This Chicken with Orzo Marsala is a comfort food dish that’ll leave you saying, winner winner, chicken dinner!
Coming at ya without another SUPER tasty, easy dinner recipe today folks!
Now that we’re into January and we’ve had our fill of baked goods (if that’s even possible) and the temps are routinely dipping into the low 30’s, comfort food dishes are what I’m serving up.
Some healthy, like my Falafel Platter with Tzatziki Sauce and Beef Barley Soup and some healthy-ish like Tom’s favorite, Classic Easy Meat Loaf.
I’ve been thinking about whipping up another orzo dish since I shared my Pan Seared Scallops with Orzo Piccata a few months back. So many of you have made it and everyone seems to really love it!
I put together the scallops with orzo piccata because piccata sauce is one of Tom’s favorites. So naturally, I had to create another dish, this Chicken with Orzo Marsala, with another of Tom’s favorite sauces, because that’s just the kind of wife I am.
A Few Cook’s Notes for Chicken with Orzo Marsala Recipe:
I used a combination of white button and baby bella mushrooms for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite kind of mushrooms.
This dish tastes equally delicious vegetarian style without the chicken.
I love to serve it with a side salad and a glass of wine.
Can you say, winner, winner, chicken dinner??
Juicy white meat chicken pan-fried until golden brown, in a rich Marsala wine sauce loaded with mushrooms, onions, garlic and tender orzo pasta.
The combination sounds just as scrumptious as it tastes. This is one meal you’ve got to add to your weekly menu.
Another delicious, comfort food dish that’s easy enough for weeknight dinner, but fancy enough for dinner guests this weekend! Enjoy!
Chicken with Orzo Marsala
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 3 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- salt, pepper and paprika
- 5 Tbsp. butter, divided
- 8 oz. white button mushrooms, sliced
- 8 oz. Baby Bella mushrooms, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2/3 cup Marsala wine, divided
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- fresh chopped parsley for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper and paprika. Add chicken to skillet and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring often, until chicken is just cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet . Set aside.
- In a large Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onions and cook 5 minutes until softened and translucent, stirring often. Add garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add orzo and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly toasted, stirring until well combined.
- Add 1/3 Marsala wine and bring to a boil. Cook until almost all wine is evaporated, about 2 minutes.
- Add 2 1/2 cups beef stock, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until pasta is tender and broth is mostly absorbed, about 10 minutes. Add chicken, additional 1/3 cup Marsala wine and remaining two tablespoons butter and continue to cook until chicken is heat through and liquid is mostly absorbed, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Divide among four dishes. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
I can definitely say ‘winner winner, chicken dinner’ ;) Talk about comfort food, Mary Ann! I’m totally getting risotto-ish vibes here and I love it! Perfect to have while curled up on Friday night with a glass of vino. Pinned!
Woohoo! I knew I could count on you Dawn! Comfort food all the way! Happy weekend ahead!
You’re right Mary Ann! This dish is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or for entertaining with guests! And it definitely has all the comfort food vibes. Happy almost weekend!
This dish is a total winner Leanne! I hope you get a chance to give it a try. You won’t be disappointed! Happy weekend to you too!
“…that’s just the kind of wife I am.” hahaha! I love it!! And this! All the comfort and flavor! Hey – I’ll bring the cookies if you bring the dinner! ;) Pinned!
Lol! Sounds like a delicious plan Annie! Happy weekend!
Oh yes, this is definitely a winner! I love the orzo pasta and marsala sauce! There’s nothing better than a flavor packed hearty dinner!
You’d love this one Kathy! Vegetarian style or with chicken. Sooooo good!
I have a huge container of baby bella mushrooms that keep staring at me begging to be used, and now I know EXACTLY what to do with them!!! I absolutely love orzo and Jeremy is a huge fan of marsala anything, so this is a dish that is just perfect for our house! Best of both worlds!!! Not to mention it looks so cozy and delish! Pinning to make! Cheers!
You both will love this dish Chey! It’s so easy to make and such a comforting, tasty meal! Happy weekend!
