This chicken with peaches is the ultimate one-pan meal thatโs bursting with fresh flavor. Juicy skinless chicken thighs (or boneless skinless chicken breast if you prefer) are seared to golden brown, then simmered with ripe peaches, red onion, balsamic vinegar, honey, herbs, and orzo for a really delicious meal. It's a complete dinner thatโs easy enough for a busy weeknight but impressive enough for guests.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- Uses fresh peaches for a sweet and savory flavor combination.
- A skillet chicken dish that comes together quickly in a large skilletโless mess, more flavor.
- Can be made with skinless chicken thighs, boneless skinless chicken breast, or even mixed chicken pieces for light or dark meat lovers.
- The perfect recipe for peach season! If you're looking for other ways to use up fresh peaches try our easy peach crumble recipe with fresh peaches, easy air fryer peaches, or our peach overnight oats with Greek yogurt.
- An easy weeknight meal that is also great meal prep and reheats well for the next day.
Looking for other one-pan meal ideas? Try our oven baked honey mustard salmon or our one pan sweet potato ground turkey skillet.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken โ Thighs keep things juicy and flavorful. If you prefer white meat, swap for boneless skinless chicken breast.
- Peaches โ Use local peaches or yellow peaches when in season for the best taste. We don't recommend using canned peaches, peach jam, or peach preserves for this recipe.
- Balsamic vinegar & honey โ Creates a sweet-savory balsamic sauce.
- Orzo - substitute the orzo for rice, quinoa, or gluten-free pasta to make it gluten-free. Try our one pan creamy shrimp and orzo or our one pan chicken sausage orzo skillet.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Sear chicken over medium-high heat in a stainless steel pan or cast iron to get a nice sear before adding liquids. Pat dry with a paper towel first for best results.
- For extra richness, swirl in a splash of heavy cream to make a creamy peach sauce.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat or Dijon mustard for tang.
- Top with fresh herbs such as fresh basil.
How to Make Chicken With Peaches
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Sear them in the hot skillet for about 3-4 minutes per side until browned (they donโt need to be fully cooked yet). Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Step 2: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add the sliced red onion and sautรฉ for 2โ3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, salt, pepper, and dried basil and cook for another 30 seconds.
Step 3: Add balsamic vinegar and honey, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Let it simmer for 1 minute.
Step 4: Stir in the sliced peaches, cherry tomatoes, uncooked orzo, and chicken broth. Mix everything together and bring to a simmer.
Nestle the seared chicken thighs back into the skillet. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 12โ15 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and the chicken is fully cooked through (an internal temperature of 165ยฐF on a meat thermometer).
Step 5: Uncover and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken if needed. Taste and adjust seasoning. Top with fresh basil if using.
Chicken With Peaches FAQs
Cool and store in an airtight container or ziploc bags in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
This recipe is best enjoyed fresh since the orzo is cooked directly in the skillet with the chicken, peaches, and sauce. Freezing can cause the pasta to become mushy and the peaches to release extra liquid, changing the texture. For the best flavor and consistency, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3โ4 days.
Absolutely. Use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but keep an eye on the internal temperature to prevent drying out.
The main recipe is dairy-free. To make it gluten-free, substitute the orzo for rice, quinoa, or gluten-free pasta. Try our BLT Banza Pasta Salad for another great gluten-free recipe.
Other Chicken Skillet Meals
If you make this skillet peach chicken recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Donโt forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished productโit makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Skillet Chicken With Peaches and Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 ยฝ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ยพ teaspoon salt
- ยผ teaspoon pepper
- ยฝ teaspoon dried basil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 small peaches, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 ยผ cups chicken broth
- Fresh basil for topping, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Sear them in the hot skillet for about 3-4 minutes per side until browned (they donโt need to be fully cooked yet). Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add the sliced red onion and sautรฉ for 2โ3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, salt, pepper, and dried basil and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add balsamic vinegar and honey, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Let it simmer for 1 minute.
- Stir in the sliced peaches, cherry tomatoes, uncooked orzo, and chicken broth. Mix everything together and bring to a simmer.
- Nestle the seared chicken thighs back into the skillet. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 12โ15 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Uncover and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken if needed. Taste and adjust seasoning. Top with fresh basil if using.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Prep ingredients in advance: Slice the peaches and the red onion, mince the garlic, and measure the orzo earlier in the day. Store everything in airtight containers in the fridge.
- This recipe is dairy-free. To make it gluten-free, substitute the orzo for rice, quinoa, or gluten-free pasta.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Skillet Chicken With Peaches and Orzo." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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