Tastes just like risotto…. except it’s far quicker to make! Also known as Orzo, this risoni recipe comes with juicy chicken, a creamy parmesan sauce and plenty of hidden vegetables. It’s a quick one pot recipe the kids are sure to love. (And grown ups too!)
Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Risoni (Orzo)
This is a quick dinner recipe that will tick all your boxes:
✅ fast and easy to make – 10 minute cook!
✅ made with everyday pantry staples
✅ highly customisable – use whatever vegetables and proteins you want
✅ complete meal – protein, vegetables, carbs, dairy!
✅ the sort of food that’s universally appealing, one that big and little people love
Is there a difference between Orzo and Risoni?
Nope, they’re the same thing! Tiny rice shaped pasta that’s widely available nowadays, it’s called risoni here in Australia but most countries in the world call it orzo.
A quick Risoni recipe that’s a complete dinner made in one pot!
Ingredients you need
And here’s what you need for this Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Risoni. There’s plenty of substitution and customisation options – see below.
LOADS of substitution options!
Loads and loads… even the risoni!
Risoni / orzo – sub with other very small pasta (like kiddie alphabet, tiny macaroni)
Chicken – any protein, or skip it
Frozen veg – I use this for convenience, sub with any diced vegetables
Baby Spinach – I throw in a couple of handles to get extra nutrition in. Use any wilt-able veggies (even the leafy end of Asian greens!) or add more veggies
Parmesan – any grated cheese!
Flour – any type of flour (white, brown, self raising, cake flour)
Milk – dairy or non dairy! Or a mix of cream and water, or evaporated milk
Chicken stock (broth) – stock cube with water. In emergencies, use water and lots more cheese! 😂
Onion – leeks, extra garlic, geen onion, shallots
Garlic – garlic powder, extra onion
How to make it
If you’re wondering how on earth this risoni recipe can be cooked so quickly, here’s why – risoni / orzo takes a mere 8 minutes to cook from start to finish.
So we only have it on the stove for 7 minutes, then the tiny rice-like grains keep cooking while you’re faffing around getting bowls out, serving it up, sprinkling on parmesan and yelling for everyone to get to the table for dinner. 😂
Use a pan that is reasonably deep – around 5cm / 2.5″ or more. Otherwise, use a large pot. Heat the oil then sauté the garlic and onion for 1 minute to give them a head start. Then sear the chicken for 2 minutes until the outside is seared but the inside is still raw.
Add frozen vegetables (still frozen ok) and flour, then stir until the flour is incorporated.
Add the uncooked risoni/orzo, stock and milk, then stir well. Bring to simmer then adjust heat so it’s bubbling gently (see video). Cook for 7 minutes (no lid), stirring every now and then, until risoni is almost tender (still quite soupy at this stage).
Add parmesan and spinach, stir through until the spinach is wiled.
The consistency should be like a loose risotto (it absorbs liquid and thickens quite quickly when serving), nice and creamy. So don’t stress if it looks more soupy than what you want when you take it off the stove, it will thicken as it sits around.
Serve, garnished with parsley and more parmesan if desired!
This one pot method of cooking is an excellent quick-meal option for busy nights. It works for long strand pasta (like this One Pot Chicken Alfredo and One Pot Bolognese) as well as other short pastas (like in this One Pot Vegetable Pasta and Broccoli Pasta).
The recipe makes enough for 4 to 5. Leftovers will keep for a few days – but note that leftover pasta is never quite as saucy. Or try making Muffin Tin Spaghetti Nests with the leftovers which kids absolutely adore! ~ Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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One Pot Chicken, Vegetable & Parmesan Orzo (Risoni)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 onion , diced
- 250g / 8oz chicken thigh or breast , cut into bite size pieces
- 2 1/2 cups frozen diced vegetables (carrots, peas, corn, capsicum/peppers, anything!)
- 1 1/2 cups orzo / risoni , uncooked (Note 1)
- 1 1/2 tbsp flour
- 2 1/4 cups milk , any fat %
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock / broth (low sodium)
- 3 cups baby spinach (packed)
- 3/4 cup (tightly packed) parmesan , finely grated (or store bought sandy type)
- 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Serving
- More parmesan
- Parsley or chives, if desired
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pan over high heat. Make sure the pan is reasonably deep – around 5cm / 2.5" or more. Otherwise, use a large pot.
- Sear chicken – Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute. Add chicken, then cook for 2 minutes until seared on the outside but still raw inside.
- Vegetables and flour – Add frozen vegetables (still frozen ok) and flour, stir until flour is incorporated.
- Add uncooked risoni – Add risoni/orzo, stock and milk, then stir well.
- Cook 7 minutes – Bring to simmer then adjust heat so it's bubbling gently (see video). Cook for 7 minutes (no lid), stirring every now and then, until risoni is almost tender (still quite soupy at this stage).
- Add parmesan, spinach, salt and pepper. Stir through until the spinach is wilted.
