Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Pasta | One Pot One Portion
This creamy chicken and chorizo pasta is the perfect single-serve, 20 minute weeknight dinner when you're cooking for one but want it to feel a bit more special. I think we should all be romanticising solo cooking because it really is such a joy! Put on your favourite playlist, set aside some time and make something delicious for yourself, starting with this chicken and chorizo orzo.
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My Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Orzo: Your Ultimate Single-Serve Comfort Bowl
Are you craving a deeply flavourful, utterly comforting pasta dish that’s perfectly portioned for one? Look no further than my Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Orzo! This recipe brings together smoky chorizo, tender chicken, vibrant vegetables, and tiny pasta in a luscious, creamy sauce. It's the ultimate hassle-free, utterly scrumptious meal, designed entirely for cooking for one.
About This Dish
My Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Orzo is a truly satisfying dish that marries robust Spanish-inspired flavours with the comforting texture of Italian orzo pasta. It's a beautifully balanced creation, combining the smoky, spicy notes of chorizo with succulent chicken pieces, sweet bell pepper, aromatic onion and garlic, all cooked together in a rich tomato-infused sauce. The tiny orzo pasta cooks directly in the pan, absorbing all those delicious flavours, and is finished with a touch of crème fraîche or cream cheese for a wonderfully creamy consistency.
This is my go-to recipe when I want something hearty, flavourful, and incredibly easy. The dish offers a fantastic blend of textures – crispy chorizo, tender chicken, soft vegetables, and al dente orzo – all coated in that irresistible creamy sauce. It's a simple yet elegant meal that feels like a treat, without any fuss. These comforting flavours would also work so well in a chicken and chorizo risotto or even a chicken and chorizo pie!
If you like this recipe you might also like my Squash Gnocchi with Crispy Chorizo, Sage & Garlic, my Chorizo, Corn & Courgette Gnocchi or my Creamy Boursin Pasta.
Why You'll Want to Make My Recipe:
My Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Orzo is an absolute game-changer for anyone seeking a quick, satisfying, and utterly delicious meal designed specifically for a single serving. Whether you're a busy solo cook, a student looking for a substantial yet simple meal, an empty nester who's tired of cooking for a crowd, a single parent needing a fast and nourishing option, or simply someone who appreciates the efficiency of cooking for one, this recipe is crafted for you.
Single Serve
This recipe is inherently a single-serve sensation. Every ingredient is portioned to create one perfect bowl of creamy chicken and chorizo orzo, eliminating waste and ensuring you have just the right amount for a satisfying meal without leftovers. It's truly a one portion marvel, designed for effortless enjoyment when you're cooking for one.
30-Minute Meal
From start to finish, you can have this delicious pasta dish ready in approximately 30 minutes, with minimal prep! It's a great weeknight dinner but also feels special enough to be a weekend treat too!
One Pot
This is the true beauty of this recipe! My Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Orzo is a one pot meal. Everything, from rendering the chorizo and sautéing the vegetables and chicken to cooking the orzo in the flavourful broth and creating the creamy sauce, happens in a single pan. This significantly minimises washing up, making post-meal cleanup almost non-existent. It’s the ultimate convenience for cooking for one, ensuring you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying.
Top Tips for Perfect Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Orzo: Mastering the One-Pot Method
Achieving perfectly cooked pasta and a luscious sauce in one pot is simple with these key tips.
- Start with a Cold Pan for Chorizo: This is a crucial step for getting the most flavour out of your chorizo. Adding chorizo to a cold pan and then heating it gently allows the fat to slowly render out, making the chorizo beautifully crisp and creating a flavourful oil base for the rest of your ingredients. This rendered fat is key to the overall taste of your creamy chicken and chorizo pasta.
- Dice Vegetables Evenly: Ensure your onion and red bell pepper are chopped into similar-sized pieces (about 1cm for the pepper, finely diced for the onion). This promotes even cooking, so all your vegetables reach that perfect tenderness at the same time.
- Brown the Chicken: Before adding the liquids, allow the chicken thigh pieces to cook for 4-5 minutes with the tomato purée and spices. This step is essential for browning the chicken, which locks in flavour and ensures it's cooked through by the time the orzo is ready.
- Stir Frequently During Simmering: As the orzo cooks directly in the water and stock, it will release starches that help thicken your sauce. Stirring frequently, especially during the 15-minute simmer, prevents the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pan and ensures it cooks evenly. This is vital for the chicken and chorizo orzo to cook properly.
- Adjust Liquid as Needed: The amount of water needed can vary depending on the exact type of orzo you use, the shape and size of your pan (which affects evaporation), and your stove's heat. Keep an eye on it during the 15-minute simmer. If it starts to look too dry, add a splash more hot water or stock a little at a time until the orzo is al dente and the sauce is creamy.
