Chicken Orzo with Meatballs (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground chicken
02 - 1 egg, whisked
03 - Quarter cup of grated parmesan cheese (25 g)
04 - 1 tsp kosher salt
05 - A quarter teaspoon of black pepper
06 - 1 tbsp finely minced garlic
07 - 3 tbsp whole milk
08 - A tablespoon of olive oil for cooking, extra virgin
09 - Quarter cup of plain breadcrumbs (27 g)
10 - 2 tbsp yellow onion, chopped fine
11 - 1 tbsp chopped-up fresh parsley

→ Pasta

12 - Half a package (4 oz) of cream cheese
13 - 1 tsp garlic, finely minced
14 - Half a cup of sun-dried tomatoes, softened and sliced
15 - 2 1/2 cups chicken stock (600 g)
16 - Quarter tsp of black pepper
17 - 1 cup orzo pasta (112 g)
18 - Half a cup shredded mild cheddar cheese (57 g)
19 - Half a cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (57 g)
20 - Half a cup grated parmesan cheese (50 g)
21 - 1 small onion, diced up
22 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
23 - 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (357 g)
24 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt

→ Garnish

25 - More sun-dried tomatoes
26 - Some parsley, chopped

# Instructions:

01 - Mix together the ground chicken, egg, parmesan, herbs, and seasonings. Shape into 16 little balls using greased hands.
02 - In a pan, heat up olive oil and cook the meatballs until they’re browned and reach 165°F inside. It’ll take about 8 to 10 minutes. Keep them covered and set aside.
03 - Use the same skillet to melt butter. Sauté the onions and garlic, then pour in chicken broth while scraping those delicious browned bits from the pan.
04 - Toss in the sun-dried tomatoes, cream cheese, and seasonings. Stir until the cream cheese melts, then mix in the orzo and heavy cream. Bring it to a simmer.
05 - With the pan covered, let it gently bubble for around 12–15 minutes. Stir a few times! During the last 5 minutes, add your cheeses.
06 - Put the cooked meatballs back into the skillet and warm them up. Let it sit for 5 minutes to get thicker. Sprinkle parsley and add a few more tomatoes on top.

# Notes:

01 - If needed, fry the meatballs in batches.
02 - Stir orzo every so often so it doesn’t stick.
03 - Let the sauce rest to thicken before serving.

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