Chicken Thigh & Orzo Bake
Chicken Thigh & Orzo Bake
Ingredients
- 5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or up to 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, or butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, or milk
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh spinach, or up to 1 1/2 cups
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, combine the dry orzo, chicken broth, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Add the olive oil (or butter) and stir everything together until well combined. Lightly season the orzo mixture with a pinch of salt and pepper.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs on a clean surface. Season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. If desired, you can also add a pinch of lemon zest to the chicken for extra flavor.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Nestle the seasoned chicken thighs on top of the orzo mixture in the baking dish, ensuring they are partially submerged in the liquid.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375
- 6
Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and remove the foil. Pour the heavy cream (or milk) over the orzo mixture and stir it in. Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the chicken and orzo.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and the orzo is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Remove the dish from the oven. Carefully transfer the cooked chicken thighs to a separate plate. Stir the fresh spinach into the hot orzo mixture in the baking dish until it wilts from the residual heat.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Return the cooked chicken thighs to the baking dish, nestling them back on top of the orzo and spinach. For optimal flavor melding, you can return the dish to the oven for an additional 5 minutes, if desired.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 10
Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed before serving hot.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chicken Thigh & Orzo Bake
- 5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or up to 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, or butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, or milk
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh spinach, or up to 1 1/2 cups
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, combine the dry orzo, chicken broth, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Add the olive oil (or butter) and stir everything together until well combined. Lightly season the orzo mixture with a pinch of salt and pepper.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs on a clean surface. Season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. If desired, you can also add a pinch of lemon zest to the chicken for extra flavor.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Nestle the seasoned chicken thighs on top of the orzo mixture in the baking dish, ensuring they are partially submerged in the liquid.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375 - 6
Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and remove the foil. Pour the heavy cream (or milk) over the orzo mixture and stir it in. Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the chicken and orzo.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and the orzo is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Remove the dish from the oven. Carefully transfer the cooked chicken thighs to a separate plate. Stir the fresh spinach into the hot orzo mixture in the baking dish until it wilts from the residual heat.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Return the cooked chicken thighs to the baking dish, nestling them back on top of the orzo and spinach. For optimal flavor melding, you can return the dish to the oven for an additional 5 minutes, if desired.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 10
Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed before serving hot.
⏱️ 2 min