30 Minute Cheesy Chicken Risoni (Printable)
Creamy skillet with chicken, risoni pasta, and melted cheese ready in 30 minutes
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Vegetables
05 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Pasta & Liquids
09 - 1 1/2 cups risoni (orzo) pasta
10 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1/2 cup milk
→ Cheese & Seasoning
12 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
15 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
# How-To:
01 - Season diced chicken with salt and black pepper, ensuring even coating on all pieces.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and reserve.
03 - In the same skillet, add onion and red bell pepper. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Stir in risoni pasta and Italian herbs. Toast for 1 minute, stirring frequently to lightly coat grains with oil.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and milk. Bring to a simmer, scraping up browned bits from pan bottom for added flavor.
06 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until risoni is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
07 - Return cooked chicken to skillet. Add spinach and stir until wilted, about 1 minute.
08 - Remove from heat. Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan until melted and creamy. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired.
09 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Its the kind of dinner that makes everyone actually sit down at the table together
- You get that slow cooked comfort food feeling in just 30 minutes flat
02 -
- The pan scraping step is not optional, those browned bits are pure flavor gold
- Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving, the sauce thickens up beautifully as it cools slightly
03 -
- Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the pre grated stuff, it melts so much better
- Low sodium broth is crucial here, otherwise the final dish can get overwhelmingly salty