Description
Comforting French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole is a satisfying meal that combines the essence of French onion soup with chicken and orzo pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onions, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook for 30-45 minutes until golden brown. Stir in garlic during the last 5 minutes. Remove half of the onions and set aside.
- In a separate pot, cook orzo pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In the pot with remaining onions, whisk in chicken broth, heavy cream, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until slightly thickened. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. In a bowl, combine cooked orzo, chicken, and sauce. Fold in the reserved onions. Pour half into the baking dish and sprinkle with half the mozzarella cheese. Layer the remaining mixture on top.
- Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
- Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to set. Serve warm.
Notes
- This casserole can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
- Feel free to add your favorite vegetables for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
