Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo | This easy slow cooker meal is ready in just three hours on high and while the cooking method and ingredients list are pretty simple the flavor of this dish is anything but. Onion and chicken slowly cook in a savory sauce of tomato, Italian seasoning or Herbes de Provence and red pepper flakes. Add in orzo and olives half an hour before the cooking time is up - it's as easy as that.
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I love a good tomato-based, herby, smothered chicken dinner. Add some greens on the side, and also have it done in three hours and I'm ALL. OVER. IT. How about you?
I use my own Homemade Italian Seasoning - it's very easy to make and lasts a long time in the cupboard. I've also tried this recipe with an Herbes de Provence mix that my sister made for me. Both are so good!
I like to add either a salad or some roasted broccoli on the side, for more of a complete meal of vegetables, some carbohydrates, and protein.
Whatever you decide to serve it with, this is the perfect recipe for a quick to put together meal on a Saturday afternoon when you're not sure what you're going to make for dinner. Maybe you've been out all day shopping or shuffling the kids around to activities. Or maybe you accidentally watched Netflix all day. It happens. Pop this on at 3 and you're all ready for 6 o'clock. And no one will ever suspect about the Netflix thing.
Ingredients
About the ingredients for this recipe. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.
- Chicken - I used chicken breast for this recipe. Cutting it up into chunks or cubes helps it cook faster. The chicken cooks in a sauce so it doesn't dry out.
- Tomato Sauce - This is the base of the sauce. Canned tomato sauce or jarred tomato passata will work. You could even use crushed tomatoes.
- Seasoning - I've used both Herbes de Provence and my homemade Italian Seasoning for this recipe as well as other mixes I've made. Try your favorite.
- Orzo - Orzo is a rice shaped pasta. It's easy to make.
- Olives - I like green olives in this dish but you can use your favorite ones.
Watch the recipe video to see exactly how to make this slow cooker chicken recipe.
How to Make Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
Prep Tips
- Chop an onion
- Cut the chicken into chunks
Step 1. Peel and quarter an onion and then peel apart the layers so that you have little onion petals. Layer the onion petals across the bottom of the slow cooker. (Photo 1)
Step 2. Add the chicken chunks, salt and pepper and the herbs of your choice (Photo 2) - I use either my Homemade Italian Seasoning or the Herbes de Provence that my sister made me.
Step 3. Add the tomato sauce on top (Photo 3). Give it all a stir, add the lid and set on high for 2 ½ hours.
Step 4. After 2 ½ hours, take the lid off and add the orzo (Photo 4) and the olives (Photo 5).
Step 5. Stir and replace the lid and cook for another half an hour - still on the high setting. After three hours, remove the lid, stir and serve (Photo 6).
Tips + FAQ
Use your favorite Mediterranean inspired spices if you don't have or don't like the spices mixes in this post.
Yes, that's right. The chicken is cut into chunks so it doesn't take that long to cook.
No, there is only a small amount of red pepper flakes. Leave them out or add more if you like.
Sure. If you don't like olives, feel free to leave them out. Use different olives if you want to. Or add some diced red pepper in place of the olives. I haven't tried rice in place of the orzo, so I'm not sure if that would work. Try different things out if you want to and leave a comment and let me know what works!
No, you can make this in a pot on the stovetop. I haven't done that, but if you try it, just make sure everything is cooked fully. Simmer the chicken in the tomato and herbs until fully cooked. You could even brown the onions and chicken first. Then add the orzo and olives and cook over medium until the orzo is done. You may need to add water occasionally and keep stirring to avoid burning.
More Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
- Creamy Dill Chicken
- Bourbon Chicken (Instant Pot or Stovetop)
Recipe
Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large onion peeled and quartered
- 3 large chicken breasts cut into large chunks
- 660 ml strained crushed tomatoes (tomato passata) 23 oz
- 2 teaspoons
Homemade Italian Seasoning or Herbes de Provence - 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup dried orzo
- 12-15 large olives
Instructions
- Lay the onion petals across the bottom of the slow cooker. Lay the chicken chunks on top. Seasoning with salt and pepper. Cover with the tomato, herbs and red pepper flakes. Add lid.
- Slow cook on high for 2 ½ hours.
- Add the orzo and olives, stir, replace the lid and cook for another 30 minutes.
- Serve with a side salad or green vegetable for a full meal.
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
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maddi says
If I wanted to cook this on low, how long would that take?
Jacqueline Piper says
Hi,
I haven't tested this recipe on the low setting, but I'd guess it would take about double the time - 4-5 hours on low, and then turn the heat up for the last 30 minutes when you add the orzo. Because the chicken is covered in tomato sauce, I don't think it would dry out this way. If you have a meat thermometer, the chicken is done when it reaches 165°F. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
Jacqueline
Tamara says
Hi, I want to make this recipe because it looks delicious, but is 1/2 cup orzo not a small amount for 4 servings? Its's like 70 grams, which is 17,5 gram per serving.
Jacqueline Piper says
Hi Tamara,
I prefer having a small serving of orzo, but I bet you could at least double it with the same results.
Let me know how it goes if you try that 🙂
Jacqueline
Lizzie says
Hi! Any idea on how to make this in an instant pot?
Jacqueline Piper says
Hi Lizzie,
I've been thinking about this question for a minutes and I think it's possible to make this in the Instant Pot with a few changes. Although I haven't tested this, I have made both orzo and chicken in the Instant Pot - orzo takes about 2 minutes by itself but can take 4 with rice while whole chicken breast takes about 5. If you cut the chicken into smaller pieces and still brown them on the outside to start the cooking, they will take less time so maybe 3-4 minutes total? And you should probably add about 1 cup of water (add water first and then the tomato). And sprinkle the orzo on top and gently press it into the liquid - this helps prevent burn warning. I will test this method when I get a chance but those tips might work - let me know if you try that and I'll update this post when have time to test this! I hope this information helps.
Jacqueline