You'll love my healthy and delicious Chicken and Shrimp Orzo Paella. Not only is this restaurant style dish easy to make it can be on your table in minutes
My Chicken and Shrimp Orzo Paella could be on your dinner table tonight. It’s easy to make, healthy and delicious! So what are you waiting for?
The combination of these flavors with a subtle hint of saffron, the smokiness of the paprika, and the hint of oregano add a lot to this dish. And the holy trinity of veggies, onions, peppers, and celery paired with garlic and tomatoes make it even more delicious!
What Ingredients do you need to make Orzo Paella?
Let’s start by gathering our ingredients for my Shrimp and Chicken Orzo Paella. In chef speak this is called the mise en place. All you need is a few ingredients and you’re ready to get cooking. I did add clams to my version and forgot to add them into this pic, but they are optional.
How do I cook Orzo Paella?
You can personalize this dish using just chicken and adding sausage. Including more seafood as I did with the clams is also a good option. You can also substitute the Orzo with Whole Wheat Orzo, white or Brown Rice or any of your favorite grains.
I hope you enjoyed this not so classical orzo paella recipe. It’s one of my Restaurant Style Dishes that you can prepare faster than picking up takeout in your own home tonight at a fraction of the cost of dining out at your favorite restaurant.
What is Orzo?
My friends are always asking me what is Orzo? Orzo (also known as risoni) is a form of short-cut pasta, shaped like a large grain of rice. In Italian orzo literally translates to barley.
You'll love my healthy and delicious Chicken and Shrimp Orzo Paella. Not only is this restaurant style dish easy to make it can be on your table in minutes
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- olive oil for saute
- 8 jumbo gulf shrimp peeled and deveined
- 12 small clams washed littlenecks or pasta clams, optional
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 large red bell pepper diced
- 4 stalks of celery diced
- 2 cloves garlic sliced
- 1 1/2 cups orzo or whole wheat orzo
- 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes in juice organic
- 1 cup chicken broth
- pinch of saffron threads
- 2 tablespoon cilantro finely chopped
- mix flour with smoked paprika, oregano, sea salt and black pepper
- dredge chicken thighs in seasoning mix coating both sides fully
- heat pan over medium high heat and add olive oil
- saute chicken thighs in pan 2 minutes per side to get good color
- remove chicken from pan and add additional olive oil
- add peppers, onions, celery and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes
- add shrimp into the veggie mixture for a minute to cook partially then remove shrimp from the pan
- add orzo, tomatoes, chicken stock and saffron and mix well cook for 2 minutes stirring well so orzo doesn't stick
- add chicken thighs and clams on top of mixture, turn heat down to low and allow to cook fully (10 minutes)
- at about 7 minutes into the cooking add shrimp to the pan and replace the lid
- stir mixture together as needed to ensure the orzo doesn't stick to the pan
- Plate up your masterpiece and serve
- *make sure not to have heat too high
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KIM CROISANT says
Just printed this recipe and sharing with my husband. We just bought chicken and shrimp.
Alyssa says
Yum! This looks SOOO good. I’ve always thought paella seemed intimidating, but this doesn’t seem too hard at all!
Lisa Favre says
Orzo is one of my favorite pastas/grains to use. I have to try this because I know my family would love it.
Chubskulit Rose says
It’s been a while since I had a good paella. I never had it with orzo but that’s an interesting combination.
Ricci says
Now this looks delicious! I love orzo and havne’t made it in forever, I may to make this soon!
Beth says
This looks like a real treat! I love easy recipes that also seem quite fancy! I made a few dishes with orzo and we really liked it.
Heather says
I don’t eat meat anymore, but I would eat this with just the shrimp and I bet it would be yummy!
Pam says
this sounds so good. I love a good paella but I have never tried one with orzo.
Tasheena says
This recipe would be perfect to add to our weekly meal plan. This looks like a recipe that my family would love.
Terri Steffes says
This is the type of dish my husband loves to make. He has really expanded his food base and we are really eating quite well!
Amber Myers says
I think my family would enjoy this. They are all about shrimp. This would be a tasty dinner idea.
Jeanette says
My stomach is growling just seeing these pictures. I am looking for a great dinner recipe that is unusual. I think this fits the bill.
Melissa Chapman says
That recipe looks so good and I am not the chef that you are so I would have to work on this to make it just right. I love seafood so this is a great way to enjoy it.
Karen says
This recipe blows the doors off our normal dinner routine! My husband will love this, and will be surprised when I make this.
candy says
My husband likes both chicken and shrimp so I am pretty sure he would enjoy this dish. Will have to give it a try and see.
Glenda Cates says
My husband and my mother in law would enjoy having this for Dinner. I can’t wait to make this for them as a treat for all the da for my son and I.
Sarah Bailey says
Anything with shrimp in always has me wanting to try it! I love the idea of using chicken as well. I totally need to try this for myself.
Alli Smith says
I’ve never made Paella before so this will be fun! I’m glad you included the video so I could watch it being made before trying it myself. Looks so delicious!
robin rue says
That sounds like a wonderful meal. I think I will make this for my husband and myself for an at home date night.
Anne says
This recipe looks awesome! So much flavor in so little time! I can’t wait to try this one.
Holly says
Oh, this looks super yummy. I will definitely have to try this. I love trying new recipes!!
Crystal Mendez says
I always wondered what orzo was. I ate it anyway because it’s good! This recipe looks delicious!
Rachel says
I have never made any type of orzo. I think it makes dishes look so fancy.
Flossie McCowald says
I will have to share this recipe with my husband! He loves making paella but I don’t do shrimp, so he and the girls will love having this some night when I’m out of town!
Cassie says
This looks so beautiful, I’ve never had paella before! I also appreciate that you noted that substitutions are okay. This is great especially for someone like me with food allergies.
Wendy says
I love paella! and yours look so gorgeously delicious! I’d try that.
Jessica Hughes says
I love a good paella and the more seafood the better. The spice combination in this recipe sounds magnificent and the orzo is a great touch.
Ria Parikh says
Great dish and pictures subsequently!
Stephanie says
This looks delicious! I love orzo but only have a few recipes with it and always looking to expand.
GiGi Eats says
Oh wow this sounds amazing! I want to try and make it with cauliflower rice!
Patricia Chamberlain says
What a great looking dish! I love orzo! I will save this for later.
Kate Loves Travel says
This sounds like a great dish – I absolutely love paella… I could so eat this right now!
Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness says
I love this combination of ingredients in this dish. I am sure the flavor of this dish is amazing.
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thank you Dawn!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
What a great quick paella. Love the orzo touch!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thank you Abbe!
minnie@thelady8home says
It’s like cooking a pulao, with a different set of spices…..and equally gorgeous. This looks terrific Chef! Bookmarked.
Chef Dennis Littley says
Glad you like it Minnie! I’ve never tried Pulao, I’ll have to look for it.