Chicken and Orzo With Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

By Eric Kim

Chicken and Orzo With Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Vinaigrette Recipe (1)

Total Time
30 minutes, plus 30 minutes’ marinating
Rating
4(295)
Notes
Read community notes

A sun-dried tomato vinaigrette uses both the tomatoes and the aromatic oil in which they are stored for a deeply savory pasta meal. The vinaigrette serves double duty here as both a marinade for the tender chicken thigh morsels and a sauce for the orzo and feta. This dish tastes lovely warm, right off the heat, but it also makes for a wonderful cold lunch, like something you might find at an Italian American deli or salad bar.

Featured in: A Better Boneless Chicken Dinner

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 8sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, plus 6 tablespoons oil from the jar
  • 2cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves
  • 2tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1teaspoon red-pepper flakes
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 1large tomato, cut into ½-inch dice
  • 1pound orzo
  • 1(4-ounce) block feta, cut into ½-inch cubes

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

843 calories; 34 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 17 grams monounsaturated fat; 8 grams polyunsaturated fat; 91 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 43 grams protein; 789 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Chicken and Orzo With Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Vinaigrette Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a food processor, blitz the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, the basil, vinegar, red-pepper flakes, 1½ teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper until smooth. Transfer half of this vinaigrette to a medium bowl, add the chicken and turn to evenly coat. Cover and refrigerate the chicken for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.

  2. Step

    2

    While the chicken marinates, transfer the rest of the vinaigrette to a large bowl. Add the diced tomato and toss.

  3. Step

    3

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally. Drain the orzo and transfer it to the bowl with the tomato; toss to combine.

  4. Step

    4

    Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add the chicken with its marinade and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden on all sides and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked chicken and all of its juices to the orzo. Add the feta and toss to combine. Taste and add more salt as desired. Serve warm or at room temperature, or refrigerate, covered, and enjoy cold for up to 4 days.

Ratings

4

out of 5

295

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Bonnie SF

Very tasty! However, I think the amount of orzo should be halved - I increased the chicken to 1.5 lbs and the feta to 6 oz, but still the orzo swamped it completely. The photo illustrating this recipe is not the balance of ingredients in my experience. I'll make this again, but with 1/2 lb of orzo.

Greg

Variation, not improvement: I was very interested in this recipe, so I made it with what I had on hand--tofu, not chicken. It worked pretty well. I added artichoke hearts and green olives to the mix to get body that I would lose without the chicken. Right call. Overall, very happy, and will prepare again. But, I look forward to trying the recipe with chicken soon, also.

WW

This is good! And easy. Makes enough for dinner for 3 & lunch for one the next day. Toasted pine nuts would make a nice garnish! I like the fact that it can be served cold, hot, or room temp- very versatile & unfussy.

sueflblue

I thought this was very tasty! However the chicken itself was quite bland….it did not absorb the flavor of the marinade at all despite marinating for more than an hour. If I make it again I will put more marinade with the meat and let it marinade longer.

Brandi

This is good. Definitely marinate the chicken for a few hours, and I put all of the marinade in with the chicken. I added some diced onions, garlic, Italian seasoning to the cooking chicken and then a half cup of white wine for a little extra sauce because there isn’t enough with the marinade for a pound of orzo. It adds some depth to it. Cook the orzo in chicken broth or chicken bouillon and water. Much better than just water alone.

Kristen

Veggies chic and added spinach at the end of the pasta cooking

Barry

Tasty. Heat was okay for me but too much for my wife. Next time I will reduce red pepper flakes to 1/2 tsp.

Portland

I made this according to the recipe with the addition of Kalamata olives and halved the orzo per home cook suggestion. It was bland and I will not make this again, even when I tried to amp it up with additional salt, pepper, and dried red pepper. Definitely, if you make it, halve the orzo.

