Chicken and pasta are two Free Food staples at Slimming World – so we’ve brought them together in a filling, flavour-packed meal that’s sure to become a firm family favourite.
Ideal for busy days, this recipe requires just one casserole dish and can be largely left alone to bake. Add it to your midweek menu to make dinnertime a doddle!
Chicken orzo recipe video
More on the blog: Discover five of our most popular Slimming World chicken recipes
Chicken orzo recipe
serves 4
FREE
ready in 55 mins
What you need:
low-calorie cooking spray
4 skinless and boneless chicken breasts
2 onions, chopped
1 large carrot, finely diced
2 celery sticks, finely diced
2 red peppers, deseeded and chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
½ tsp dried chilli flakes
½ small pack fresh parsley, stalks and leaves separated then chopped
1 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
300ml hot chicken stock
300g dried orzo pasta
mixed salad leaves dressed with balsamic vinegar, to serve
What you do:
1. Preheat your oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas 7.
2. Spray a large, flameproof, non-stick casserole dish with low-calorie cooking spray and put it over a medium-high heat. Brown the chicken all over for 3-4 minutes, turning halfway. Remove the chicken and set aside.
3. Give the casserole dish another spritz with the low-calorie cooking spray. Fry the onions, carrot, celery and peppers over a medium heat for 8 minutes, stirring often, until softened. Add the garlic, chilli flakes, parsley stalks and fennel seeds (if using). Fry for another 2 minutes, or until they start to release their aromas.
4. Pour over the tomatoes and stock. Bring to the boil, stir through the orzo and nestle the chicken in the sauce. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the orzo is tender.
5. Lift out the chicken. Add most of the parsley leaves to the orzo and give it a good stir. Put the chicken back in the casserole dish and scatter over the rest of the parsley leaves. Serve with the salad and top everything with a twist of black pepper.
