This One Pan Cheesy Ground Chicken Orzo is a delicious family dinner with tender orzo, zucchini, corn, fresh tomatoes and ground chicken, all cooked together in one pan. The ground chicken is cooked with Italian seasoning, paprika, smoked paprika, chilli flakes and a little maple syrup to give it that savoury sausage-style flavour without using actual sausage meat.
Finished with Monterey Jack and placed under the grill until melted and golden, this is a comforting and satisfying meal that is easy for busy evenings. The cheese adds a lovely melty topping, while the vegetables and orzo make it a complete one pan dinner.
Calories in One Pan Ground Chicken Orzo
This recipe serves 4 and is 532 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Olive Oil: Used to brown the ground chicken and soften the vegetables.
- Ground Chicken: I use extra lean ground chicken (5% fat) as the base for the dish. It is seasoned with maple syrup, paprika, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, red chilli flakes, salt and black pepper to give it a sausage-style flavour without using actual sausage meat.
- Maple Syrup: Adds a slight sweetness that helps balance the spices and gives the ground chicken more of that savoury sausage-style taste.
- Paprika and Smoked Paprika: A combination of regular paprika and smoked paprika adds warmth, colour and a subtle smoky flavour to the chicken.
- Coarse Salt and Black Pepper: Used to season the chicken mixture. Adjust the salt if using a very salty chicken stock.
- Italian Seasoning: Adds the herby flavour you would expect in Italian-style sausage meat.
- Red Chilli Flakes: Adds a gentle heat.
- Onion and Garlic: These build the base flavour of the dish and work well with the seasoned chicken, tomatoes and cheese.
- Fresh Tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes add freshness and help create the sauce for the orzo. Cherry tomatoes can also be used if that is what you have on hand.
- Zucchini: Adds extra vegetables and cooks down nicely into the orzo. Dice it small so it softens evenly.
- Corn: Adds sweetness, colour and texture. Fresh, frozen or canned corn will all work well.
- Orzo: This small rice-shaped pasta cooks directly in the pan with the stock, soaking up all the flavour from the seasoned chicken, vegetables and tomato paste.
- Chicken Stock: Used to cook the orzo and create the sauce. Use a good-quality stock for the best flavour, and adjust seasoning depending on how salty your stock is.
- Tomato Paste: Adds richness and helps bring the sauce together with the fresh tomatoes and stock.
- Monterey Jack: This cheese melts beautifully over the top of the orzo and gives the dish a mild, creamy, cheesy finish. Scatter it over the cooked orzo, then place the pan under the grill/broiler until melted and lightly golden.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
There are plenty of ways to adapt this one pan chicken orzo depending on what you have on hand, whether you want to change the protein or add extra vegetables.
- Different Protein Options: Ground turkey can be used in place of ground chicken and will work in the same way with the sausage-style seasonings. You can also use your favourite low fat sausages with the casings removed instead of ground chicken. Just keep in mind that sausages are already seasoned and can be quite salty, so you may need to reduce or adjust the added salt and seasoning to taste. Boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast pieces can also be used, but the texture and flavour will be slightly different to the ground chicken version.
- Vary the Vegetables: Zucchini, corn and fresh tomatoes work really well in this dish, but you can swap in other vegetables such as bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, kale or finely diced carrots. Fresh ripe tomatoes add a lovely freshness, but canned chopped tomatoes can be used if needed. If using canned tomatoes, the sauce may be slightly richer and you may need to reduce the stock a little depending on how much liquid they add. I recommend using a good quality brand of canned tomatoes if you choose to use those, as some can make the sauce watery.
- Orzo: Orzo works best because it cooks quickly and creates a lovely creamy-style finish without cream. Another small pasta shape can be used, but cooking time and the amount of stock may need adjusting.
- Creamier Version: For a creamier version, stir in some light cream cheese at the end before adding the mozzarella and parmesan. It melts into the sauce and gives the orzo a richer, creamier finish.
- Spice Level: The red chilli flakes give the chicken a gentle heat. Reduce the amount or leave them out completely for a milder family-friendly version, or add extra if you prefer more spice.
- Cheese: Cheese: Monterey Jack melts well and gives a lovely cheesy topping, but you can swap it for mozzarella, cheddar, provolone or a light cheese if preferred. A little parmesan can also be added with the Monterey Jack if you want a stronger savoury flavour.
- Stock: Chicken stock gives the best flavour, but vegetable stock can be used if that is what you have on hand. Always taste before adding extra salt, especially if using regular stock.
