A quick and easy orzo / risoni pasta recipe for dinner tonight – chicken infused with Italian flavours and a rich tomato basil risoni, all made in one pot! Marinating the chicken is optional – you can skip it by cutting the chicken into thinner steaks. Fill out the veggies and swap the herbs for whatever takes your fancy.
If you have chicken breast in the fridge and risoni in your pantry, you can make this tonight!
I hardly made a “normal” meal during the whole month of December. I was living on leftovers, whether it was food I made for my blog or leftovers from gatherings. Don’t even get me started about the RecipeTin Family Christmas. Those of you who have found me on Instagram may have seen that the RecipeTin Christmas lunch was still going strong at 10pm when the main course was served. Yes, I said LUNCH.
Oi. I had to nap between courses. I’m not even kidding. And there were days and days of leftovers. “You HAVE to take some,” my mother says forcefully. “Everybody has to take their share!” she declares, as she packs up takeaway containers. [Side note: This is the ritual for every family feasting gathering. She gets really cranky that we depart her house leaving her fridge filled with leftovers, half empty bottles and all manner of ingredients we bring to prepare things at her house that SHE then feels obliged to consume for days afterwards. BA HA HA!!!]
Now the 2nd of January has arrived and holiday feasting is officially over. No fridge full of dips and leftover Christmas ham. No mimosas for breakfast. 😉
So it seems fitting to launch 2017 with a great midweek meal, light on washing up, BIG on flavour, and on the table in (just over) 30 minutes. 🙂
This risoni pasta recipe is all made in one pot, and it’s not just about saving on washing up. It’s about using all the free flavour you get from searing the chicken in the skillet as the flavour base for the risoni. Did you notice the rich and dark red colour of the tomato coating the risoni pasta? No tomato paste used, just 1 small can of crushed tomato. The richness of the colour and flavour comes from the brown bits stuck on the skillet after the chicken is cooked.
This kind of food is totally me. It’s simple but super tasty (it’s always all about the flavour! 😉 ), fuss free, and quick to prepare. No fancy ingredients to hunt down, and in fact, if you have a basil plant in your garden and chicken in your fridge, chances are you have everything you need to make this right now!
If time permits, marinating the chicken is the best option because if really infuses the chicken with flavour. However, if you are pressed for time, just cut the chicken breast in half horizontally to make two thin steaks. These will cook in half the time it takes to cook a whole chicken breast and you won’t need to marinate. The other way to make this is to cook bite size pieces of chicken WITH the risoni, so I’ve got notes in the recipe for that too. 🙂
The chicken in this risoni recipe is really delicious, especially if you marinate it, but I must confess that the star is the risoni! I was watching a Nigella Lawson cooking show recently and she declared this method of cooking risoni in one pot (rather than cooking it separately then adding it into a sauce) to be “all the rage” in Italy at the moment. Now, as regular readers know, I am not about food trends. But I must confess that it feels pretty cool to be doing something that is apparently “all the rage” !!! – Nagi xx
More risoni / orzo recipes
-
Orzo / Risoni Bolognaise – one pot bolognese pasta dish!
-
Greek Lemon Orzo Salad – a bright fresh pasta salad loaded with Greek flavours
-
Creamy Salmon Risoni / Orzo (15 Minute Meal) – tastes like risotto, except MUCH faster to make!
-
Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Orzo (Risoni) (One Pot) – tastes like a creamy mushroom risotto
-
Baked Greek Chicken Orzo (Risoni) – Greek chicken AND orzo made in one pot!
-
One Pot Creamy Chicken, Vegetable & Parmesan Orzo (Risoni) – creamy chicken and vegetable orzo, a quick 20 minute meal
-
Pea, Zucchini and Pesto Orzo / Risoni – a wonderful quick side dish
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
One Pot Italian Chicken with Risoni Pasta recipe video!
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One Pot Italian Chicken & Orzo / Risoni Pasta
Ingredients
Marinade
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Italian herb mix (or make your own with basil, parsley, oregano)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1/2 tsp salt + black pepper
Chicken
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 x 110 - 120g/4oz chicken breasts , skinless and boneless (Note 1)
Risoni
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil (if required)
- 1 small onion , finely chopped (brown, white, yellow)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 red capsicum / bell pepper , chopped
- 1 1/2 cups risoni / orzo pasta (Note 2)
- 400 g / 14 oz can crushed tomato
- 3 cups chicken stock / broth
- 1 tsp Italian herb mix
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (chilli flakes) (optional)
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup (3 tbsp) grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 cup basil leaves
Instructions
- Mix Marinade ingredients together in a large bowl. Add chicken and mix to coat. Marinate for 1 hour - 24 hours (See Note 3 to skip marinating).
- Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm while resting.
- Turn heat up to medium high. Add oil if required.
- Add onion and garlic, cook for 2 minutes. Add capsicum and cook for 1 minute or until onion is translucent.
