Cajun Chicken Orzo

This cheesy Cajun chicken orzo pairs ground chicken with the Cajun holy trinity, garlic, lemon juice, Tabasco hot sauce, orzo, and two kinds of cheese to make a hearty one skillet meal.

There’s a recipe card below for you to print. Drop any questions you have in the comments below.

If you’re looking for another recipe to make with orzo, check out my Italian ground chicken bowls, lemon pepper ground turkey and broccoli orzo, or brown butter mushroom orzo recipes next. And if love this Cajun ground chicken and orzo, I always appreciate recipe reviews!

Cajun Chicken Orzo

Ground chicken and orzo join forces in one skillet with the Cajun trinity and seasoning, Tabasco, two types of cheese, and fresh herbs.

4.78 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 Servings

Calories: 300kcal

Author: Mason Woodruff

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Tablespoon Olive Oil divided
• 1 pound Ground Chicken
• 1 large White Onion diced
• 4 hearts Celery diced
• 1 Green Bell Pepper diced
• 4 cloves Garlic minced
• 1 Tablespoon Cajun Seasoning
• 2 1/2 cups Chicken Broth
• 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 1-2 Tablespoons Tabasco Hot Sauce
• 1 1/3 cup 220g Orzo

For Finishing

• 1/2 cup Milk
• 2 oz Grated Parmesan
• 1-2 handfuls Freshly Chopped Parsley
• 2-3 Scallions thinly sliced
• 4 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, add the ground chicken and brown one side for 3-4 minutes before flipping and pushing to one side of the pan.
• Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, followed by the onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, and cajun seasoning. Stir everything together with the chicken and cook until the chicken is fully cooked.
• Add the orzo, hot sauce, lemon juice, and chicken broth, stirring everything together. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is cooked and little liquid remains, about 12 minutes. (Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of broth if needed.)
• Turn off the heat and stir in the milk, parmesan, and herbs. Top with the cheddar cheese and cover to melt or place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes. Serve with fresh lemon juice and additional hot sauce, if desired.

Notes

Even with the hot sauce, this is a milder dish. Feel free to add ground cayenne pepper to the cajun seasoning or more hot sauce.

If you don't have orzo on hand, any rice should work fine as a substitute. You can also use pasta. See my bacon cheeseburger pasta or cheesy ricotta ground turkey pasta for examples.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 11g