This creamy pesto orzo with cherry tomatoes and chicken is about to become your new favorite weeknight hero.

Creamy Pesto Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes & Chicken 16

It’s a dish that truly delivers on flavor without demanding hours in the kitchen, making it perfect for those busy evenings when you still want a homemade meal.

Imagine tender orzo pasta coated in a rich, vibrant pesto sauce, studded with juicy cherry tomatoes and succulent pieces of chicken. This recipe brings together simple ingredients in a way that feels both comforting and fresh, ensuring everyone at the table will be asking for seconds.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This recipe is a true gem for anyone looking for a delicious, easy, and satisfying meal that comes together without a fuss. It’s perfect for busy parents, college students, or anyone who wants a flavorful dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. What makes it so lovable? First, its speed – from start to finish, you’re looking at a meal that’s quicker than most takeout options. Second, the flavor profile is incredibly appealing; the bright, herbaceous pesto perfectly complements the sweet burst of cherry tomatoes and the savory chicken, all tied together with the creamy orzo. It’s a complete meal in one pot (or mostly one pot!), minimizing cleanup and maximizing enjoyment. Serve it any night of the week when you need a reliable, crowd-pleasing dinner that feels a little special.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients for this creamy pesto orzo is straightforward, focusing on fresh flavors and pantry staples. You’ll find everything you need easily at your local grocery store, and most of these items are versatile enough to be used in many other dishes throughout the week.

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup orzo pasta
2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup prepared basil pesto
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)

When it comes to substitutions, feel free to adapt to what you have on hand or your dietary preferences. If you don’t have chicken breasts, boneless, skinless chicken thighs work just as well, though they might take a minute or two longer to cook. For a vegetarian option, you can omit the chicken entirely or swap it for a can of drained cannellini beans or some pan-fried mushrooms. Vegetable broth can easily replace chicken broth. If you prefer a lighter sauce, half-and-half can be used instead of heavy cream, though the sauce won’t be quite as rich. Prepared pesto is a huge time-saver here, but if you have homemade pesto, by all means, use it! Any type of small tomato, such as grape tomatoes, can be used in place of cherry tomatoes.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

One of the greatest advantages of this creamy pesto orzo is its efficiency. You can have a delicious, hot meal on the table in under half an hour, making it ideal for busy weeknights.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15-20 minutes
Total time: 25-30 minutes

This timing assumes your ingredients are ready to go, and you’re moving efficiently through the steps. The chicken cooks quickly, and orzo is one of the fastest-cooking pastas, contributing to the overall speed of this recipe.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating this creamy pesto orzo is a simple process, even for beginner cooks. Follow these clear steps to achieve a perfectly balanced and flavorful dish.

Prepare the chicken: Start by patting your chicken cubes dry with paper towels. Season them generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 4-6 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through. The chicken should have no pink in the center. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
Cook the orzo: In the same skillet, without cleaning it (those browned bits add flavor!), add the orzo pasta. Stir for about 1 minute to lightly toast it, which enhances its nutty flavor.
Add liquid and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the orzo has absorbed most of the liquid and is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. The orzo should be plump and soft, similar to rice.
Create the creamy sauce: Once the orzo is cooked, stir in the heavy cream and prepared basil pesto. Mix well until the pesto is fully incorporated and the sauce is smooth and creamy. The color should be a vibrant green.
Combine and heat through: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the halved cherry tomatoes. Stir everything together gently, allowing the tomatoes to warm through and slightly soften, about 2-3 minutes. You want them to be tender but still hold their shape.
Finish and serve: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce, making it even creamier. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired, before serving immediately.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This creamy pesto orzo is wonderfully versatile and can be adapted to suit different tastes and occasions.

For a kid-friendly twist, you can often get children excited by letting them help halve the cherry tomatoes (with a safe knife or even just by hand-squeezing them slightly). You might also consider using a milder pesto if your kids are sensitive to strong flavors, or even stirring in a handful of fresh spinach at the end for an extra veggie boost that wilts right into the sauce.

To make it a heartier meal, consider adding some steamed green beans, asparagus, or broccoli florets during the last few minutes of cooking the orzo, or stir them in with the chicken and tomatoes. For a different protein, cooked shrimp can be added at the very end, just long enough to heat through.

This dish is fantastic on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with a simple side salad dressed with a light vinaigrette, or a slice of crusty garlic bread to soak up all that delicious creamy sauce. It’s hearty enough for a main course but could also be served as a side dish for a larger gathering. For an extra touch of freshness, a squeeze of lemon juice over the finished dish can brighten all the flavors.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for will help ensure your creamy pesto orzo turns out perfectly every time.

One common mistake is overcooking the chicken. Chicken breasts can dry out quickly. To avoid this, cut your chicken into uniform 1-inch cubes so they cook evenly, and remove them from the pan as soon as they are no longer pink inside. They will continue to cook slightly when added back to the hot orzo.

Another slip-up can be sticky or clumpy orzo. Orzo, being a small pasta, can easily stick to the bottom of the pan or clump together if not stirred occasionally while cooking. Make sure to stir it every few minutes after adding the broth to ensure even cooking and separation. Using a wide, non-stick skillet can also help.

Not seasoning adequately is another frequent issue. Remember to season the chicken with salt and pepper before cooking, and then taste the final dish before serving to adjust the seasoning. Pesto and broth can vary in saltiness, so a final taste test is crucial.

Finally, adding the heavy cream and pesto too early can sometimes cause the sauce to separate or lose some of its vibrant color and freshness. It’s best to stir these in after the orzo is cooked and off the direct high heat, allowing them to gently warm through rather than boil vigorously.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This creamy pesto orzo is best enjoyed fresh, but it can certainly be stored and reheated for delicious leftovers.

To store leftovers, allow the dish to cool completely to room temperature (within two hours of cooking). Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

When reheating, the orzo can absorb a lot of the sauce, making it thicker. To restore its creamy texture, reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave. If reheating on the stovetop, add a splash of chicken broth, water, or even a little extra cream or milk to loosen the sauce and bring it back to its original consistency, stirring frequently. For microwave reheating, add a tablespoon or two of liquid before heating in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until warmed through. Avoid overheating, as this can dry out the chicken and make the orzo mushy.

While this dish is quick enough to make fresh, you can **prepare components ahead of time

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.