Creamy Chicken Florentine With Orzo (Printable)
Tender chicken, spinach and orzo in a silky cream broth—cozy, quick, and family-friendly.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 medium carrots, diced
06 - 2 celery stalks, diced
07 - 3 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Starches
08 - 3/4 cup (about 4.2 oz) orzo pasta, uncooked
→ Liquids
09 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
→ Seasonings
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
15 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
→ Garnishes
16 - 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
17 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in thyme, basil, salt, pepper, and nutmeg if using. Add shredded chicken and uncooked orzo; mix well to combine.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, or until orzo is nearly tender.
05 - Stir in chopped spinach and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Reduce heat to low and stir in half-and-half or heavy cream. Simmer gently without boiling for 3 to 5 minutes until the soup is creamy and heated through. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy broth has a way of making everyone at the table go quiet and just eat, which in my house counts as a miracle.
- Orzo gives you all the comfort of pasta night folded into a soup that reheats beautifully the next day for lunch.
02 -
- Never let the soup boil after adding cream or it will curdle and look broken instead of velvety smooth.
- The orzo will continue absorbing broth as the soup sits, so add a splash of water or broth when reheating leftovers to loosen it back up.
03 -
- Grate a tiny amount of fresh nutmeg directly into the cream before adding it to the soup for a flavor trick that makes people close their eyes and try to guess the secret ingredient.
- Use rotisserie chicken from the deli and strip the meat while it is still warm because it shreds more easily and carries more flavor than cold chicken breast.