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french onion chicken orzo casserole

French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole

This French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole brings together everything you love about French onion soup in a hearty, cheesy baked pasta dish. Tender chicken, sweet caramelized onions, creamy orzo, and bubbling Gruyère cheese it's comfort food that tastes fancy but comes together in one pan.
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Course: dinner
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: baked chicken orzo recipe, caramelized onions, cheesy chicken orzo casserole, chicken and orzo dinner, chicken orzo casserole, comfort food casserole, creamy chicken orzo bake, French onion casserole, French onion chicken bake, French onion chicken orzo casserole, French onion pasta bake, Gruyère cheese casserole, one-pot chicken dinner, skillet chicken orzo, weeknight dinner recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Caramelizing Onions Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 6 scoop
Calories: 485kcal
Cost: $12.50

Equipment

  • 1 Large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven (12-inch) To caramelize onions and bake the casserole
  • 1 Cutting board and sharp knife For slicing onions and preparing chicken
  • 1 Wooden spoon or spatula For stirring and mixing ingredients
  • 1 Measuring cups and spoons For accurate ingredient portions
  • 1 Oven To bake the casserole at 375°F

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter divided
  • 3 large yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt for onions
  • 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt for chicken
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1.5 cups orzo pasta uncooked
  • 3 cups beef broth or chicken broth
  • ½ cup dry white wine or additional broth
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1.5 cups Gruyère cheese shredded, divided
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
  • Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Slice 3 large yellow onions into thin half-moons. Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add onions with sugar and salt, cook 18-22 minutes until deeply golden and caramelized. Transfer onions to a bowl and set aside.
  • Add remaining butter to skillet, brown seasoned chicken 5-7 minutes. Add uncooked orzo, toast 1-2 minutes. Deglaze with white wine, scraping up browned bits. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaf, bring to simmer. Return caramelized onions, simmer 3-4 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and remove from heat.
  • Add Cheese and Bake: Stir in 1 cup Gruyère and all the mozzarella until melting. Remove bay leaf, taste and adjust seasoning. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup Gruyère on top. Bake uncovered 25-30 minutes until orzo is tender and cheese is golden. Optional: broil 1-2 minutes for extra crispy cheese.
  • Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and thyme. Serve hot directly from the skillet.

Notes

The magic of this French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole is in those deeply caramelized onions and the way the orzo soaks up all that rich, savory broth. The Gruyère cheese melts into golden, bubbly perfection on top while everything stays creamy underneath. Don't rush the onions they're what make this taste like French onion soup transformed into dinner.

Nutrition

Serving: 1scoop | Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 680mg | Potassium: 520mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 285mg | Iron: 2.1mg