Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Orzo Crockpot Recipe
This Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Orzo is an easy slow cooker dinner made with tender chicken, creamy orzo pasta, fresh spinach, and tons of garlic. Everything comes together in a rich parmesan cream sauce with plenty of fresh lemon for a cozy, family-friendly meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 10 cloves garlic finely sliced
- 4 cups chicken broth divided
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 cups dried orzo pasta
- 1 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
- 1 8 oz bag baby spinach
- 2 medium lemons zested and juiced
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the cubed chicken to a 10-quart slow cooker. Season with Italian seasoning and kosher salt, then add the sliced garlic and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2–3 hours (or HIGH for 1–1½ hours but I recommend low!), until the chicken is nearly cooked through.
- Stir in the heavy cream, dried orzo , and cream cheese. Make sure the orzo is distributed evenly throughout the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for approximately 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the chicken is falling apart. Add additional hot chicken broth if the orzo needs more liquid or cooking time.
- Fold in the baby spinach, grated parmesan, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Allow the spinach to wilt in the residual heat, then taste and season with additional kosher salt and black pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately with extra parmesan cheese, freshly cracked black pepper, and additional lemon zest.
Notes
This recipe is designed for a 10-quart slow cooker. The four cups of broth and one cup of heavy cream are the starting liquids for four cups of dry orzo; check the pasta during cooking and add hot broth if needed. Refrigerate leftovers for 3–4 days and add a splash of broth when ready.