Ingredients and Tools
Having the right ingredients and a few basic tools makes whipping up my delicious one pot pasta a breeze.
Essential Ingredients:
- Chorizo: Sliced into small semi-circles, this Spanish sausage is the flavour powerhouse, rendering fat and providing smoky, spicy notes that are central to creamy chicken chorizo pasta.
- White Onion: Finely chopped, it forms an aromatic base, softening beautifully into the sauce.
- Red Bell Pepper: Chopped into small pieces, it adds sweetness, colour, and a mild crunch.
- Garlic: Three cloves provide a robust, aromatic foundation for the sauce.
- Chicken Thigh: Cut into small pieces, chicken thigh stays wonderfully tender and juicy, absorbing all the flavours.
- Smoked Paprika: A touch of smoked paprika enhances the smokiness of the chorizo and adds a lovely warm colour.
- Dried Mixed Herbs: A versatile blend of Mediterranean herbs (like oregano, basil, thyme) that complements the other flavours.
- Tomato Puree: This concentrated tomato paste adds depth, sweetness, and helps to build the body of the sauce.
- Orzo: This tiny, rice-shaped pasta cooks quickly and absorbs all the delicious cooking liquid, making it perfect for a chicken and chorizo orzo dish.
- Water: The primary liquid for cooking the orzo and forming the sauce.
- Vegetable Stock Cube: Dissolved in the water, it adds a significant boost of savoury flavour.
- Crème Fraîche/Cream Cheese: Either of these adds luscious creaminess and a velvety texture to the finished sauce, making it truly a creamy chicken and chorizo pasta.
- Lemon Juice (optional): A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end adds a bright, zesty counterpoint that cuts through the richness. I think both versions (with or without) are delicious!
- Fresh Parsley: Finely chopped, it brings a fresh, herbaceous finish to the dish.
- Salt: Essential for seasoning and balancing all the flavours.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle warmth and aromatic finish.
To Serve:
- Fresh Parsley: An extra handful for garnish, adding freshness and visual appeal.
- Red Chilli (optional): Finely sliced or chopped fresh red chilli for those who enjoy an extra spicy kick.
Essential Tools:
- Large Frying Pan with a Lid: This is your "one pot." A pan with deep sides is ideal to comfortably hold all the ingredients for a single-serve portion without overflowing, and the lid is essential for simmering the orzo.
- Chopping Board: For preparing your onion, pepper, garlic, chicken, and parsley.
- Sharp Knife: For slicing, chopping, and mincing ingredients.
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon: For stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking.
- Measuring Spoons/Cups: For accurate measurement of herbs, spices, liquids, and cream.
Step by step instructions
Add the chorizo to a cold pan then place over a medium-high heat and cook until the fat has rendered out of the chorizo, and the chorizo is slightly crispy.
Add the onion, pepper and garlic and cook for 3 minutes.
Add the chicken thigh and tomato puree, smoked paprika and mixed herbs and cook for 4-5 minutes before adding in the orzo, water and stock cube.
Stir in the cream cheese/creme fraiche and some fresh parsley.
Serve into your bowl and top with more fresh parsley and chopped chillies, if you like it spicy!
Delicious Variations: Customising My Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Orzo
My Creamy Chicken & Chorizo Orzo is incredibly versatile! Feel free to adapt it to your taste or dietary needs.
- Making it Gluten-Free: The main ingredient to consider here is the orzo pasta. Simply swap it for your favourite gluten-free orzo or another small gluten-free pasta shape (like risoni or small shells). Ensure your stock cube is also certified gluten-free. The rest of the ingredients are typically gluten-free.
- Making it Dairy-Free: This requires substituting the crème fraîche/cream cheese.
- Crème Fraîche/Cream Cheese: Swap for a good quality dairy-free cooking cream or a rich full-fat coconut milk (from a can, shaken well) for similar richness. Note that coconut milk will impart a subtle coconut flavour. You can also get vegan creme fraiche which is brilliant!
- The rest of the ingredients (chorizo, chicken, vegetables, stock, lemon, herbs, spices) are naturally dairy-free.
- Making it Vegetarian: This recipe contains both chicken and chorizo.
- Vegetarian Chorizo: There are excellent plant-based chorizo alternatives available now that mimic the flavour and texture, often made from soy or pea protein. Cook these similarly to regular chorizo.
- Chicken Substitute: Replace the chicken thigh with firm tofu (pressed and diced), tempeh, or even chunky mushrooms like king oyster or portobello, cooked until golden.
- Adding More Vegetables: While already packed with flavour, you can easily sneak in more veggies. Stir in a handful of baby spinach or chopped kale during the last few minutes of simmering, or add diced courgette (zucchini) with the bell pepper. Frozen peas or sweetcorn could also be added during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Different Meats/Sausages: While chicken and chorizo are a fantastic pairing, you could experiment with other pre-cooked sausages or even diced pork if you don't have chorizo. The overall cooking method remains the same. This could inspire other chicken and chorizo pasta variations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Orzo? Is it rice?
