Description
A rich and comforting baked orzo dish featuring tender chicken and tangy feta cheese, perfect for a festive Christmas meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: Pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until browned on all sides. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Stir in the uncooked orzo and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
- Return the browned chicken to the skillet.
- Stir in the heavy cream, feta cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Bring the mixture back to a gentle simmer.
- Cover the skillet and transfer it to the preheated oven.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts if preferred.
- For a lighter version, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but the dish may be less creamy.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like spinach or peas in the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Ensure your skillet is oven-safe for this recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/5th of recipe)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: baked orzo, chicken orzo, feta orzo, creamy pasta, Christmas dinner, holiday recipe, one-pot meal