Herb-rubbed Grilled Chicken with Creamy Orzo

Annie's Eats is a very reliable recipe source for me. And this recipe is no exception. The chicken cooked up beautifully, and the orzo was creamy as promised. And, it all came together quickly with minimal pots and pans required. The only change I had to make was subbing the Herbs de Provence with what I had on hand - I just sprinkled on oregano, parsley and basil.

Here's the recipe as seen on Annie's Eats: Herb Rubbed Grilled Chicken with Creamy Orzo

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. orzo pasta, uncooked2 chicken breasts, butterflied into halves (4 pieces total)
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tsp. Herbes de Provence
• 2 tbsp. olive oil1 shallot, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, with juices
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Bring a saucepan of salted water to boil. Add the orzo and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
2. Season both sides of the chicken breast halves with salt and pepper. Sprinkle evenly with the Herbes de Provence. Heat the olive oil in a 12- or 14-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breast halves to the pan and cook about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown.
3. Reduce the heat to medium, add the shallot to the pan and sauté 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté an additional minute, until fragrant. Add the diced tomatoes with juices and the broccoli florets to the pan, scraping the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer over medium-low. Cover and let cook until the broccoli florets are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes.
5. Stir in the cooked orzo, heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Mix until well blended and the cheese has melted. If necessary, add some of the reserved pasta water to smooth out the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.