Orzo with Chicken, Broccoli, and Pesto

Have made this a few times.  My teenager is not a fan of mint so I typically use 1 cup of basil and 1/4 cup of parsley in the pesto and it turns out perfectly.  Definitely a family favorite.  But who can only eat 1 cup?

The mint in the pesto is spectacular. - do not leave that part out! Double the pesto mixture if you want a richer dish. This would also be great with sliced Tofurky sausage in place of the chicken (I used Gardein).

Inspired by this recipe, I made the lazy person's version. After boiling the orzo for five minutes, I added the cut-up broccoli for 3-4 minutes, then the cut-up chicken (just to warm it). After draining, I added some Trader Joe's pesto, then some Parmesan, black pepper, and garlic salt. A fast weekday meal that was healthy and tasty, this will be added to my repertoire!

This is a great fast meal, healthy and filling (unless you have a growing teenage son, he ate two bowlfuls, but just not enough I guess to keep him full). Like another reviewer, I did not use the blender but mixed by hand the pesto ingredients minus the mint with no other additions. This is my first time eating orzo and it tastes great. I loved all of the ingredients in this meal, and the fresh garlic added a wonderful flavor that made this dish pop! I recommend trying this dish, especially over the summer months! It has become a keeper recipe!