- Serve – The consistency should be like a loose risotto (it absorbs liquid and thickens quite quickly when serving), nice and creamy. Serve, garnished with parsley and more parmesan if desired!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published June 2014. Updated June 2019 with fresh new photos, new writing, new video added and most importantly, Life of Dozer section added!
More risoni / orzo recipes
I love risoni because it’s so quick to cook – making it super handy for quick dinners!
One Pot Italian Chicken Orzo / Risoni Pasta – cosy, saucy one pot chicken and risoni dinner
Orzo / Risoni Bolognaise – one pot bolognese pasta dish!
Greek Lemon Orzo Salad – a bright fresh pasta salad loaded with Greek flavours
Creamy Salmon Risoni / Orzo (15 Minute Meal) – tastes like risotto, except MUCH faster to make!
Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Orzo (Risoni) (One Pot) – tastes like a creamy mushroom risotto
Baked Greek Chicken Orzo (Risoni) – Greek chicken AND orzo made in one pot!
Pea, Zucchini and Pesto Orzo / Risoni – a wonderful quick side dish
Life of Dozer
Sunny Tuesdays call for lazy working lunches out by the water…. (this is at The Boat Shed in Palm Beach, Sydney 🇦🇺. Not too far from where I live!)
LOVE!! Make this for those days I need some comfort food plus some added veg in my life. Thanks for all of your recipes! This is my fav site
What is the pot you have used? It seems like something heavy based!
Hi Amanda, It’s a Chasseur cast iron pot 🙂 N x
This recipe was as quick and easy as promised. I added extra vegetables and some olives. Everybody loved this dinner.
Hiya, I love the sound of the recipe but my toddler and husband don’t like cheese 🙁 do you taste it a lot in this this dish? As I can get away with my toddler at least 🙂 thanks!
Hi Mariam, you can leave it out if you prefer – you’ll need to adjust the flavour by adding 1/2 tsp of stock powder or Vegeta to make up for not having the salty parmesan 🙂 N x
Fantastic dish! So quick, easy and tasty. Will definitely make it again
I add in a lemon cut in half when adding the vegetables, and then right at the end remove and squeeze – the citrus cuts right through and lifts the dish to give it a nice zing.
Tonight I made this for the second time. Absolutely delicious! The kids loved it too. Thank you so much for sharing this!
I made this last night, so quick and easy! I didn’t use chicken and instead made it completely vegetarian. I used mushroom, carrot, corn, celery, spinach and peas.
Delicious and will definitely be making it again. Thanks!
Nagi love your recipes. Which induction Cooktop do you use. I am on the market for one.
Loved this recipe!! So did the whole family. It was so quick and easy and my One yr old loved it so much, that the pile of food scraps usually left underneath her after dinner was no where to been seen and she was spotless. Every spoonful was swallowed and enjoyed! 😆 Also, I only had beef mince, so used that as my protein and used beef stock, crushed canned tomatoes and abit of water instead of the chicken stock/milk. Turned out very tasty indeed!! Can’t wait to try the chicken version!
Hi Sneha, I don’t use induction, I have gas 🙂 N x
I have celiac and can’t get gf orzo. Can I use cooked short grain brown rice as a substitute?
Hi Derek, the recipe as written wont work with brown rice (as it takes longer to cook). I’d need to do some testing here! N x
Hi Nagi, I don’t have flour of any sort, is that okay? Also, I only have unsweetened soya and almond milk, will that work too? What shall I do?!
Hi Yasmine, do you have any cornflour? The flour just helps to thicken the sauce here so it’s not runny. You could definitely sub in another type of milk as well 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi, we’re running low on milk but do have a 300ml tub of cream that needs using up – do you think we could sub the milk for a smaller amount of cream and add more stock/water? PS love your site, everything we’ve tried so far has been a hit!
This is the single best thing I have ever eaten! I can’t believe it was so easy.
WOOT!! Thanks for letting me know you love it Caroline! N x
Love this recipe. Am making it today by special request for my 7 year old daughter’s birthday dinner.
Thanks for all your great recipes.
Love following the antics of Dozer.
Thanks so much Sue! N x
I have made this recipe a few times and is a family favourite. So quick and easy and you can add different veg, herbs etc.
This tastes great the next day thats if any is left. Thanks again Nagi for another great receipe.
You’re so welcome Jackie, I’m so glad you love it! N x
I just love this recipe! So easy and delicious. My toddler and I gobbled it up tonight! Almost everything we have tried from your website has been a huge hit at our house. Thank you for all your hard work and such a wonderful recipe resource! You’ve become my go-to!
That’s SO great to hear Laura, thanks so much!
Thank you so much for your recipes. I have bad pregnancies (sick the entire time), and so many of your recipes are quick and easy to put together as well as tasty, including this one. Your website has been a life saver!
I’m so glad you’re loving them Laura!! N x
Cook this for lunch today.
It was easy & delicious!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Nikki – N x
I laughed when I read it would take a total of 15 minutes to cook a meal with chicken… it can be done! Simple, straightforward recipe that tastes delicious.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Elena! The perfect midweek meal 🙂