French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole – the ultimate comfort food! Creamy, cheesy, and packed with tender chicken and crispy fried onions, it’s an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in no time. All the flavors of French onion soup in a hearty, one-pot pasta dish! Serve it with a side salad or roasted veggies for a complete meal.
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Baked Chicken Orzo
This French Onion Chicken Orzo has been on repeat at our house. It’s rich, creamy, cheesy, and loaded with flavor in every bite. Tender chicken, orzo, French fried onions, and cheese baked to perfection in a creamy sauce. It’s like French onion soup meets a cheesy chicken casserole—all in one easy dish. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!
How to Make French Onion Chicken Orzo
This one-pan chicken pasta 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 uncooked orzo pasta, chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, and French fried onions – 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 more shredded cheese and French fried onions. 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 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
- spinach
- 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.
- Can I make Chicken Orzo Casserole ahead of time? Yes. Mix together all the ingredients except for the orzo and store in the fridge. 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 Baked Chicken Orzo?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 or cover the pan with foil and bake at 350ºF until heated.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with French Onion Chicken Orzo
This creamy chicken orzo is a favorite at our house! It is rich and creamy, so pairing it with something light and fresh is a great way to balance out the meal.
- A simple side salad with a tangy vinaigrette or crisp romaine with ranch adds a nice contrast.
- Roasted or steamed veggies like green beans, asparagus, or broccoli also work well, adding a little extra crunch and freshness.
- If you’re looking for something extra cozy, a side of garlic bread or dinner rolls is perfect for soaking up all that cheesy, savory sauce.
- And if you really want to lean into the French onion theme, a few extra crispy fried onions on the side never hurt!
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French Onion Chicken Orzo
Yield: 8 people
French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole – the ultimate comfort food! Creamy, cheesy, and packed with tender chicken and crispy fried onions, it’s an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in no time. All the flavors of French onion soup in a hearty, one-pot pasta dish! Serve it with a side salad or roasted veggies for a complete meal.
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Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
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In a large bowl, stir together cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chicken broth. Add chicken, uncooked orzo pasta, 2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, and ½ of the French fried onions – season with salt and black pepper to taste.
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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 and French fried onions. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
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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.
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- This recipe uses a tub of sour cream french onion dip. It will be in the refrigerated section at the grocery store. Look for Dean’s, Heluva Good, Great Value or Dean’s.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Steph
Remember this recipe.
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