For an utterly delicious dinner, made in under 30 minutes, this tomato and nduja gluten free orzo with chicken should be your new go to recipe. It’s creamy, tasty, satisfying and comforting, with gluten free orzo pasta cooked directly into the sauce making it mouthwateringly good.
Orzo is not usually gluten free, however there are a few gluten free varieties now available to purchase (stockist info below) and it’s really worth trying. A sort of rice-shaped pasta, I have used it here with a risotto inspired method, cooking the dry pasta directly into the base ingredients to really boost those flavours. Every bite is delicious.
The base comes from spicy nduja, an Italian paste-like salami, and sundried tomato paste. For a shop-bought variety try the Belazu one, or you can make your own by blending a jar of sundried tomatoes into a paste. Chicken stock and a splash of wine are added for extra flavour, then the dish is finished with single cream. This melds with the spicy, tangy base and create the ultimate bowl of comfort food.
With spinach stirred through and topped with a paprika and herb-coated panfried chicken breast, this is an excellent rounded meal that will make your tastebuds happy and keep your tummy full.
For more delicious dinners, check out my beautiful hardback cookbook Eat & Enjoy Gluten Free (Amazon review: “Without doubt this is the best gluten free (actually scrap that) … this is the best recipe book I own!” Jen), with covers both meals and baking. Or visit the lunch and dinner section of this website for more online inspo.
Where Can I Buy Gluten Free Orzo?
In the UK supermarket Tesco have recently launched a gluten free orzo and it’s fab. When last visiting the US I picked up an Italian variety called DeLallo from Wegmans supermarket.
In Italy, this pasta is known by a few differnet names, including “risoni” (big rice), rather than orzo. So if travelling in Italy look out for risoni and be aware than anything labelled orzo may actually be barley. Italian brands selling gluten free risoni include Massimo Zero.
Can I Make This Orzo Dish Dairy Free?
Yes, simply replace the single cream with a plant based alternative and top with a df parmesan alternative for a yummy dairy and gluten free orzo dinner.
Where Do You Buy Nduja?
Nduja is quite widely available, in a number of supermarkets in the UK (including Waitrose and Tesco), as well as online. All the varieties I have come across have been gluten free, but always check the label just in case.
My current favourites to use are the SAP Nduja di Spilinga and the Delizie de Calabria nduja, which I tend to find in Italian delis or buy online. I recommend the more paste-like varieties, rather than the firmer sausage type varieties, as they cook down much more easily.
Can’t get hold of nduja? Try very finely chopped chorizo for your base instead. Simply cook it slowly to release the oils and flavour in the chorizo before adding the orzo.
Creamy Tomato & Nduja Gluten Free Orzo with Panfried Chicken Breast Recipe
Time for the recipe, which you’ll find below. It will make enough to serve two people, although this gluten free orzo recipe can be halved or doubled if you want to make more or less.
If you have questions, please do message me on social media (@myglutenfreeguide) or email me at [email protected]. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
If you enjoy this gluten free orzo recipe please leave a review on the recipe card below, they are incredibly helpful (and encouraging!) for me.
Laura x
Creamy Tomato & Nduja Gluten Free Orzo (30 Minute Recipe)
A delicious gluten free orzo recipe, made with spicy nduja and sundried tomato, topped with a seasoned panfried chicken breast. A 30 minute meal that you'll want to make again and again!
Ingredients
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp nduja
- 2 tbsp sundried tomato paste
- 160g gluten free orzo
- 100ml white wine (optional - can replace with stock)
- 500ml chicken stock
- 80ml single cream
- 100g frozen spinach (can replace with fresh spinach)
- A squeeze of lemon juice (approx 1 tsp)
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 chicken breasts
- 0.5 tsp paprika
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp oregano
- To serve: parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Place a non-stick high-sided frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add a tbsp olive oil and the garlic and cook for a minute until fragrant.
- Add the nduja, then the sundried tomato paste to the pan and cook for a further minute or two, to release the flavours.
- Add the gluten free orzo (uncooked) to the pan and stir, then add the white wine and turn the heat up a little. Cook for a couple of minutes until the liquid has been absorbed by the orzo.
- Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring to a boil, before turning down to a simmer. Keep stirring the orzo regularly and cook for about 10 minutes, until the stock has been completely absorbed.
- While the orzo base is cooking, take a small frying pan and place over a medium heat. Add the remaining tbsp olive oil, grate in some black pepper and sprinkle some sea salt into the pan, then place the two chicken breasts into the pan. Sprinkle the paprika, smoked paprika and oregano over the chicken, along with some more salt and pepper. Fry for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is completely cooked through. Then set aside to rest while you finish the orzo.
- Back to our orzo, add an additional 150ml-300ml of water, depending on how you like your pasta cooked (150ml for more al dente or 300ml for a softer pasta). Stir until the water has been absorbed, then add the single cream and the lemon juice and stir through, along with some black pepper.
- Microwave the frozen spinach to defrost it (if using fresh it can just be added directly to the pan), then add to the orzo and stir through. Cook for a final minute or two until creamy and delicious.
- Split the orzo between two pasta bowls, top each with a sliced chicken breast and finish with a grating of parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy this gluten free orzo dish! For more delicious dinners, why not try some of these recipes:
- Buckwheat Galettes (30 Minute Recipe)
- Thai Spiced Pork Bowl (30 Minute Recipe)
- Harissa Chicken & Caramelised Red Onion Pasta (30 Minute Recipe)
Happy cooking! x
