Chicken Caesar Orzo Skillet
on Jan 08, 2026
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Turn Caesar salad into a cozy one-pan meal! Tender chicken, orzo, and asparagus in a creamy, savory dressing sauce.
Table of Contents
What Makes This Recipe Great
Looking for a weeknight dinner that feels like a gourmet twist on a classic salad? This Chicken Caesar Orzo Skillet is the ultimate “lazy-fancy” meal. It combines the savory, garlicky flavors of a Caesar salad with the hearty, comforting texture of a warm orzo pasta dish—all cooked in just one pan.
This recipe is high in protein, packed with greens, and swaps heavy creams for a lighter, flavor-packed Caesar base.
Ingredient List
- Chicken– chicken thighs or chicken breast are a great route
- Asparagus– you can also sub Bbroccoli florets, snap peas, or baby spinach
- Olive Oil– Graza is my new favorite kind to use
- Orzo– Arborio rice (for a risotto vibe) or gluten-free orzo
- Ceasar Dressing– I found this Bolthouse Farms and loved the the healthier option it gave me.
- Chicken Broth
- Salt and Pepper
- Lemon– Adds a boost of Vitamin C and helps your body absorb the iron from the chicken and greens.
- Parmesan Cheese
- Croutons– if you are feeling very fancy you can alway make your own croutons with sale bread at home.
- Chopped Lettuce–
Pro Tip
- To get the most out of this dish, don’t rinse the orzo. The natural starches on the pasta help thicken the Caesar sauce, making it incredibly creamy without the need for heavy cream.
Chicken and One Pan Dinners
Be sure to pin this Chicken Caesar Orzo Skillet to cook for later.
Chicken Caesar Orzo Skillet
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 cups chopped asparagus
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1 cup caesar dressing, (healthier*)
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Juice of ½ of lemon
- Parmesan cheese for serving
- Croutons, optional to top
- Shredded Lettuce to top
Instructions
- Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and black pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for about 4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
- In the same skillet, add in chopped asparagus and cook for about 1 minute to brown slightly, then add in orzo and stir then toast for another minute.
- Stir in the chicken broth and the Caesar dressing. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then add back in the chicken and reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet and simmer for about 8–10 minutes, or until the orzo is nearly tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Stir everything together and add in lemon juice and let cook for another minute with the lid off.
- Remove from heat. Top the entire skillet parmesan cheese and croutons. Serve immediately and top each plate with shredded lettuce.
Notes
- If you like things extra cheesy you can add 4 slices of provolone at the end and cover for 1 minute to melt the cheese.
- I like the bolthouse farms yogurt caesar dressing!
