Monterey Chicken Orzo Recipe
Monterey Chicken One-Pan Orzo is a creamy, comforting casserole that combines tender shredded rotisserie chicken, fresh spinach, and orzo pasta baked in a rich sauce made with cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chicken stock. Topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese and crispy fried onions, this easy-to-make dish is perfect for a cozy family dinner or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Base
- 1 – 10.5 oz can cream of chicken with herbs
- 16 oz container sour cream
- 2.5 cups chicken stock
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning (see notes)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh spinach leaves, torn (or 1 – 10 oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed)
- 16 oz dry orzo pasta
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
Toppings
- 3 cups Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated
- 1 – 6 oz can French’s crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Prepare the Casserole Dish: Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking, and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking.
- Mix the Sauce: In the prepared casserole dish itself, combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chicken stock, minced garlic, all-purpose seasoning, salt, and freshly cracked pepper. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy, with no lumps remaining to create a uniform sauce base.
- Add the Main Ingredients: Stir in the torn fresh spinach (or thawed frozen spinach), shredded rotisserie chicken, half of the grated Monterey Jack cheese, and the dry orzo pasta. Whisk gently to evenly combine all ingredients and ensure the orzo is well incorporated into the sauce for even cooking.
- Assemble the Topping: Spread the remaining Monterey Jack cheese evenly on top of the casserole mixture. Then, layer the French’s crispy fried onions on top of the cheese to create a crunchy, flavorful crust after baking.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil to trap steam and moisture, then bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. This helps cook the orzo and meld the flavors.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly around the edges, and the fried onions are crisp.
Notes
- All-purpose seasoning can be a blend of herbs like parsley, thyme, and onion powder to enhance flavor.
- Using fresh spinach offers a brighter flavor, but frozen chopped spinach works well as a convenient alternative.
- Rotisserie chicken is a time-saver, but cooked shredded chicken breast can be substituted.
- Ensure the casserole dish is properly greased to avoid sticking during baking.
- If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover the casserole with foil again while baking uncovered.
Keywords: Monterey Chicken Orzo, creamy chicken casserole, one-pan dinner, baked orzo dish, rotisserie chicken recipes, spinach and cheese casserole
Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/monterey-chicken-orzo-recipe/
