Cheesy Chicken Risoni Skillet (Printable)
Creamy skillet with chicken, risoni, and melted cheese ready in 30 minutes.
# What you need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), 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 (10.5 oz) risoni (orzo) pasta
10 - 3 cups (24 oz) low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1/2 cup (4 oz) milk
→ Cheese & Seasoning
12 - 1 cup (3.5 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 1/2 cup (2 oz) grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
15 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Season diced chicken evenly with salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add onion and red bell pepper. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Stir in risoni pasta and Italian herbs. Toast for 1 minute, stirring frequently to coat and lightly toast the grains.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and milk. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
06 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until risoni is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
07 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Add spinach and stir until wilted, about 1 minute.
08 - Remove from heat. Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired.
09 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The entire family asks for this at least twice a week now, which is basically a parenting miracle
- Cleanup takes about three minutes since everything happens in one pan
02 -
- The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you remove it from heat so do not let it get too dry while cooking
- Shredding your own cheese makes an enormous difference in how smoothly the sauce comes together
03 -
- Keep the broth handy while cooking because you might need an extra splash depending on how thirsty your pasta is
- Grate your Parmesan from a wedge instead of using the stuff in the green shaker can