Chicken Mushroom and Tomato Pasta

This Chicken Mushroom and Tomato Pasta is a flavorful one pot meal! It's made in a skillet with orzo, fire roasted tomatoes, and balsamic.

One pot meals are the way to go when it comes to weeknight dinners. This Chicken Mushroom Tomato Pasta is hearty and full of Italian flavor.

It doesn't take a lot of time, effort, or complicated ingredients to prepare a healthy and satisfying dish. This is especially true of one pot meals. Everything is made in a skillet on the stove top, cutting down on the amount of dishes and cleanup after cooking.

This dish is a comforting one made with orzo pasta that's simmered in a skillet along with sauteed chicken breasts, mushrooms, fire roasted tomatoes, and chicken broth. Balsamic vinegar is added toward the end of the cooking time to balance out the flavor.

It's got garlic and shallots, Italian seasoning, and the whole thing is drizzled with balsamic glaze when finished. This pasta can be garnished with grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese and fresh basil or parsley for brightness and extra color.

It's earthy, tangy, savory, and a little sweet with the addition of the balsamic glaze. This pasta is creamy, but made without milk or cream, so it's not overly heavy.

Jump to:

• What Is Orzo?
• How To Flavor Orzo Pasta
• Ingredients For Chicken Mushroom and Tomato Pasta
• Which Chicken Is Best For This Pasta?
• How To Make Chicken, Mushroom and Tomato Pasta
• How Long Does One Pot Pasta Take To Cook?
• What Is Balsamic Glaze?
• What To Serve With Chicken Orzo Pasta
• How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Chicken Mushroom and Tomato Pasta

What Is Orzo?

Orzo is a type of pasta that's shaped like a grain of rice. It's made from flour just like any other type of pasta even though its shape might suggest otherwise.

Orzo is often used in Italian and Mediterranean cuisines. It's perfect for light pasta dishes, salads, soups like this Vegetable Orzo Soup, and healthy dishes like these Greek Stuffed Peppers.

It looks a lot like Arborio rice but the two are not the same thing. Arborio rice is actually a type of rice and is used to make dishes like risotto. Arborio rice is gluten free whereas orzo pasta is not.

Orzo pasta is a great choice for weeknight dinners because it only takes about 10 minutes to fully cook. Orzo also tends to absorb the flavors of whatever is added to it.

This recipe is gluten free, so I opted for gluten free orzo pasta. Gluten free orzo may be available in specialty or health food grocery stores, or available for purchase online.

Feel free to use regular orzo if gluten is not an issue for you. Regular orzo pasta is available in the pasta aisle of your local grocery store.

How To Flavor Orzo Pasta

As mentioned, orzo is one of those ingredients that tends to absorb the flavor of whatever is added to it, making it a great staple to have on hand in your pantry.

It pairs well with vegetables, meats like chicken, beef, or seafood, a variety of spices, sauces like marinara and pesto, cheese, lemon, and marinated items like olives and roasted red peppers.

This recipe is flavored with the addition of sauteed garlic and shallots. I prefer to use shallots instead of onions when making pasta dishes because they're a bit sweeter, less pungent, and don't overpower the rest of the ingredients.

If you can't find shallots, simply use half an onion instead of a whole onion.

This pasta is also flavored with sauteed mushrooms, canned fire roasted tomatoes, Italian seasoning, balsamic vinegar, and fresh herbs.

It's important to sauté each of the ingredients in steps rather than throwing everything together into the skillet at once. This helps to coax out the flavor of each ingredient and allows everything to cook evenly.

When it comes to mushrooms, you can use any variety you like. White button or cremini mushrooms are available in every grocery store, making them a good choice. You can also use oyster, shiitake, portobello, or chanterelle mushrooms if you prefer.

Ingredients For Chicken Mushroom and Tomato Pasta

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 6 cloves Garlic
• 2 Shallots (or ½ an onion, any variety)
• 1 - 1 ¼ lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1 8 oz. package White Button or Cremini Mushrooms (or mushrooms of choice)
• 1 14.5 oz. can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes (or regular diced tomatoes)
• 4 Tbsp. Olive Oil (split)
• 12 oz. Gluten Free Orzo Pasta (or regular orzo pasta if not gluten free)
• 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
• 3 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• 1 tsp. Kosher Salt (split)
• ½ tsp. Pepper (split)
• ½ cup Parmesan or Asiago Cheese (grated) (plus more for garnish)
• 1 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
• Balsamic Glaze for garnish (optional)
• Fresh Basil or Parsley for garnish (optional)

Which Chicken Is Best For This Pasta?

When it comes to this Chicken Mushroom and Tomato Pasta, I recommend boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cook quickly and evenly, making them a great choice for skillet meals. They're also pretty neutral, so they pick up the other flavors in the pasta.

I do not recommend using bone-in chicken, as it cannot be diced, it takes longer to cook, and may not cook evenly.

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs may also be used. Chicken thighs are higher in fat than chicken breasts, which helps to provide great flavor, but keep in mind that it does increase the overall fat content of the dish.

How To Make Chicken, Mushroom and Tomato Pasta

This recipe is made in a skillet on the stove top, so it's important to add the ingredients in stages to bring out the flavor and ensure that everything cooks evenly.

