Description
French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole is a cozy, creamy bake featuring tender chicken, caramelized onions, and orzo in a French onion-inspired sauce, finished with melty cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 2½ cups chicken broth
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1½ cups shredded Gruyère or Swiss-style cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring often, until soft and caramelized. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- In the prepared baking dish, combine uncooked orzo, chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
- Fold in the caramelized onions and raw chicken pieces, spreading everything evenly.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top, and bake uncovered for 8–10 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5 minutes, garnish if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- Optional parsley garnish (as listed in the ingredients).
- Leftovers refrigerate well and can be reheated in the microwave or oven.
- Substitute Gruyère with Swiss cheese if needed.
- For make-ahead cooking, assemble up to the point of baking and refrigerate; adjust bake time if chilled.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Keywords: French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole, creamy casserole, chicken orzo bake, French onion soup-inspired, cozy weeknight dinner