You’re not joking about this being a winner! YUM! I could make a meal out of the orzo alone!
Thanks Kelsie!
I love every bit of this dish, from the orzo to the chicken and mushrooms and to the marsala flavour. A perfect dish!
Thanks so much Jennifer!
Do you use a sweet Marsala or not?
Hi Dolores. I use a dry marsala cooking wine for this recipe. I use sweet marsala for desserts.
This is comfort food at its finest, Mary Ann! I’m adding it to the dinner plan next week :)
Hope you enjoy it Katherine!
Love meat bathed in wine. Whenever there is a hunting season, this kind of dishes are prepared for the hunters once they arrive back in the evening. You always bring so cozy and warm feelings here. Thank you Mary Ann !
Me too! What’s not to love, right?! You’re so welcome!
I love everything about this beatuiful dish. Looks like a wonderful winter comfort meal!
Thanks Chris! Tom totally LOVES it!
You did it again Mary Ann, the perfect dish for a cold winter evening.Pinned!
You’re the BEST Gerlinde! Thanks so much!
Sure do love the hearty flavors you’ve got going on in this dish! What a great meal for any day of the week!
Thanks Kev! It’s such a comforting winter meal!
I love chicken marsala, this recipe sounds so delicious. Happy weekend!
Then you would really enjoy this dish Laura! Happy weekend!
Certainly a comforting meal that is perfect for this weather.
This dish totally fits the cold, wintry weather bill!
I’m definitely trying this vegetarian style, Mary Ann – I love orzo and mushrooms and this is just a winner of a recipe. Marsala has such a distinct flavor – I bet it is absolutely delicious with the orzo and mushrooms. Hope you’re having a great weekend, Mary Ann.
You’re going to love it Geraldine. So much flavor! Happy weekend to you too!
This dish is definitely a WINNER! It looks so delicious and the flavors in it are awesome!
Thanks so much Kelly!
What a yummy combination of flavors. I really like orzo and think it is an underused pasta…great choice.
Thanks Karen! I LOVE orzo, and it goes perfectly in this dish. Hope you give it a try!
It’s so chilly here today and this is exactly the kind of comforting meal I’m craving. So easy too! Definitely putting this one on the menu! Thank you for the inspiration!
It would be totally perfect Marissa!
Dear Mary Ann, making this recipe made me remember standing next to my Grandmother in her kitchen preparing one of her fabulous feasts. I would look in a pot, stick up my nose and say, “EEEUUUUWWW!”. Gramma would stop and give me ‘the look’ and say, “You never show a fool a half done job.” – I made this for dinner last night following your recipe, and as it was coming together in my dutch oven I became very dubious about how the recipe was actually coming together. Very dubious… until it came together perfectly… and I remembered my grandmother’s words. This was PHENOMENAL! I don’t have to tell anyone how hard it is to cook a dinner that everyone at the table loves, but this was it! I will make this again – not changing a thing! Don’t mess with perfection :o))
BEST comment ever Belle! So happy this dish brought back some wonderful memories for you. I appreciate the time you took to make it and to stop by and leave a comment! You made my day! Happy Holidays to you and your family! XO MaryAnn
This is looking so delicious and yummy chicken recipe. I really love this reading. Thank you for sharing it.
You’re very welcome!
I love to cook chicken at home. I really enjoy this great reading about chickens marsala. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe article.
You’re welcome!
I appreciate the time you took to make it and to stop by and leave a comment! You made my day! Happy Holidays to you and your family! XO MaryAnn
For many days ago i also search for this type of post.
You made my day.
Thank you so much sharing for this .
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe.
You’re so welcome Sam! So happy you gave it a try and enjoyed it!
Such a great idea about the chicken with orzo marsala thanks sharing this article
Thanks Tom!
I am making this now and am at the stage where I add the beef broth & let it simmer for 10 minutes. There is still a lot of liquid left. Looks like soup! I’ll see if it will reduce down, but I’m not hopeful!
Hi AJ. As it cooks the pasta will aborb the liquid. Keep cooking!