This creamy and cheesy Chicken Orzo Bake is an effortless dinner, and the orzo pasta cooks right in the casserole dish! The whole family loves my chicken and pasta casserole, and I can’t get enough of those Tuscan flavors with juicy bites of tomato and fresh spinach.
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Chicken Orzo Bake Video
Watch the video tutorial and see how to make this quick Chicken Orzo Bake casserole. P.S. If you use rotisserie chicken, it’s just assemble and bake. Add this orzo casserole to your meal plan this week!
Chicken Orzo Bake Recipe
This easy one-pan chicken orzo bake is a winner! I made this for a cabin trip, and it was well-loved by all 3 families that ate it. The kids gave it rave reviews, and I figure if there’s a dish that everyone in the group loves that much, it’s a major win and one that I’ll be repeating.
It’s a brilliant and easy way to feed a crowd. You can sauté your own chicken or dice up leftover Spatchcock Chicken or Baked Chicken Breast, which makes it even easier. This chicken pasta bake also reheats well because it has a creamy base, which is great for meal prep or if you want to put some into a lunchbox the next day.
This recipe was inspired by Mallory’s Tuscan Chicken Bake, but I added more chicken to make sure it would satisfy our crowd. This chicken orzo bake will certainly become a staple of the cabin trip menu, along with other easy crowd-pleasers like Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet, Baked Mac and Cheese, and Meatloaf.
Ingredients for Chicken Orzo Bake
It’s all here in the ingredients—everything you need for a well-rounded, crowd-pleasing meal.
- Chicken – I always have chicken breast in my freezer so I cook that up for this casserole but I love using rotisserie chicken for this recipe—it doesn’t get any easier. You’ll need about 3 cups cooked diced chicken. In a real pinch, you could use leftover turkey as well.
- Chicken stock – I use homemade Chicken Stock but you can use a good quality store-bought one.
- Heavy whipping cream – This gives the casserole a creamy, luxurious sauce. For a lighter version, substitute half & half, but the sauce won’t be as thick.
- Orzo – The quality of the pasta matters. See my note below for the brands I like most. If you’re using cheaper pasta, use 12oz of orzo because it expands more, but for pasta made with 100% hard durum semolina, you can use 16oz.
- Veggies – Baby spinach and cherry Tomatoes. If you want to substitute tomatoes with 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and coarsely chopped, then I add an extra 1/2 cup of stock or cream.
- Cheese – mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese
- Tuscan Flavors – I add lemon juice to add some acidity and lightness along with minced garlic, salt, pepper and dried oregano.
Which Pasta is Best?
Cheaper pasta absorbs too much of the liquid or turns to mush, so when making pasta casseroles, opt for a high-quality Italian Bronze-cut pasta like Dellalo, De Cecco, Rustichella d’Abruzzo, or Pastificio De Martino. These are made from semolina flour. It may sound fancy, but don’t worry, it’s easily found at your local grocery.
How to Make Creamy Chicken Orzo Bake
You’ll be amazed at how easily this chicken orzo casserole comes together! Once you have the chicken prepped, it’s just mix and bake. EASY and delicious!
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish. I love this oil sprayer for greasing pans!
- Sautee Chicken Breasts – slice two large uncooked chicken breasts in half lengthwise, season with salt and pepper, and sauté over medium heat for 4 minutes on each side or until 165˚F on a thermometer, then let it rest 5-10 minutes before chopping into bite-sized pieces. You can also dice up 2 large chicken breasts to get 3 cups of cooked chicken.
- Assemble the casserole – Add the stock, cream, pasta, chicken, garlic, veggies, half the cheeses (reserve the other half for the top), lemon juice, and seasoning into the greased casserole dish. Stir until combined and spread it evenly into the pan.
- Bake – Sprinkle the remaining half of the cheeses over the top and bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until pasta is to your desired tenderness (depending on the kind of pasta you use – better quality pasta can take a little longer). The casserole will be bubbly around the edges and have lovely browned, melted cheese on top.