A: Orzo is a form of short-cut pasta, shaped like a large grain of rice. Despite its appearance, it is made from durum wheat semolina, just like other pastas, not rice. It's often used in soups, salads, and casseroles, and is perfect for one-pot dishes like this chicken and chorizo orzo because of its quick cooking time and ability to absorb flavours.
Q: Can this recipe be adapted to be more like a risotto or a pie?
A: While this recipe creates a creamy pasta dish, its one-pot cooking method is somewhat similar to how a chicken and chorizo risotto is made (where rice cooks in broth). If you wanted to lean more towards a risotto, you would use Arborio rice instead of orzo, add broth gradually, and stir almost constantly to release starches for a creamier consistency. For a chicken and chorizo pie, you'd use a similar filling but bake it under a pastry crust or a mashed potato topping. This recipe is distinct in its simplicity and pasta focus.
Q: What's the benefit of cooking the chicken thigh in the pan with the vegetables?
A: Cooking the chicken thigh directly in the pan with the vegetables and spices allows it to absorb all the wonderful flavours from the chorizo fat, onion, garlic, and herbs. This "one-pot" method infuses the chicken with flavour from the start, making it incredibly tender and ensuring every bite is rich and delicious.
Q: My orzo absorbed all the water too quickly! What went wrong?
A: The rate at which orzo absorbs water can vary depending on the type of orzo, the exact heat of your stove, and the width of your pan (wider pans mean more evaporation). It's a common occurrence in one-pot pasta recipes. The solution is simple: keep an eye on it during the 15-minute simmer and have extra hot water or stock ready. If it looks dry, just add a splash more liquid, stir, and continue simmering until the orzo is al dente and the sauce is perfect.
Q: Can I use chicken breast instead of chicken thigh?
A: Yes, you can use chicken breast, but be mindful of its cooking time. Chicken breast is leaner and can dry out more easily. Cut it into slightly smaller pieces (around ½ inch) and ensure you don't overcook it. Cook it for a few minutes until just browned, then add the liquids, and it should finish cooking as the orzo simmers. Chicken thigh is generally preferred for its tenderness and flavour in this kind of dish.
If you like this recipe you might also like my Squash Gnocchi with Crispy Chorizo, Sage & Garlic, my Chorizo, Corn & Courgette Gnocchi or my Creamy Boursin Pasta.
Ingredients
For one serving, you need:
- 35g chorizo, sliced into 1/2 cm semi-circles
- 1/2 white onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper. chopped into 1cm pieces
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 chicken thigh, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp dried mixed herbs
- 1 tsp tomato puree
- 70g orzo
- 300ml water
- 1/2 vegetable stock cube
- 2 tbsp creme fraiche/cream cheese
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)
- Handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Salt
- Black Pepper
To serve:
- Handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 red chilli, finely sliced or chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Add the chorizo to a cold pan then place over a medium-high heat and cook until the fat has rendered out of the chorizo, and the chorizo is slightly crispy.
- Add the onion, pepper and garlic and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the chicken thigh and tomato puree, smoked paprika and mixed herbs and cook for 4-5 minutes before adding in the orzo, water and stock cube.
- Simmer with a lid on for around 15 minutes, stirring frequently and adding more water if it dries up (this will depend on the pasta you use and the shape and size of your pan.
- Once the orzo is al dente, stir in the cream cheese/creme fraiche. Taste and season with salt and pepper as well as lemon juice, if you like (I've done it with and without lemon juice and think both are delicious!). Stir through some fresh parsley.
- Serve into your bowl and top with more fresh parsley and chopped chillies, if you like it spicy!
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Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly meal plans, for one! I select 5 one pot one portion recipes that use similar ingredients and include your shopping list plus recipe notes, ingredient swaps and tips and tricks for using up leftovers. Take a look at the first one here...
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The perfect fresh, but still flavourful, summer salad! This is a beautiful fragrant salad with a creamy, zingy coconut milk dressing. With just a little bit of chopping and a minute of whisking, you’ve got a gorgeous summer lunch, perfect for working from home, taking lunch to the office or a sunny meal in the garden this weekend.
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"One Pot One Portion is, to borrow from The Parent Trap “a brilliant beyond brilliant idea”…I know many feel that it’s too much bother to cook ‘just’ for themselves — a sad admission, I feel — and to those people, and many others besides, I say: get this book and prove yourself liberatingly wrong!…Thank goodness for books! And thank goodness for Eleanor Wilkinson, a young talent to lift the spirits…There are so many people who could benefit from this book…this book is a boon and a blessing"
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?