The chicken is diced and then sauteed in the skillet with olive oil, kosher salt and pepper. It's then removed from the skillet, set aside, and added back to the pasta toward the end of the cooking time.

Similarly, the mushrooms are diced, sauteed with kosher salt and pepper, removed and set aside, and then added back to the skillet with the chicken.

The garlic and shallots are then sauteed in olive oil. The orzo pasta is added at this time along with some chicken broth and fire roasted tomatoes.

Everything is added back in toward the end of the cooking time and the whole dish comes together, creating a creamy and flavorful meal.

Make sure to use a skillet that is large enough to accommodate all of the ingredients. I recommend a skillet that is 12 inches in size.

1. Start by mincing 6 cloves of garlic and 2 shallots (or half an onion, any color).
2. Remove any woody stems from 1 8 oz. package of white button or cremini mushrooms (or mushrooms of choice). Chop the mushrooms into small pieces.
3. Dice 1 - 1 ¼ lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into cubes. Make sure that the chicken is all relatively the same size to ensure even cooking.
4. Place a large skillet (at least 12 inches) on the stove top and heat to medium-high. Add 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet.
5. Add the diced chicken to the skillet along with ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper. Sauté the chicken for 10-12 minutes, or until it has cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
6. Reduce the heat to medium and add the chopped mushrooms along with another ¼ tsp. of kosher salt and pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 8-10 minutes, stirring often. Once the mushrooms are sauteed, remove them from the skillet and set aside.
7. Add another 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and shallots (or onions) and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
8. Add the gluten free orzo pasta (or regular orzo pasta if not gluten free) to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.

How Long Does One Pot Pasta Take To Cook?

Once the chicken and mushrooms are sauteed, it only takes a little more than 10 minutes for the orzo pasta to cook in the skillet.

After the orzo is added to the skillet, it's combined with some chicken broth and fire roasted tomatoes. The pasta is brought to a boil and then simmered for about 10 minutes. The chicken, mushrooms, and remainder of the ingredients are added back to the skillet at that time.

It's important to keep an eye on the pasta and stir it often as it's cooking in order to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.

When it comes to gluten free pasta, it's very important to cook just until al dente. Gluten free pasta can overcook easily, which creates a gummy texture, so make sure to keep an eye on the pasta as it cooks in the skillet.

The orzo will plump up and absorb the liquid and the texture of the pasta will become creamy as it cooks. It's best to cook the orzo on medium-low heat and stir it often with a wooden spoon or spatula.

1. Grate ½ cup of Parmesan or Asiago cheese.
2. Once the orzo is added, pour 3 cups of low sodium chicken broth into the skillet along with 1 14.5 oz. can of diced fire roasted tomatoes (or regular diced tomatoes) and juices along with 1 tsp. of Italian seasoning and ½ tsp. of kosher salt. Stir until completely combined.
3. Bring the pasta to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
4. Return the cooked chicken and mushrooms to the skillet. Stir until combined and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
5. After 10 minutes or so, add the grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese and 1 Tbsp. of balsamic vinegar to the skillet. Stir until combined.
6. Continue to cook until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed all the liquid.

The pasta should be fully cooked, but not mushy at the end of the cooking time. It should be creamy and easily stirred.

Make sure that the chicken is fully cooked as well. The safe internal temperature for chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit and can be checked using a food thermometer if needed.

Cooking times may vary, so feel free to cook a few more minutes if needed.

What Is Balsamic Glaze?

Balsamic glaze is a thick, concentrated version of balsamic vinegar. It's made by boiling balsamic vinegar down with a sweetener like brown sugar or honey, creating a reduction.

A balsamic glaze is syrupy and adds a delicious sweet and tangy flavor to just about anything. It's perfect drizzled on roasted vegetables or salads, grilled or roasted meats, or savory dishes like pasta and pizza.

The balsamic glaze is an optional topping, but it provides this dish with an added flavor boost, so I recommend not skipping it.

Make sure to use a brand that's gluten free if gluten is an issue for you.

What To Serve With Chicken Orzo Pasta

Once the pasta is ready, it's time to serve!

I love to serve this pasta with some extra grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, and some fresh herbs like basil or parsley for color and flavor.

It can be served on its own, or paired with a bright and tangy green salad like a side salad or Caesar salad. This Italian green bean salad, marinated tomato salad, or minty pea salad complement the rich flavors of the pasta nicely.

Pasta always pairs well with roasted vegetables like these roasted green beans or Parmesan roasted cauliflower.

This Kalamata olive tapenade, roasted mushroom tapenade, or Italian white bean dip make for tasty appetizers.

Love pasta? Check out these recipes!

• Vegetarian Mediterranean Pasta
• Chicken Marsala Pasta
• Leek Pancetta Penne
• Kale Pancetta Pasta
• Mushroom Olive Pasta
• Cauliflower Tomato Sausage Pasta

How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?

Any leftover pasta may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Make sure to allow the pasta to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Can It Be Frozen?

For optimal taste and texture, I do not recommend freezing this pasta.

Love one pot meals? Don't miss these!

• Sausage Broccoli Pasta
• Vegetable Pesto Pasta
• Cajun Chicken Orzo
• Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta
• Skillet Vegetable Lasagna
• One Pot Veggie Pasta

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