This creamy and tacky Hen Orzo Bake is an easy dinner, and the orzo pasta cooks proper within the casserole dish! The entire household loves my rooster and pasta casserole, and I can’t get sufficient of these Tuscan flavors with juicy bites of tomato and contemporary spinach.
This publish could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Learn my disclosure coverage.
Hen Orzo Bake Video
Watch the video tutorial and see tips on how to make this fast Hen Orzo Bake casserole. P.S. When you use rotisserie rooster, it’s simply assemble and bake. Add this orzo casserole to your meal plan this week!
Hen Orzo Bake Recipe
This straightforward one-pan rooster orzo bake is a winner! I made this for a cabin journey, and it was well-loved by all 3 households that ate it. The children gave it rave evaluations, and I determine if there’s a dish that everybody within the group loves that a lot, it’s a serious win and one which I’ll be repeating.
It’s an excellent and simple option to feed a crowd. You’ll be able to sauté your individual rooster or cube up leftover Spatchcock Hen or Baked Hen Breast, which makes it even simpler. This rooster pasta bake additionally reheats effectively as a result of it has a creamy base, which is nice for meal prep or if you wish to put some right into a lunchbox the subsequent day.
This recipe was impressed by Mallory’s Tuscan Hen Bake, however I added extra rooster to ensure it might fulfill our crowd. This rooster orzo bake will definitely turn into a staple of the cabin journey menu, together with different straightforward crowd-pleasers like Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet, Baked Mac and Cheese, and Meatloaf.
Substances for Hen Orzo Bake
It’s all right here within the elements—every thing you want for a well-rounded, crowd-pleasing meal.
- Hen – I all the time have rooster breast in my freezer so I cook dinner that up for this casserole however I really like utilizing rotisserie rooster for this recipe—it doesn’t get any simpler. You’ll want about 3 cups cooked diced rooster. In an actual pinch, you might use leftover turkey as effectively.
- Hen inventory – I exploit selfmade Hen Inventory however you need to use a very good high quality store-bought one.
- Heavy whipping cream – This provides the casserole a creamy, luxurious sauce. For a lighter model, substitute half & half, however the sauce received’t be as thick.
- Orzo – The standard of the pasta issues. See my observe beneath for the manufacturers I like most. When you’re utilizing cheaper pasta, use 12oz of orzo as a result of it expands extra, however for pasta made with 100% arduous durum semolina, you need to use 16oz.
- Veggies – Child spinach and cherry Tomatoes. If you wish to substitute tomatoes with 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and coarsely chopped, then I add an additional 1/2 cup of inventory or cream.
- Cheese – mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese
- Tuscan Flavors – I add lemon juice so as to add some acidity and lightness together with minced garlic, salt, pepper and dried oregano.
Which Pasta is Finest?
Cheaper pasta absorbs an excessive amount of of the liquid or turns to mush, so when making pasta casseroles, go for a high-quality Italian Bronze-cut pasta like Dellalo, De Cecco, Rustichella d’Abruzzo, or Pastificio De Martino. These are made out of semolina flour. It could sound fancy, however don’t fear, it’s simply discovered at your native grocery.
Easy methods to Make Creamy Hen Orzo Bake
You’ll be amazed at how simply this rooster orzo casserole comes collectively! After getting the rooster prepped, it’s simply combine and bake. EASY and scrumptious!
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and place a rack within the heart of the oven. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish. I really like this oil sprayer for greasing pans!
- Sautee Hen Breasts – slice two massive raw rooster breasts in half lengthwise, season with salt and pepper, and sauté over medium warmth for 4 minutes on all sides or till 165˚F on a thermometer, then let it relaxation 5-10 minutes earlier than chopping into bite-sized items. You too can cube up 2 massive rooster breasts to get 3 cups of cooked rooster.
- Assemble the casserole – Add the inventory, cream, pasta, rooster, garlic, veggies, half the cheeses (reserve the opposite half for the highest), lemon juice, and seasoning into the greased casserole dish. Stir till mixed and unfold it evenly into the pan.
- Bake – Sprinkle the remaining half of the cheeses excessive and bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes or till pasta is to your required tenderness (relying on the sort of pasta you employ – higher high quality pasta can take a bit of longer). The casserole shall be bubbly across the edges and have pretty browned, melted cheese on prime.
- Relaxation the casserole – let the dish sit for 10 minutes to thicken, after which gently stir and serve!
