Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken and Orzo

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken Orzo

If you’re craving a cozy, creamy dinner that’s full of flavor but still easy enough for a weeknight, this Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken Orzo is about to be your new favorite. Tender bites of chicken, colorful veggies, and orzo pasta all simmer together in a rich, garlicky Italian sauce for a one-pot meal that’s comforting, hearty, and downright delicious.

This paired with Homemade Lemonade is the perfect meal.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Creamy & comforting: A velvety sauce made from cream and Parmesan coats every bite.
• Simple, one-pot magic: Everything cooks right in your slow cooker for easy prep and cleanup.
• Packed with flavor: Italian seasoning, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and herbs make this dish taste restaurant-worthy.
• Family favorite: Even picky eaters love the creamy pasta and tender chicken.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what makes this dish so good:

• Chicken thighs: Juicy, flavorful, and perfect for slow cooking.
• Italian dressing mix & Kinder’s Garlic & Herb Chicken seasoning: The secret to effortless flavor.
• Veggies: Red bell pepper, red onion, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes add color and texture.
• Orzo pasta: Small rice-shaped pasta that cooks right in the sauce.
• Heavy cream & Parmesan: For that irresistibly creamy finish.
• Spinach: Stirred in at the end for a pop of freshness and color.

How to Make It

1. Season the chicken: Add diced chicken thighs to your slow cooker. Sprinkle on the Italian dressing mix, Kinder’s Garlic & Herb Chicken packet, and minced garlic. Stir to coat.
2. Add the veggies: Mix in red bell pepper, red onion, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes.
3. Add broth and cook: Pour chicken broth over the top, cover, and cook on low for 2–4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Add the pasta: Stir in orzo and heavy cream. Cover again and cook on low for 30–45 minutes, until the pasta is tender and creamy.
5. Finish & serve: Stir in Parmesan cheese and spinach. Let it sit for a few minutes to thicken slightly, then serve warm and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• Don’t worry about a little oil: If your sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, use up to about a tablespoon for extra richness.
• Make it your own: Swap the chicken thighs for breasts or add extra veggies like zucchini or cherry tomatoes.
• Leftovers: This reheats beautifully — just add a splash of broth or cream to loosen it up before serving.

🍴 The Perfect Comfort Meal

This Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken Orzo is everything you want in a dinner — warm, satisfying, and full of Italian-inspired flavor, but without the stress or mess. Just toss it together, let the slow cooker do its thing, and get ready for clean plates all around.

Here are a few of our other favorite slow cooker meals:

• Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
• Slow Cooker Beef Ramen Stir Fry
• Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole
• Slow Cooker French Dip
• Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken
• Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
• Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken and Orzo

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Ingredients

• 3 pounds chicken thighs trimmed and diced
• 1 packet Italian dressing mix
• 1 packet Kinders garlic and herb chicken
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 red bell pepper sliced thin
• 1 red onion sliced thin
• 4 ounces sun dried tomatoes julienne style
• 8 ounces sliced white mushrooms
• 14.5 ounces Chicken broth
• 8 ounces Orzo
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 bag of spinach

Instructions

• In the crock of a 5 qt or larger slow cooker, add diced chicken thighs
• Season with Italian dressing mix, Kinders garlic and herb chicken packet, and minced garlic.
• Stir to coat.
• Add in red bell pepper, red onion, mushrooms, and sun dried tomatoes.
• Pour 14.5 ounce can of chicken broth over the top.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 2-4 hours until chicken is cooked through.
• Remove lid, and add 8 ounces orzo pasta and 1 cup of heavy cream
• Cover and continue cooking on low for 30-45 minutes, until orzo is cooked through.
• Stir in parmesan cheese and spinach, and serve hot!

Notes

Notes: Don’t be afraid of some of the oil the sun dried tomatoes are packed in, getting into the crock. You can use up to about a Tablespoon before it becomes too much.

Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.

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