Crack Chicken Orzo Recipe – rich, creamy, and loaded with cheesy, bacon-ranch goodness! Tender orzo pasta, juicy chicken, and a savory ranch-infused sauce come together in one easy, irresistible casserole. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners.
Plain Chicken participates in affiliate advertising programs. We may earn a small commission when you make purchases through links on our site.
Remember this recipe.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Pin This Recipe
Chicken, Cheddar, Bacon, Ranch Orzo
Crack Chicken Orzo is the ultimate comfort food—rich, creamy, and packed with bold, savory flavors. Juicy chicken, crispy bacon, melted cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, and orzo pasta come together for an irresistible combination of flavors. Baked until golden and bubbly, this dish is warm, cozy, and downright addictive. Whether you’re serving it for an easy weeknight dinner or bringing it to a potluck, don’t expect leftovers—this one disappears fast!
What does CRACK mean?
If a recipe has “crack” in the title it means that the recipe has cheddar, bacon, and ranch in the ingredients. It all started with my Crack Dip way back in 2007. I made the dip for a Titans football game. Everyone went crazy over it. We couldn’t stop eating it and said it was like crack. The name stuck.
According to the dictionary, the definition of crack is “of superior excellence or ability”. We think the flavor combination of cheddar, bacon, and ranch fits this definition! This recipe is most definitely of superior excellence!
How to Make Crack Chicken Orzo
This one-pan dish is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. In a large bowl, stir together cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chicken broth. Add orzo pasta, chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and ranch seasoning mix.
Pour chicken mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Top the casserole with more shredded cheese and cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes; remove the foil and continue to bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- I use leftover rotisserie chicken for the shredded chicken in this dish. You can use any cooked chicken – boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or chicken tenderloins.
- This is a great recipe to use up any leftover grilled chicken you have in the fridge.
- Variations/Additions:
- onions
- celery
- bell peppers
- mushrooms
- spinach
- broccoli
- I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Chicken or Mushroom Soups in this dish to control the sodium.
- I use low-sodium or no-salt chicken broth or chicken stock.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix made with buttermilk powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, dill, kosher salt, and black pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
- If you are sensitive to ranch seasoning, adjust the amount to your personal preference.
- Can I make Chicken Orzo Casserole ahead of time? Yes. Mix together all the ingredients except for the orzo and store in the refrigerator. When ready to bake the casserole, add the orzo to the filling and pour into a baking dish. Top with cheese and onions and bake as directed.
- Can I freeze Chicken Orzo Casserole? Yes. Bake the casserole and cool to room temperature. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to four months.
- Thaw and reheat in the microwave, cover the pan with foil, and bake at 350ºF until heated.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Creamy Chicken Orzo
This casserole has quickly earned a spot in our dinner rotation. The whole family loves it! This dish is rich and creamy, so pairing it with lighter, fresh sides helps balance the meal.
- A crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette cuts through the richness, while roasted or steamed vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, carrots, or Brussels sprouts add a fresh, healthy touch.
- Garlic bread or buttery dinner rolls are great for soaking up every bit of that cheesy, ranch-infused sauce.
- For a refreshing contrast, a cool cucumber salad or coleslaw brings the perfect crunch!
Looking for more easy dinner recipes? Here are some popular dishes from the website:
Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken & Rice
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken and Rice – a quick and easy weeknight recipe! Just dump everything in the slow cooker…
Cracked Out Recipes
Crock Pot Crack Chicken Pasta
Crock Pot Crack Chicken Pasta Recipe – loaded with tender chicken, smoky bacon, creamy cheddar cheese, and the zesty kick of…
Cracked Out Recipes
Crack Chicken Crescent Bites – FOOTBALL FRIDAY
Crack Chicken Crescent Bites – Chicken, bacon, cheddar, and ranch baked in crescent rolls. SO addictive!!! I took these to…
Cracked Out Recipes
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Sandwiches
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Sandwiches Recipe – the ultimate comfort food! Tender shredded chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning,…
Crack Chicken Orzo
Yield: 8 people
Crack Chicken Orzo Recipe – rich, creamy, and loaded with cheesy, bacon-ranch goodness! Tender orzo pasta, juicy chicken, and a savory ranch-infused sauce come together in one easy, irresistible casserole. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners.
-
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
-
In a large bowl, stir together cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chicken broth. Add chicken, uncooked orzo pasta, bacon, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing mix – season with salt and black pepper to taste.
-
Pour chicken mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Top the casserole with the remaining cup of shredded cheese. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
-
Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes, remove the foil and continue to bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly.
- I use leftover rotisserie chicken for the shredded chicken in this dish. You can use any cooked chicken – boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins.
- What is orzo? Orzo is a short-cut pasta that looks like a large grain of rice.
- Do not cook the orzo pasta – add it to the casserole uncooked. It will cook while the casserole bakes.
- Variations/Additions:
- onions
- bell peppers
- mushrooms
- I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Chicken & Mushroom Soups in this dish to control the sodium.
- I use low-sodium or no-salt chicken broth or chicken stock.
- Can I make Chicken Orzo Casserole ahead of time? Yes. Mix together all the ingredients except for the orzo and store in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake the casserole, add the orzo to the casserole filling and pour into a baking dish. Top with cheese and onions and bake as directed.
- Can I freeze Chicken Orzo? Yes. Bake the casserole and cool to room temperature. Cover the panwith plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up for four months.
- Thaw and reheat in the microwave or cover the plan with foil and bake at 350ºF until heated through.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Steph
Remember this recipe.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Pin This Recipe