Florida linda

I made this as I understood it. I liked it a lot both for dinner and lunch the next day. My husband and guest found it too oily. We all found the chicken bland despite being marinated for several hours. My husband faulted the quality of the oil in the supermarket sun dried tomatoes which was all they had. I will search for higher quality sun dried tomatoes. Question, could we have a more exact measurement for sun dried tomatoes? The tomatoes were in pieces so I found that confusing.

Kaylee

Made this, but accidentally used too many sundried tomatoes. I loved it! It was less of a dressing and more of a sauce, like the red pesto recipe also on this site. Served this with dollops of ricotta. I could have added even more feta!

Nicole

Delicious and easy weeknight dinner. I used 1/2 pound of orzo but kept everything else the same and it turned out perfect. Highly recommend!

Mary

loved this!!

psham

I added way more sun dried tomatoes plus it’s oil. I also added a few garlic cloves and it was a game changer. I agree, the amount of orzo can easily be halved. The store ran out of chicken thighs so I grabbed breast tenders. Next time I will add an additional tomato because one wasn’t enough.

Jeremy

Was short on basil (only 1/2 c. or so) and sundried tomato oil (my 250 ml jar only contained about 1/4 c. oil). Topped up the oil with olive oil. Halved the orzo as other commenters suggested. It was great. I'm sure it'd be even better if I'd had more basil.

EricP

This recipe was really good. And, shockingly, we followed the recipe exactly.

Luther

A really good recipe, with a couple exceptions. You will need more olive oil than called for because of the amount of basil. As others have mentioned, there is an imbalance between the pasta/chicken/tomato/feta. Upped chicken to 1.5lbs and feta to 5oz. Chicken definitely needs a minimum of 6 hours marinating unless you have something like the STX International STX-1000-CE Chef's Elite vacuum marinade machine. Leftovers are equally good if perhaps not a little better. Thanks for this.

MAMMUTHUS

Absolutely delicious, would strongly recommend. My only suggestion is that I don't think the quantity of vinaigrette is quite enough. We made ours with leftover chicken from the bbq and so put the full amount of vinaigrette into the orzo (and slightly less than suggested, 400g). This was perfect, but I think if we had followed the recipe literally it wouldn't have been the right amount. That aside, we loved this dish.

chelsea

Not bad, but definitely needed quite a fair bit more salt and pepper than noted in recipe. Of course it is to taste but I found it pretty bland pre-additional S & P. I also added some garlic & onion (fresh in marinade/sauce, bit of powdered garlic too) and I think it helped add a bit more dimension too. And I just used up my feta - more like 6 oz. Really enjoyed it! Definitely got more than 4 servings with this amount of orzo.

Monique

How can you reheat this dish?

CMR

After reading notes about the marinade being too sparse I doubled the quantities for that part alone and wound up with a very flavorful dinner that closely resembled the image in the original recipe. Also used a thin chicken broth (1/2 broth to 1/2 water) for the orzo and marinated the chicken for 1.5 hours.

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Chicken and Orzo With Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is sundried tomato paste the same as sundried tomato pesto? ›

No, sun-dried tomato pesto and sun-dried tomato paste are not the same thing. Sun-dried tomato pesto is a mixture of sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, parmesan cheese, olive oil and other ingredients. Sun-dried tomato paste is a very concentrated paste made from sun-dried tomatoes.

Are marinated sun dried tomatoes good for you? ›

Vitamins: Sun-dried tomatoes are rich in essential vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin K, and various B vitamins. Minerals: Sun-dried tomatoes contain an array of essential minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and iron.

How long do marinated sun dried tomatoes last? ›

Be sure to use dry (not oil-packed) sun-dried tomatoes, and look for brands that don't have added sugar or salt if possible. The marinated tomatoes will keep in the fridge for a few weeks in a sealed jar or container. Just stir them every few days to distribute the marinade over the tomatoes.

Can you put sundried tomatoes in oil after opening? ›

Bella Sun Luci Sun dried Tomatoes in Oil

To maximize the shelf life of your product we encourage customers to store all Bella Sun Luci sundried tomato products, once opened in a refrigerator. Our recommendation is to use the tomatoes within six months after opening, add olive oil as needed to keep tomatoes covered.