- Add risoni, tomato, chicken stock, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Mix and bring to simmer, then lower heat to medium low or so it simmers gently.
- Cook for 9 - 10 minutes, stirring frequently (otherwise it will stick).
- Take it off the stove when the risoni is just cooked (touch under is ok, finishes cooking in residual heat very quickly). It should still be saucy (see video).
- Stir through parmesan and basil - excess liquid will evaporate in this step.
- Spoon risoni into serving bowls, top with chicken. Serve with extra parmesan and basil.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
I predict 2017 will be no different to 2016 (and in fact, every other year): Filled with plenty of beach fun, lots of food and way too many cuddles. This dog has a blessed life!!!
Hi Nagi! We are huge fans of all of your recipes!
Was thinking of trying out this recipe as it looks super yum, and possibly 2 year old friendly! Just a thought would chicken mince work as a substitute instead of chick pieces?
I made this last night it was wondefful!!! I have to say your recipes NEVER disappoint!! I cook for my friends often they always love your recipes!!
WOOT! Winner winner!
This dish was amazing, I made it with skin chicken though, it was divine! Thank you!
I’m so glad you loved it Sinned!
Yum! 🙂 What I love about your recipes, apart from tasting really good ! :), is that they are easy to follow, uncomplicated ! , the video is easy to watch, the ingredients I actually have in the fridge/pantry – there is not a long list of ingredients and complicated ones that I don’t have in my cupboard! You’re the best ~! and Dozer he’s gorgeous too ! xx
Hi Nagi, I’d love to cook this for my father, but he can’t eat capsicum. I usually substitute celery for him, do you have any other ideas?
Hi Karen, you can just leave it out – N x
what is it with you? you just dont fail my kids ask me where did you get this recipe and i say its Nagi again this was super simple and we love it
thank you x
Wahoo! Winner winner!
Hi! We’re cooking this right now and can’t figure out how many grams orzo we need for 4 portions? Thanks
Hi Anne, this recipe is for 4 servings – so 1 1/2 cups as per the recipe. I hope you love it!
Thanks for your reply, i must say yet another fantastic recipe. This would now be the 4th i’ve tried and all have been solum. This was another winner, loved it. Used chicken pieces, marinated for an hour and the longer it stood the better the taste, thank you for making me want to cook more!
Hi there! Your recipes are amazing!! When you say in your note to chop up chicken and marinate briefly what does that actually mean?? How brief??
The step 1 in the recipe 🙂 So chop the chicken then do step 1 🙂 N x
yum, just made this and it was really delicious. Thanks from all of the familyl 🙂
Could you make this vegetarian by cooking the chicken in a separate pan and adding tomato paste while cooking the orzo?
Bonnie
Yet another favourite! This is RIDICULOUSLY good, and super easy to make. The chicken was juicy and flavorful marrying perfectly with tomato, capsicum, basil and risoni.
Drool worth dinner that’s on the table in 35 minutes? Can’t go wrong with that, I’ll definitely be making this again!
That’s so great to hear Karen! SO GLAD you enjoyed this!!! N xx
Wow, this was really super delicious! And easy, and it came together just as fast as you said it would. I ate too much, but that’s not your fault! I’ll be adding this to the dinner rotation collection around here.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed this MN! Thanks for letting me know! N x
Hi what can I substitute the chicken stock with
Vegetable broth would also be great! 🙂
I just made this. And OMG taste sooo good for a simple recipe. Thankyou for sharing this Nagi 😇
SO PLEASED TP HEAR THAT LAURA!!! N xx
does the capsicum make it spicy? I love lots of flavor but not big on hot spices. I love orzo!
Not at all! It’s actually sweet! 🙂 N xx
I’m starting to get into my cooking a lot more. I Just found your blog a week ago and now I’ve done the beef regu pasta (amazing! Everyone loved it), the vegetable curry (very tasty but I put a little too much chili/ curry in, but I did add some beef) and the vegetable soup which is delicious!
Tonight I cooked this…. the flavor in the chicken is just out of this world and I only marinade it for an hour…. definitely could serve that chicken in a separate dish!
But wow such a tasty dish altogether.. first time cooking risoni and I’ll definitely be cooking this again… so easy and so quick to do.
Thankyou so much Nagi! Can’t wait to keep on cooking up more of your recipes!
That’s great to hear Daniel! Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback! N xx
So yummy!! easy recipe i will try this thanks for sharing
I hope you do! It is SO good! 🙂 N x
This is easy and yum. I’ll definitely make it again. Marinating the chicken made it soft and tasty.
So fantastic to hear that Erin, thanks for letting me know! N xx
This was awesome. I made the sauce / risoni Monday night and left the chicken in the marinade overnight. After pilates on Tuesday night cooked the flavorsome chicken whilst reheating the sauce / risoni.
IT WAS SOOOOOOO GOOD!
Seriously can’t wait for leftovers for lunch today!
Thank you Nagi.
I LOVE HEARING THAT!!!! Thank you for letting me know Barb! N xx