Description
A comforting, one-pan meal featuring tender chicken, silky orzo pasta, and a rich garlic parmesan cream sauce. This creamy chicken orzo bake simple family favorite is perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs chicken breast, cubed
1.5 cups dry orzo pasta
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2: In a large oven-safe skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and oregano, then sear until golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside.
Step 3: In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and dry orzo, stirring for 2 minutes until the orzo is lightly toasted.
Step 4: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer while scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits.
Step 5: Stir the chicken and any accumulated juices back into the skillet. Sprinkle half of the Parmesan cheese on top.
Step 6: Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the orzo is tender.
Step 7: Remove from the oven, stir in the remaining Parmesan, and garnish with fresh parsley. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Ensure you use an oven-safe skillet. If you don't have one, you can transfer the mixture to a 9x13 baking dish before putting it in the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casseroles & Bakes
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
