Creamy French Onion Hen Orzo for an Simple Weeknight Dinner

If you happen to love the wealthy, savory taste of French onion soup, you’re going to like this French Onion Hen Orzo. It combines tender rooster, caramelized onions, creamy orzo, and melted cheese into one comforting skillet meal.

That is the form of dinner that feels indulgent however is made with easy, on a regular basis substances. The onions add unimaginable taste, whereas the rooster and orzo make it hearty sufficient for an entire meal.

Better of all, all the things cooks in a single skillet, which implies much less cleanup on the finish of dinner. It’s a comfy meal that’s excellent for a busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend dinner.

The Components

Hen Breast: Boneless, skinless rooster breast is a lean supply of protein. Protein helps make meals extra filling and helps the upkeep of muscle mass and different tissues.

Yellow Onion: Onions are a flavorful approach so as to add vitamins with out including many energy. Additionally they comprise vitamin C and useful plant compounds.

Slowly cooking them brings out their pure sweetness and provides this recipe its signature French onion taste.

Gentle Butter: Gentle butter gives the wealthy, buttery taste that works particularly properly with caramelized onions and French onion-inspired dishes, whereas sometimes containing much less fats and fewer energy per serving than common butter.

Garlic: Garlic provides a number of taste without having a lot added fats or salt. It additionally incorporates sulfur-containing plant compounds that contribute to its dietary worth.

Orzo: Orzo gives carbohydrates, that are an vital supply of vitality. It additionally provides the dish a satisfying texture and helps flip the rooster and onions into a whole, filling meal.

Lowered-Sodium Beef Broth: Beef broth provides the orzo a wealthy, savory taste that enhances the caramelized onions. Utilizing reduced-sodium broth can assist maintain the general sodium content material decrease than utilizing common broth.

Worcestershire Sauce: A small quantity of Worcestershire sauce provides a deep savory taste to the dish. As a result of it’s utilized in moderation, you get loads of taste without having a big quantity.

Dried Thyme: Thyme is a straightforward approach so as to add taste and aroma to the recipe with out further energy. It pairs particularly properly with rooster, onions, and beef broth.

Fats-Free Half and Half: Fats-free half-and-half provides creaminess to the orzo with out the quantity of fats present in heavy cream. It helps give the completed dish a easy, creamy texture.

Lowered-Fats Swiss Cheese: Swiss cheese gives protein and calcium whereas including the traditional tacky taste that makes French onion recipes so scrumptious. Utilizing reduced-fat cheese retains the dish lighter whereas nonetheless supplying you with a melty topping.

Recent Parsley: Recent parsley provides shade and freshness to the completed dish. It additionally gives small quantities of nutritional vitamins and antioxidants.

French’s Crispy Fried Onions: A small sprinkle of crispy fried onions provides unimaginable crunch and savory onion taste to this creamy orzo. As a result of they’ve such a daring taste, you solely want a bit of bit to make a big effect. If you happen to select to make use of them, you’ll need to add the additional factors.

Click on right here to trace the factors in your Weight Watchers app. The complete diet info may be discovered on the backside of the recipe card.

How one can Make Creamy French Onion Hen Orzo

Warmth the olive oil in a big oven-safe skillet over medium warmth. Add the butter and sliced onions and cook dinner for quarter-hour, stirring sometimes, till they’re mushy and golden brown.

Add the rooster to the skillet with the onions. Cook dinner one other 5-6 minutes, stirring sometimes, till the rooster is generally cooked by way of.

Add the garlic and cook dinner for 30 seconds.

Stir within the raw orzo, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and black pepper.

Deliver the combination to a mild boil, then scale back the warmth to medium-low. Cowl and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring sometimes, till the orzo is tender and many of the liquid has been absorbed.

Stir within the half-and-half. Cook dinner for one more 1-2 minutes till creamy.

Sprinkle the Swiss cheese evenly excessive. Cowl the skillet for 2-3 minutes, or till the cheese is melted.

If you happen to’re utilizing the crispy fried onions – Sprinkle the Swiss cheese evenly excessive of the orzo, then sprinkle with the crispy fried onions. Place the skillet below the broiler for 1–2 minutes, or till the cheese is melted and the onions are golden and crispy. Watch intently to stop the onions from burning.

Continuously Requested Questions

Can I take advantage of rooster thighs as a substitute of rooster breast?

Sure. Boneless, skinless rooster thighs can be utilized, though they may have a barely richer taste and comprise extra fats than rooster breast. Minimize them into bite-sized items and cook dinner till they attain an inside temperature of 165°F.

Can I take advantage of a distinct kind of cheese?

Completely. Gruyère would give this recipe a extra conventional French onion soup taste, whereas provolone or mozzarella would additionally work properly. Remember that altering the cheese can change the dietary info.

Why is my orzo too thick?

Orzo continues absorbing liquid because it cooks and even after it has been faraway from the warmth. If it turns into too thick, merely stir in a bit of further beef broth till it reaches your required consistency.

Listed below are some extra Weight Watchers pleasant recipes:

Creamy Tuscan Orzo

Cheeseburger Orzo One Skillet Meal

Tacky Broccoli Orzo

Greek Orzo Salad

Are you searching for a meal plan that’s Weight Watchers pleasant? I’ve over 300 meal plans that you may select from and I put up a brand new one every week. Click on right here to test them out!

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