French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole Weeknight Comfort Bake
A creamy one-pan casserole blending caramelized onions, shredded chicken, orzo pasta, and melty cheese. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner with a French onion-inspired American twist.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons
- Olive oil, 1 tablespoon
- Large yellow onions (thinly sliced), 2
- Sugar, 1 teaspoon
- Salt, 1/2 teaspoon
- Garlic cloves (minced), 3
- Orzo pasta, 1 1/2 cups
- Cooked shredded chicken, 2 cups
- Dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon
- Black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon
- Low-sodium chicken broth, 2 cups
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium
- Add onions and sugar; sauté 15-18 minutes until caramelized
- Stir in garlic for 1 minute
- Add orzo and cook 3 minutes to toast
- Mix in chicken, thyme, pepper, and broth; simmer 5 minutes
- Transfer to a greased casserole dish; bake 25 minutes
- Sprinkle Parmesan before final 5 minutes of baking
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving
Notes
Use salted butter and reduce salt by 1/4 tsp if desired
Sweet onions like Vidalia enhance caramelization
Sub gluten-free orzo as needed
Vegetable broth makes a vegetarian version
Rotisserie chicken saves prep time
Gently rotate dish during baking for even browning
Sweet onions like Vidalia enhance caramelization
Sub gluten-free orzo as needed
Vegetable broth makes a vegetarian version
Rotisserie chicken saves prep time
Gently rotate dish during baking for even browning
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 28gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 800mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6g
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