered for another minute or two.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and fold in the green onions, parsley, and lemon juice. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and add cayenne if you’d like more heat. Let the One Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo Orzo rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken to perfection.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg