Slow Cooker Cowboy Butter Chicken Orzo
This slow cooker cowboy butter chicken orzo cooks diced chicken in a seasoned lemon butter broth then adds orzo and cream for a rich, creamy crockpot dinner ready with minimal effort.
Servings 5
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 chicken breasts diced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon butter salted, unsalted, or garlic and herb
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper optional
- 1 to 2 teaspoon Kinder's Cowboy Butter Seasoning
- 1 lemon zest
- 1 lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh spinach chopped
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
Instructions
- Add the diced chicken breast to the slow cooker.
- Add the paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, Cowboy Butter Seasoning, minced garlic, butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dijon mustard, crushed red peppers, and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
- About 30 minutes before the chicken is fully cooked, add the heavy whipping cream and dry orzo. Stir well and replace the lid.
- Cook for another 30 to 40 minutes on low until the orzo has absorbed the liquid and is completely tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Once the orzo is done, stir in the grated Parmesan and chopped spinach until the cheese is melted and the spinach is wilted. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Add the orzo in the last 30 to 40 minutes only. Orzo added too early will become mushy and over-absorbed before the chicken finishes cooking.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts significantly more smoothly than pre-shredded.
- Pre-shredded contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy rather than silky.
- Stir the orzo periodically during the final cooking stage to prevent it from clumping or sticking to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- The lemon juice and zest brighten theentire dish and cut through the richness of the cream and butter. Do not skip either.
