Creamy Chicken Orzo Bake, Tuscan Style (One-Pan)

This creamy Chicken Orzo Bake is such an easy dinner recipe for busy weeknights! It's serious comfort food that the whole family will love. Just combine everything in an oven-safe dish and bake. 😊

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As a dietitian, I'm always looking for a perfect weeknight dinner to make when I'm short on time. And this Chicken Orzo Bake is such an easy recipe if you're looking for a cozy dinner with rich flavor and want fewer dishes.

It's a dreamy combo of short-cut pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and Greek yogurt to make it creamy without the need for heavy cream. A complete dinner in one pan!

If you're looking for more recipes made with orzo, try my Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta Bake, Mushroom & Spinach Orzo or Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. If you want more healthy dinner ideas, try my Sweet Potato Turkey Skillet with Black Beans or Unstuffed Pepper Skillet. For a gluten-free option similar to this recipe, try my Baked Feta Spaghetti Squash!

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Key Ingredients and Substitution Ideas
How to Make Chicken Orzo Bake
Dietitian Tip
Video of How to Make Chicken Orzo Bake
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Expert Tips
FAQ
Related
Perfect for Pairing
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
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Key Ingredients and Substitution Ideas

This Chicken Orzo Bake is made with simple ingredients. Check the printable recipe card at the bottom for measurements & full recipe.

ingredients for chicken orzo bake on a table.

Chicken - I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe but you can use rotisserie chicken or leftover baked chicken. The moisture and heat will keep the chicken moist.
Dry Orzo Pasta - orzo is a small rice-shaped pasta. Because of its small size, it cooks in less time than most pastas making it a great shape for weeknight pasta dishes. Orzo is not gluten-free, but you can find gluten-free orzo pasta made from things like chickpeas or lentils at the store.
Cherry Tomatoes - fresh cherry tomatoes work best, but you can use grape tomatoes if it's what you have. Cherry tomatoes are sweeter and have thinner skin. They contain quite a bit of juice and when they are roasted and burst, they add a ton of delicious flavor to the sauce.
Spinach - spinach adds more nutrients and flavor! It provides dietary fiber for a healthy gut, vitamin K, and antioxidants. I use baby spinach for this recipe. You can use fresh spinach or frozen spinach.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes - get the sun-dried tomatoes in a jar with oil and seasonings to add flavor!
Fresh Herbs - I use fresh basil for this recipe. You could use another fresh herb if you prefer. Fresh parsley works well.
Fresh Garlic - fresh garlic cloves add flavor. Minced garlic is also high in antioxidants and allium which has been shown to support immunity.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - just a drizzle of olive oil adds moisture and prevents the chicken from drying out. Olive oil also adds heart-healthy fats that support brain health and hormone health.
Chicken Broth - we bake the orzo mixture in chicken broth to add flavor and keep it from drying out. You can replace the chicken broth with chicken stock, vegetable broth or vegetable stock.
Greek Yogurt - Greek yogurt replaces heavy cream that is often found in creamy risotto type of dishes. Greek yogurt still makes it creamy, but it doesn't add as many calories and saturated fats as heavy cream. You can certainly use heavy cream if you prefer! Other substitutions would be sour cream or cream cheese. You can even leave it out altogether - it still tastes great.
Parmesan Cheese - grated parmesan cheese adds lots of flavor at the end. If possible, I highly suggest to buy a block of parmesan and grate it yourself.
Seasonings - I use a combination of Italian Seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder. Add red pepper flakes if you want it to be a little bit spicy.
Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - a bit of salt and pepper to tie all the flavors together.
Optional - a squeeze of lemon juice on the top.

How to Make Chicken Orzo Bake

Below are the instructions for how to make this entire dish with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.

seasoned chicken breast cubes in a casserole dish.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200°C). Prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish by spraying cooking spray on the bottom of the pan. Dry the chicken breasts with a paper towel and use a sharp knife to cut it into cubes. Add the chicken to the large baking dish and coat it in the olive oil and seasonings. Be sure all the chicken pieces are coated.

chicken, cherry tomatoes, and sun dried tomatoes mixed with chicken.

Step 2: Add the fresh garlic, herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes. Then add the cherry tomatoes and spinach.

human hand pouring chicken broth on top of spinach and orzo.

Step 3: Top with the dry orzo and chicken broth. Add the Greek yogurt and whisk it into the chicken broth until it's dissolved. Then stir everything together with a wooden spoon.

chicken orzo bake with parmesan cheese on top.

Step 4: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until the orzo is tender and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F. Bake time will vary. Stir in the parmesan cheese when it comes out of the oven and give it a quick taste. Add more salt as needed then let it set for 10-15 minutes before serving. *The sauce will be very liquidy when it first comes out of the oven. Let it set so the sauce thickens in the finished dish.

Hint: If you want to add a bit more flavor and have time, sear the chicken in a large skillet with the olive oil and seasonings on medium heat to medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes until its golden brown. Then add to the baking dish with the other ingredients.

Dietitian Tip

Most creamy pasta recipes use heavy cream. I like to replace it with Greek yogurt which is lower in saturated fats and provides protein and calcium. You still get a super creamy end result because the starch from the pasta releases while being cooked in the chicken broth. And as a bonus, you get extra nutrients with the Greek yogurt!

Video of How to Make Chicken Orzo Bake

Here's a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!

Variations

One of the great things about making your own pasta recipes is you can customize them to your liking. Below are some suggestions for variations of this orzo dish, but feel free to get creative and put your spin on it.

Spicy - add chili pepper flakes while cooking to imbue heat into the dish, or banana peppers
Deluxe - add red peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini for more vegetables!
Greek Style - add kalamata olives and replace parmesan cheese with tangy feta cheese. Add a squeeze of lemon and some lemon zest on top for a Greek flare.

Equipment

You'll need an ovenproof casserole dish for this recipe! Here's one you can grab on Amazon.

Storage

Refrigerator - once the pasta has cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on low heat on the stovetop. You may need to add a bit more liquid when reheating to get it back to the right consistency.

Expert Tips

Make sure the chicken cubes are at least partially submerged in the broth so they don't dry out.
Rough chop or tear the spinach so it's in smaller pieces.
I suggest getting a block of parmesan and grating it yourself if you have the time!
Give it a taste at the end and add more salt if needed.

FAQ

Is this chicken orzo bake healthy?

While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a nutrient-rich option. The orzo provides carbohydrates, an important energy source for the body. Chicken provides high-quality protein, iron, and vitamin B12, and the vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Greek yogurt is used in place of heavy cream to provide additional protein and less saturated fats than many creamy pasta dishes.

What can I use in place of Greek yogurt?

You can use coconut milk, half & half, or sour cream in place of the Greek yogurt.

How do I know if the chicken is fully cooked?

The best way to tell if the chicken is fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. I have this instant-read thermometer. It is done when it reaches a temperature of 165℉ (75°C). If you're using chicken breasts, be careful not to overcook them because they will get dry and tough.

Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:

Perfect for Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Chicken Orzo Bake:

Want to Learn About Nutrition?

Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian

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