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 to 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.
Here are some other recipes you may like:
Chicken and Shrimp Orzo Paella
Ingredients
- 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
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ 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 ½ 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
Instructions
- 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 the mixture, turn the 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 the 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 the heat too high
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.