Creamy Chicken Orzo Bake
Creamy Chicken Orzo Bake
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Orzo Bake
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cream of chicken soup, (10.5 ounce) can
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta, uncooked
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until lightly browned on all sides. The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this stage. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the chopped yellow onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and dried thyme, cooking for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Stir in the cream of chicken soup, chicken stock, and milk until well combined and smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Add the uncooked orzo pasta to the simmering sauce, stirring to ensure it is fully submerged. Return the browned chicken pieces to the skillet, nestling them into the orzo mixture.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Carefully transfer the entire contents of the skillet into your prepared 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the orzo is tender, the chicken is cooked through, and the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden. If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely cover it with foil.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and additional grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Chicken Orzo Bake
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Orzo Bake
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cream of chicken soup, (10.5 ounce) can
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta, uncooked
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until lightly browned on all sides. The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this stage. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the chopped yellow onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and dried thyme, cooking for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Stir in the cream of chicken soup, chicken stock, and milk until well combined and smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Add the uncooked orzo pasta to the simmering sauce, stirring to ensure it is fully submerged. Return the browned chicken pieces to the skillet, nestling them into the orzo mixture.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Carefully transfer the entire contents of the skillet into your prepared 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the orzo is tender, the chicken is cooked through, and the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden. If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely cover it with foil.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and additional grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
⏱️ 5 min