Italian chicken, pea & orzo

Name: Italian chicken, pea & orzo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 32 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italy
Ingredients: 220 g orzo pasta; 300 g boneless chicken thigh, diced; 1 small carrot, finely diced; 100 g peas; 900 ml reduced-salt chicken stock; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 garlic clove, crushed; 20 g finely grated Parmesan, optional; 1/4 tsp salt, optional

Italy · Pastina-inspired · Italy

Italian chicken, pea & orzo

Small orzo pasta, tender chicken, peas and carrot in a tomato-free broth. It is a cosy, fork-or-spoon meal with familiar flavours.

10 minPreparation

22 minCooking

32 minTotal time

4Servings

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The Family Kitchen · Portions are a guide; appetite and needs vary.

Illustration of italian chicken, pea & orzo — AI-generated serving illustration

For 4 servings

What you’ll need

220 g orzo pasta
300 g boneless chicken thigh, diced
1 small carrot, finely diced
100 g peas
900 ml reduced-salt chicken stock
1 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
20 g finely grated Parmesan, optional
1/4 tsp salt, optional

Allergens
Wheat in orzo; milk if Parmesan is used. Check stock labels.

One step at a time

Let’s make it

Warm olive oil in a saucepan. Cook garlic for 30 seconds, then add chicken and stir for 3 minutes.
Add carrot and stock. Simmer for 8 minutes until the carrot is soft and chicken reaches 75°C.
Stir in orzo and cook for the time on the packet, stirring often so it does not stick. Add peas for the final 3 minutes.
Taste and add salt only if needed. Stir in Parmesan for people who enjoy it, or serve it separately.

Preparation and cooking times are estimates. Use the doneness checks in the method.

Make the texture work

Orzo gives a predictable small shape. Keep cheese separate and slightly loosen the bowl with warm stock if a wetter texture is preferred.

Season it properly

Garlic and stock carry the flavour. Parmesan is optional rather than hidden, and black pepper is reserved for adults.

Simple swaps

Use small gluten-free pasta or cooked rice. Replace peas with finely diced courgette if preferred.

Keep it safely

Refrigerate within 2 hours and eat within 24 hours. Add a splash of water when reheating once until steaming hot.

Food education

What the ingredients bring

These are practical food-group notes, not a laboratory nutrition analysis. Portions and brands change the numbers.

Chicken provides protein, iron and vitamin B6.
Peas add fibre, folate and plant protein.
Carrot supplies beta-carotene, while orzo provides carbohydrate energy.

Before serving: adapt the size and texture to your child’s chewing skills, then let the meal be a relaxed family moment.

Italian chicken, pea & orzo

Italian chicken, pea & orzo

What you’ll need

Let’s make it

Make the texture work

Season it properly

Simple swaps

Keep it safely

What the ingredients bring

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