Slow Cooker Chicken Diavolo With Orzo

By Sarah DiGregorio

Updated February 5, 2026

  • Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
Media 1 of 1
Ready In
5 hr 35 min
Rating
5(535)
Comments
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This pantry-friendly, one-pot meal is inspired by Italian chicken diavolo, a chile-slicked grilled chicken dish. But it’s most similar to the Italian-American invention fra diavolo, a spicy, tomato sauce often served with seafood. Here, chicken thighs braise in a rich, olive-oiled mix of tomato paste, peppers and sun-dried tomatoes. There’s no need to add extra liquid because all those ingredients give off their moisture as they cook, creating enough sauce to cook the orzo that’s added at the end. Enrich with a splash of cream to bring it all together and tame the heat, just a little. If your crushed red pepper flakes are fresh, one teaspoon will yield a medium spicy result. Feel free to adjust up or down, depending on your taste. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs 

  • 1 (12-ounce) jar sliced roasted red peppers, drained 

  • 1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped

  • 8 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped

  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced

  • ⅓ cup tomato paste

  • ⅓ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (plain or packed in oil and drained)

  • ⅓ cup jarred, drained sliced hot cherry peppers

  • ¼ cup olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste

  • Black pepper

  • ¾ cup orzo

  • ¼ cup heavy cream (optional) 

  • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 to 6 servings)

25 grams carbs; 153 milligrams cholesterol; 409 calories; 10 grams monosaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 20 grams fat; 3 grams fiber; 738 milligrams sodium; 35 grams protein; 7 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, combine the chicken, roasted peppers, bell pepper, garlic, shallot, tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, cherry peppers, oil, salt, crushed red pepper and several generous grinds of black pepper. Stir well. Cook on low for 5 hours. 

  2. Step 2

    Stir in the orzo and cook on low for 15 minutes more, until the orzo is plumped and just tender.

  3. Step 3

    Turn off the heat and stir in the cream, if using. Coarsely shred the chicken with two forks. Garnish with parsley to serve.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
535 user ratings
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Comments

Jan

I'm thinking that I would shred the chicken before adding the orzo for two reasons. One, so I won't have ozo clinging to the chicken thighs when I go to retrieve them and two, so that the ozo isn't sitting in the the pot getting softer during the time it takes me to shred the chicken.

J

I don’t have a slow cooker. How would you adjust the instructions for a Dutch oven?

kaela

Oh man, YUM. This recipe was the perfect combo of low effort, high reward, and maximum coziness that I really needed for dinner tonight! The only sub I made was using some pepperocinis instead of hot cherry peppers because I already had an open jar in the fridge. I might add a little more orzo next time, but otherwise this is going into the regular dinner rotation.

One of my go to’s

So easy. I love spicy food but the red chili flake makes it a bit too much so I usually omit it and it’s still perfectly spicy. One of our faves!

Guy

Has anyone tried a substitute for the heavy cream? Yogurt?

Candy

I cooked this in the Instant Pot on high for 15 minutes with a cup of chicken stock. Turned our great! When I stirred the pasta in the chicken shredded itself. Then I just let it cook on low on the saute setting until the pasta was cooked through. Very delicious and easy recipe!

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