- Rest the casserole – let the dish sit for 10 minutes to thicken, and then gently stir and serve!
Natasha’s Pro Tip:
If you’d like a more creamy chicken orzo bake casserole after baking, add 1/2 cup of hot water, broth, or cream and stir it into the casserole.
Storage Tips
This creamy chicken orzo bake is the perfect dish for meal planning since leftovers reheat really well.
- To Refrigerate: Cool and cover leftovers. Store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Cool leftovers and transfer to a freezer-safe, air-tight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- To Reheat: Place casserole in an oven-safe container, sprinkle the top with some water to keep the casserole moist, and reheat in a 350°F oven until heated through. You can also reheat a portion in the microwave or in a skillet. If the casserole seems dry, stir in a bit of liquid.
What to Serve with Chicken Orzo Bake
This chicken orzo bake is a meal all on its own, but I like to pair it with a light, crisp salad and crusty bread to soak up all that creamy sauce.
- Chickpea Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Caprese Salad
- Maroulosalata Greek Lettuce Salad
- Tomato Burrata Salad
- Sourdough Bread
- Focaccia Bread
This creamy Chicken Orzo Bake is a simple recipe with a creamy, delicious Tuscan flavor! It’s a crowd-favorite chicken casserole loaded with cheesy sauce, pasta, and veggies for a delicious, satisfying meal. You’ll want to put this recipe on your repeat list!
Chicken Orzo Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts, or 1 1/4 lbs, (about 3 cups cooked chopped chicken)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 cups low sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 12-16 oz orzo*, depending on the brand (Dellalo = 16 oz, Barilla = 12 oz, see notes*)
- 3 cups loosely packed baby spinach leaves, 2-3 oz, coarsely chopped
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes*
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated or shredded
- 5 medium garlic cloves, minced, or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed from 1/2 lemon
- 1 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to season chicken
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, plus more to season chicken
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick spray or grease with butter.
- Prep Chicken – If you aren’t using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, cut your chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Set a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Sautee chicken breast for about 4 minutes per side or until golden and cooked through to 165˚F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove to a cutting board and cool for 5 minutes, then dice into bite-sized pieces.
- Assemble the Casserole – into the prepared 9×13 casserole, add chicken stock, heavy cream, orzo, chicken, spinach, tomatoes, half of your mozzarella, half of your parmesan cheese (save the remaining cheese for the topping), garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and oregano. Stir everything to combine, then flatten the top into an even layer.
- Bake – add the remaining parmesan and mozzarella over the top of the casserole, then bake uncovered in the preheated oven at 375˚F for 40-45 minutes or until the orzo is tender or your desired doneness.*
- Rest Casserole – Once the dish is out of the oven, let it rest and thicken up* for 10 minutes, then stir gently to combine and enjoy!
Notes
*You replace tomatoes with 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and coarsely chopped, but add an extra 1/2 cup of liquid. The type of pasta you use matters. For the best results, I recommend using a high-quality Italian bronze cut orzo made from 100% hard durum semolina. The bronze-cut method gives the pasta a rougher surface, and it doesn’t expand and absorb as much liquid, resulting in a creamier pasta. Some of my favorite brands are Dellalo, De Cecco, Rustichella d’Abruzzo, and Pastificio Di Martino. They hold up perfectly al dente and make such a difference in your dish. Here’s how to adjust the amount of pasta and timing:
–With a high-quality Italian orzo, use 16 oz and cook closer to 45 minutes
–With a lower quality or cheaper orzo, use 12 oz since it expands more. Cooks faster, about 40 minutes. **If the Pasta casserole seems dry (some pastas absorb more liquid than others, add 1/2 cup of hot liquid – either water, broth, or cream and stir it in.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Easy Casserole Recipes
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Shepherd’s Pie
- Meatballs Parmesan Casserole
- Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Lasagna
Made this tonight and it was amazing! I past it on to my friends. Can freeze the leftovers?
