Name: French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 large yellow onions thinly sliced; 1 teaspoon sugar; ½ teaspoon salt; 3 garlic cloves minced; 1 ½ cups orzo pasta; 2 cups cooked shredded chicken rotisserie works well; ½ teaspoon dried thyme; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth; 1 cup heavy cream or half and half for lighter option; 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese; ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese; Optional: ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce or balsamic glaze for added depth

Description

French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish that combines tender shredded chicken, orzo pasta, and caramelized onions in a creamy, cheesy sauce. Perfect for a family dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large yellow onions thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 garlic cloves minced
1 ½ cups orzo pasta
2 cups cooked shredded chicken rotisserie works well
½ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream or half and half for lighter option
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional: ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce or balsamic glaze for added depth

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter and olive oil over medium heat.
Add the sliced onions, sugar, and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are caramelized, about 15-20 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked onions, orzo, shredded chicken, dried thyme, black pepper, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Mix well.
Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and top with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
If desired, drizzle with Worcestershire sauce or balsamic glaze before serving.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider adding fresh herbs or a splash of white wine to the onion mixture when carmelizing.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dinner, Casserole, Main Course
Method: baking
Cuisine: American, French-Inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520 kcal
Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 720 mg
Fat: 27 g
Saturated Fat: 15 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0.4 g
Carbohydrates: 45 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 30 g
Cholesterol: 105 mg

Keywords: French Onion, Chicken, Orzo, Casserole, Comfort Food