Natasha’s Professional Tip:
When you’d like a extra creamy rooster orzo bake casserole after baking, add 1/2 cup of scorching water, broth, or cream and stir it into the casserole.
Storage Ideas
This creamy rooster orzo bake is the right dish for meal planning since leftovers reheat very well.
- To Refrigerate: Cool and canopy leftovers. Retailer within the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Cool leftovers and switch to a freezer-safe, air-tight container. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day.
- To Reheat: Place casserole in an oven-safe container, sprinkle the highest with some water to maintain the casserole moist, and reheat in a 350°F oven till heated by means of. You too can reheat a portion within the microwave or in a skillet. If the casserole appears dry, stir in a little bit of liquid.
What to Serve with Hen Orzo Bake
This rooster orzo bake is a meal all by itself, however I prefer to pair it with a light-weight, crisp salad and crusty bread to absorb all that creamy sauce.
This creamy Hen Orzo Bake is an easy recipe with a creamy, scrumptious Tuscan taste! It’s a crowd-favorite rooster casserole loaded with tacky sauce, pasta, and veggies for a scrumptious, satisfying meal. You’ll wish to put this recipe in your repeat listing!
Hen Orzo Bake Recipe
This creamy Tuscan rooster and orzo casserole bake is a crowd-pleasing dish that is easy to make. It’s straightforward to make forward for meal planning and leftovers style nice the subsequent day. You will love how easy it’s, however the result’s tacky, creamy, savory, and bursting with veggies and protein. It is a straightforward meal you will crave time and time once more!
Servings: 10 servings, about 1 cup servings
- 2 massive rooster breasts, or 1 1/4 lbs, (about 3 cups cooked chopped rooster)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 cups low sodium rooster inventory
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 12-16 oz orzo*, relying on the model (Dellalo = 16 oz, Barilla = 12 oz, see notes*)
- 3 cups loosely packed child spinach leaves, 2-3 oz, coarsely chopped
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes*
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated or shredded
- 5 medium garlic cloves, minced, or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed from 1/2 lemon
- 1 tsp high quality sea salt, plus extra to season rooster
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, plus extra to season rooster
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
-
Preheat the oven to 375. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick spray or grease with butter.
-
Prep Hen – When you aren’t utilizing pre-cooked rotisserie rooster, lower your rooster breasts in half lengthwise. Season either side with salt and pepper. Set a big skillet over medium warmth and add olive oil. Sautee rooster breast for about 4 minutes per facet or till golden and cooked by means of to 165˚F on an instant-read thermometer. Take away to a slicing board and funky for five minutes, then cube into bite-sized items.
-
Assemble the Casserole – into the ready 9×13 casserole, add rooster inventory, heavy cream, orzo, rooster, spinach, tomatoes, half of your mozzarella, half of your parmesan cheese (save the remaining cheese for the topping), garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and oregano. Stir every thing to mix, then flatten the highest into a fair layer.
-
Bake – add the remaining parmesan and mozzarella excessive of the casserole, then bake uncovered within the preheated oven at 375˚F for 40-45 minutes or till the orzo is tender or your required doneness.*
-
Relaxation Casserole – As soon as the dish is out of the oven, let it relaxation and thicken up* for 10 minutes, then stir gently to mix and luxuriate in!
*You exchange tomatoes with 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and coarsely chopped, however add an additional 1/2 cup of liquid.
The kind of pasta you employ issues. For the perfect outcomes, I like to recommend utilizing a high-quality Italian bronze lower orzo made out of 100% arduous durum semolina. The bronze-cut methodology offers the pasta a rougher floor, and it doesn’t develop and take in as a lot liquid, leading to a creamier pasta. A few of my favourite manufacturers are Dellalo, De Cecco, Rustichella d’Abruzzo, and Pastificio Di Martino. They maintain up completely al dente and make such a distinction in your dish. Right here’s tips on how to regulate the quantity of pasta and timing:
–With a high-quality Italian orzo, use 16 ouncesand cook dinner nearer to 45 minutes
–With a decrease high quality or cheaper orzo, use 12 ouncessince it expands extra. Cooks quicker, about 40 minutes.
**If the Pasta casserole appears dry (some pastas take in extra liquid than others, add 1/2 cup of scorching liquid – both water, broth, or cream and stir it in.
344kcal Energy30g Carbs18g Protein17g Fats
Vitamin Details
Hen Orzo Bake Recipe
Quantity per Serving
% Day by day Worth*
* P.c Day by day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie weight loss program.
Extra Simple Casserole Recipes