Hi Bridgett, you sure can, please see the Storage Tips section of the recipe post.
would quartered cocktail tomatoes work as a substitute for the cherry tomatoes?
Hi Lil, since the tomatoes will be sliced, most of the juices will liekly leak out and incorporate into the orzo, it may still work but without testing it myself I’m unable to fully advise.
Made this for Easter lunch and it was delicious! I added roasted yellow bell peppers and made a gluten free option for guests. They loved it!
That sounds delicious! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is SO GOOD! Never been much more than an apologetic chef but this dish brought shock and awe to family dinner night. My SIL favorite and left overs are still amazingly tasty. (If there is leftovers.)
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Amazing! Super easy & delicious! My family loved it & it was a huge hit.
Looks delicious but any alternative for non meat eaters please…fish or extra veg?
Thanks
Hi Barbara! I have not tried a meatless alternative. I assume you could use your preferred veggies for a filler or even fish if you prefer that. Let us know if you experiment.
I just made this and it was amazing!! I forgot the garlic so I had to take out of oven after I just put it in and had to mix it again. Topped with some more shredded mozzarella and baked 45 min. We could not stop eating it!!
Just made it. The whole family loved it! My daughter (2yo) said “this is my favourite” and she has never said that before.
I’m so happy to hear this was a hit with the family, especially the little ones.
Love Love Love this meal!! I tried it last night and now is a family favorite!!
Thank you for another great recipe!!
I’m so glad to hear that, Carolyn!
Hi
Can I prepare this the night before and cook it the next day? Or will everything get too socky?
Hello! It should be fine to assemble everything, store it covered in the refrigerator overnight and bake it the next day. You can adjust the baking time since it will be cold from the fridge.
This was delicious and super easy to make. My family loved it and they don’t even like tomatoes or spinach, so a total win.
Thank you for the tips on which orzo brands are better. These little tips are huge and save us busy Moms some time! Thanks so much!
An absolutely incredible but easy dish. So family friendly and delish. I clicked the link for your freakishly large pepper mill but it brought up the 7″ peugeot. How tall is your big guy? Can you update the link or send that to me for the superman sized pepper mill? LOL. Love all your recipes – you are the best! Thank you!
This looks delicious. I don’t have Orzo on hand, but I do have rice…could I substitute and would I need to change liquid amounts?
Hello John! I have not tested that to advise of the changes that you need to make but that should still work with a few adjustments with the liquid. Keep an eye on the liquid level during baking.
This was a good dinner for the family. I LOVE that this is one dish! I will be making this again!
Hi Nikki! It really makes a perfect meal. I’m glad your family enjoyed it.
Delicious!! Husband couldn’t stop eating it. Kids liked it. I used half and half instead of heavy whipping. Will print the recipe for my kitchen binder so it can be on repeat. I would confidently serve this to guests. If you haven’t made this yet, MAKE IT!! Thank you Natasha!
What could I sub for heavy cream. Do you have a serving amount? Thank you
Hi there! You can try Half-and-Half + Butter or whole milk + butter. You can use 3/4 cup and 1/4 cup melted butter.
This was sooooooo good. Kid approved! Natasha I love your recipes!
I’m in love with this recipe! My family loved it. Do you think I could prep the casserole earlier and then bake later in the day?
Hi there, yes that should be fine! You can make it ahead, cover, refrigerate and bake it later in the day. Hope you love it!
I have not tried this recipe but it sure looks delicious. I was wondering what kind (or brand) of ceramic pan that you used as I can’t find that information. TIA.
Hi Patty! I used the Ceramic Non-Toxic Non-Stick Pan (Amazon Affiliate Link) For future reference, you can go to the description below the video as the ingredients and tools are listed there too. Hope that helps!
I just made this for dinner and hubby and I loved it! So easy to put everything into one dish and bake it. This is a keeper! 😋👍