Which is better sun-dried tomato paste or tomato puree? ›

Both tomato puree and tomato paste are essential ingredients, but they differ in how they are made and used. Tomato puree is a blended form of tomatoes offering a milder taste resembling fresh tomatoes, while tomato paste is concentrated tomatoes with a sweeter and richer flavor.

What is the shelf-life of sundried tomato pesto? ›

Shelf-Life

Once thawed, refrigerated for up to 20 days in an unopened package. Once thawed and opened, 5 days.

Are sun-dried tomatoes anti inflammatory? ›

These little gems are packed with nutrients and anti-oxidants (including lycopene) that are event believed to decrease the risk of certain cancers, neutralize free radicals and decrease inflammation.

Can your body digest sundried tomatoes? ›

How to eat sun-dried tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes can be preserved in two different ways: in salt or in oil. Sun-dried tomatoes in salt: In the former case, it is a good idea to remove any excess salt before using them. In this way, they are also more digestible.

Should sun-dried tomatoes be refrigerated? ›

After opening, check the product label for storage instructions. Some brands recommend refrigerating after opening; others don't. If you see no mention of refrigeration, keep sun-dried tomatoes in their packaging or transfer to a tight-sealing container, and store in a cool, dark, dry place.

How do you know if jarred sun-dried tomatoes are bad? ›

Yes, sun-dried tomatoes can go bad. Here are some signs to look out for: Mold or slimy film on top of the oil. Bubbling or fizzing in the jar (this could indicate yeast or bacteria)

Do sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil go bad? ›

Sun-dried tomatoes stored in olive oil can last for several weeks to a few months if stored properly. It's important to keep them refrigerated in an airtight container to prevent spoilage. Additionally, make sure the tomatoes are fully submerged in the olive oil to create a seal and prevent air from reaching them.

Can you eat sun-dried tomatoes straight from the jar? ›

Can I use sun-dried tomatoes directly from the jar, or do they require preparation? Sun-dried tomatoes from a jar are ready to use straight out of the jar. They are already packed with flavor and have a soft, chewy texture.

Can I use expired sun-dried tomatoes? ›

The safety of consuming sun-dried tomatoes past their expiration date depends on various factors, such as their method of preservation and storage conditions. Properly stored dry sun-dried tomatoes can last up to a year, while those packed in oil may remain edible for up to two years.

How to use a jar of sundried tomatoes? ›

How to Use Sun Dried Tomatoes. Use sun dried tomatoes to jazz up sauces, dips, appetizers, pastas, soups and more! And, be sure not to toss the oil that the tomatoes are stored in. It's great added to salad dressings, or use it to saute some onions, garlic or shallots, before adding them to recipes.

Can I rehydrate sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil? ›

However, if you do need them soft you can rehydrate by soaking in either warm water or good quality oil (olive oil is most common) for about 10 minutes. Salads and Sandwiches: Rehydrate the tomatoes by marinating in a bit of salad dressing then enjoy tomatoes in your salad in the winter or on a sandwich.

Can I use tomato pesto instead of tomato paste? ›

Mix vinegar, olive oil, chopped herbs and Sundried Tomato Pesto for the perfect salad dressing. 6. Use as a substitute for tomato paste in cottage pie, stews, meatballs, chilli con carne and more….

What is the difference between paste and pesto? ›

There's a little difference between pesto and paste. Usually pesto recipes call for parmesan cheese and garlic, and their consistency is runny and more suitable for pasta recipes. Instead, paste recipes don't use cheese, the garlic is optional, and the consistency is more stiff and less runny.

Can you substitute sun-dried tomatoes with tomato paste? ›

Sun-dried tomatoes can create unique and flavorful sauces, spreads, salads and pasta dishes that transport your taste buds to the Mediterranean. “To use as a substitute for tomato paste, soak ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes in ⅓ cup boiling water for five minutes," Julie recommends.

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