Name: Creamy Chicken & Bacon Orzo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 400 g chicken ((thighs or breast)); 100 g bacon; 1 onion ((finely copped)); 3 cloves of garlic ((finely chopped) ); 4-5 pieces of sun-dried tomatoes ((chopped)); 1 tbsp sunflower oil; 200 g baby spinach; 300 ml double cream; 30 g parmesan cheese ((grated)); salt; black pepper; chilli ((optional))

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If you’re craving a cozy, comforting dinner that feels indulgent yet easy enough for a weeknight, this creamy chicken and bacon orzo pasta is exactly what you need. Packed with tender chicken, smoky bacon, and a velvety garlic cream sauce that clings to every piece of orzo, it is recipe the whole family will love.

This recipe brings together everything that makes pasta irresistible—rich flavor, creamy texture, and a balance of protein and carbs that leaves you fully satisfied. Plus, it’s ready in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy nights when you want something hearty but not complicated.

Tips for the Best Creamy Chicken and Bacon Orzo

Don’t overcook the orzo. It should be tender but still slightly firm (“al dente”).
Use freshly grated Parmesan. Pre-grated cheese doesn’t melt as smoothly.
Reserve a little pasta water. If the sauce gets too thick, a splash will loosen it perfectly.
Double the batch for meal prep. This pasta reheats beautifully for lunches.
Add a squeeze of lemon. It brightens the creaminess and balances the bacon.
Make it one pot. Add uncooked pasta to your sauce and pour over broth to cook them straight in one pot.

Variations to Try

Make it spicy: Add red pepper flakes or chopped chili.
Swap the protein: Try shrimp, turkey, or even plant-based sausage.
Lighten it up: Use single instead of heavy cream.

This creamy chicken and bacon orzo pasta is comfort food at its finest—creamy, savory, and ready in just half an hour. Whether you’re cooking for your family or treating yourself to a cozy night in, it’s guaranteed to hit the spot.

Give it a try this week and let the creamy sauce, smoky bacon, and tender chicken win you over.

Creamy Chicken & Bacon Orzo

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword comfot food, creamy pasta, easy lunch, easy recipe, quick dinner

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings 4

Ingredients

400 g chicken (thighs or breast)
100 g bacon
1 onion (finely copped)
3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
4-5 pieces of sun-dried tomatoes (chopped)
1 tbsp sunflower oil
200 g baby spinach
300 ml double cream
30 g parmesan cheese (grated)
salt
black pepper
chilli (optional)

Instructions

Heat tablespoon of oil in a frying pan and browned seasoned chicken. Remove it from the pan and ad onion, garlic and simmer for a minute until fragrant (add little bit more oil if necessary). Deglaze the pan with some water or broth in necessary.
Add sun-dried tomatoes and bacon to the pan, let it simmer for few minutes util the bacon has browned. Add spinach, parmesan, pour over the cream and return chicken into the pan.
Mix your sauce with cooked pasta and enjoy.