One-Pot Wonders

Mom's Chicken Orzo Redux

by:
January 17, 2019
4.3
7 Ratings
Photo by Snafu06
  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Cook time 30 minutes
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

When I was a kid, my mom made chicken orzo all the time. It was a simple, crowd-pleasing dish with just a few ingredients. As an adult, I decided to see if I could put my own spin on the dish while preserving the flavors and broad appeal of the original dish. My version maintains the creamy mustard flavor and simplicity of the original and brightens it up with a little acid and a little color. —Snafu06

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 cup Orzo
  • 1/2 pint Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, halved lengthwise
  • 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil, divided
  • 3.5 pounds Bone-in, Skin-on Chicken Thighs
  • 2 Shallots, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons Dry White Wine
  • 2 ounces Dijon Mustard
  • 1.5 ounces Whole Grain Mustard
  • 1.5 cups Low Sodium Chicken Stock
  • 4 tablespoons Sour Cream
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Parsley, chopped for garnish
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook orzo according to package instructions.
  3. Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Season the tomatoes with a pinch of salt and add to the skillet until just starting to blister, approximately 1 minute. Remove to a plate.
  4. Season the thighs with salt and pepper.
  5. Heat 1T oil in the same skillet until shimmering and add chicken thighs, skin side down, until crispy and golden brown, approximately 6 minutes, then remove to a platter.
  6. If skillet is dry, add the rest of the oil and heat until shimmering. Then add the shallots and saute until softened and but not yet browning.
  7. Add wine to the skillet and scrape up any brown bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan. Cook until most of the wine has cooked off. Stand back, the wine will splatter and steam.
  8. Add stock and whole grain mustard to the skillet and whisk together, then bring to a simmer.
  9. Return chicken thighs to the pan, skin side up, then place the pan in the oven for 15 minutes or until the chicken has reached 165 degrees.
  10. Remove the chicken from the pan (last time, I promise) and place the pan over medium heat. Whisk in dijon mustard and reduce. Whisk in sour cream. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
  11. To serve: Stir together the tomatoes and orzo. Put a healthy serving on each plate and add a little sauce, then top with a chicken thigh (if you pour the sauce over the thigh, you will lose the crispy skin you created). Garnish with parsley and enjoy!
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