- Maple Syrup: The maple syrup adds a little sweetness to balance the sausage-style seasoning. Honey can be used instead, or you can leave it out if preferred, though it helps with the caramelization of the ground chicken.
Tips for Cooking One Pan Ground Chicken Orzo
- Let the chicken caramelize: Once the ground chicken is added to the pan, avoid moving it around too much at first. Let it sit and brown so it can caramelize and form slightly larger clumps, giving it more of a sausage-style texture and flavour.
- Do not break it up too finely: You want some small chunks of seasoned chicken rather than very fine crumbles. This helps the chicken feel more like sausage meat once cooked through with the paprika, Italian seasoning and chilli flakes.
- Build flavour before adding the orzo: Cook the onion and garlic, ground chicken and seasoning well before adding the stock and orzo. This gives the sauce a better depth of flavour and helps everything come together in one pan.
- Stir often once the orzo is added: Orzo can stick to the bottom of the pan, so stir regularly as it cooks. This also helps release the starch from the pasta and creates a lovely creamy-style sauce.
- Keep an eye on the liquid: Different brands of orzo can absorb liquid slightly differently. If the orzo is not quite cooked and the pan looks too dry, add a little more stock. If there is too much liquid, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes.
- Add the cheese on top: Once the orzo is cooked, scatter the Monterey Jack over the top. Place the pan under the grill/broiler until the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
- Let it rest before serving: Leave the orzo to sit for a few minutes after grilling. The sauce will thicken slightly and everything will settle together nicely.
Side Suggestions
This one pan cheesy ground chicken orzo is already a complete and filling meal with protein, pasta, vegetables and cheese, so you do not need much on the side. A simple salad or extra green vegetables work best if you want to add something fresh alongside it.
Simple Green Salad: A crisp salad with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and a light dressing is a great way to balance the cheesy orzo.
Grilled or Roasted Asparagus: Asparagus works really well with the Italian-style flavours and adds a fresh vegetable side without making the meal feel too heavy.
Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli: Tenderstem broccoli is a great choice for serving alongside this dish. Roast until lightly golden and tender for an easy side that pairs well with the cheesy tomato orzo.
Green Beans: Steamed, sautéed or roasted green beans are another simple option and add a lovely fresh crunch to the meal.
Tomato and Cucumber Salad: A fresh tomato and cucumber salad with a little lemon juice or balsamic vinegar keeps the meal light and colourful.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
Storing: Allow any leftovers to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. The orzo will continue to absorb the sauce as it sits, so it may thicken once chilled.
Freezing: This dish can be frozen, although the orzo will be softer once defrosted and reheated. For best results, freeze in individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or in an ovenproof dish until piping hot throughout. Add a splash of chicken stock or water before reheating to loosen the sauce, as the orzo will thicken after storing. If reheating in the oven, cover with foil first to stop it drying out, then uncover for the last few minutes if you want to refresh the cheesy topping.
More One Pan Recipes
Love an easy one pan meal? Check out these:
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Recipe Card
One Pan Cheesy Ground Chicken Orzo
This One Pan Cheesy Ground Chicken Orzo is a comforting family dinner with sausage-style seasoned chicken, tender orzo, zucchini, corn, fresh tomatoes and a golden melted Monterey Jack cheese topping.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 455g (1lb) extra lean ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon of coarse salt
- 2 teaspoons of italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon of red chilli flakes
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 ripe tomatoes, diced (I used Roma)
- 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 175g (1 cup) of orzo
- 600ml (2.5 cups) of chicken stock
- 1 zucchini, halved lengthways and sliced
- 160g (1 cup) of canned sweet corn, drained
- 120g (4.2oz) of monterey jack cheese, grated
Instructions
- Mix the ground chicken with the maple syrup, paprika, smoked paprika, salt, Italian seasoning, red chilli flakes and black pepper until well combined.
- Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof pan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and fry for a few minutes until softened.
- Add the seasoned ground chicken to the pan and cook until browned. Try not to break it up too much as it cooks, as you want some larger pieces to caramelize and resemble chunks of sausage meat.
- Add the tomatoes and cook until they just start to soften.
- Add the zucchini, corn, orzo, tomato paste and chicken stock. Stir to combine, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for approximately 12 minutes, or until most of the stock has been absorbed.
- Turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid and leave to sit for 10 minutes, allowing the orzo to finish cooking and absorb the remaining liquid.
- Sprinkle the Monterey Jack cheese over the top, then place the pan under the grill/broiler for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly - - see freezing and reheating section.
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Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 532Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 9gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 152mgSodium 916mgCarbohydrates 55gFiber 6gSugar 12gProtein 39g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
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