Description
This cozy, one-skillet dinner features crispy seared chicken thighs nestled into creamy broccoli cheddar orzo. It’s the perfect comfort food—cheesy, flavorful, and packed with veggies. Ready in just 30 minutes, this weeknight winner is everything you love about a home-cooked meal, with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor!
Ingredients
-
2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 4 large thighs)
-
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
-
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
8 oz dried orzo (about 1/2 of a 16 oz package)
-
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
-
1 pound broccoli florets, quartered or halved if large
-
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
-
Kosher salt, to taste
-
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
-
Sear the Chicken: Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 4–5 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy. Set aside (they don’t need to be fully cooked yet).
-
Sauté the Onion and Orzo: Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet. Sauté diced onions for 2–3 minutes, until softened. Stir in the orzo and toast for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently until golden. Add garlic and cook for another 1 minute.
-
Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Nestle chicken thighs back into the skillet. Cover and cook on medium-low for 8 minutes.
-
Add Broccoli: After 8 minutes, layer the broccoli over the orzo and chicken. Cover again and cook for an additional 12 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165°F and broccoli is tender.
-
Finish with Cheese: Remove the chicken from the skillet. Stir the cheddar cheese into the orzo and broccoli until creamy and fully melted. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot!
Notes
-
Substitutions: You can swap chicken thighs with boneless thighs or chicken breasts—just reduce cooking time slightly. Orzo can be replaced with rice or couscous.
-
Veggie Options: Cauliflower, spinach, or kale work beautifully instead of broccoli.
-
Make it spicy: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper for a kick!
-
Cheese Swaps: Gruyère, gouda, or pepper jack make fun flavor twists.
-
Leftovers: This dish reheats beautifully—just add a splash of broth when warming it up to restore the creamy texture.
Equipment
Large deep skillet with lid
Tongs
Silicone spatula or wooden spoon
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Cheese grater (if shredding fresh cheese)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet / One-Pan
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous portion
- Calories: 898 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 252mg
- Fat: 54g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 36g (estimated)
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 50g
- Cholesterol: 222mg
Keywords: Skillet Chicken Thighs, Broccoli Cheddar Orzo, One Pan Dinner, Chicken and Orzo