Description
Monterey Chicken One Pan Orzo brings weeknight dinner magic straight to your kitchen with juicy chicken, creamy orzo, and melted cheese that comes together in a single skillet. Comfort meets convenience when protein and pasta dance deliciously, making clean-up a breeze and your taste buds absolutely happy.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups Rotisserie Chicken (shredded)
Starch and Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces Orzo Pasta (dry)
- 1 can (10.5 ounces Cream of Chicken Soup)
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups Chicken Stock
- 1 container (16 ounces Sour Cream)
- 3 cups Monterey Jack Cheese (freshly grated)
- 3 cups Spinach (fresh torn or 1 box frozen & thawed)
- 1 can (6 ounces French’s Crispy Fried Onions)
- 5 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon All-Purpose Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Freshly Cracked Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick spray, ensuring every corner gets covered.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and combine 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup, 16 oz sour cream, 2.5 cups chicken stock, 5 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp all-purpose seasoning, ½ tsp salt, and 1 tsp cracked pepper. Whisk until your mixture looks silky and uniform.
- Add 3 cups fresh spinach, 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, and 16 oz dry orzo pasta into the creamy base. Stir gently so ingredients distribute evenly.
- Pour the entire mixture into your prepared casserole dish, spreading it smoothly with a spatula to create an even layer.
- Sprinkle 2 cups freshly grated Monterey Jack cheese across the top, covering the entire surface.
- Scatter 6 oz French’s crispy fried onions in a uniform layer over the cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and slide it into the preheated oven.
- Bake covered for 25 minutes at 350°F, then remove the foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until the top turns golden and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle.
Notes
- Swap rotisserie chicken with leftover grilled, baked, or poached chicken for a personalized touch.
- Fresh spinach can replace frozen spinach, but drain and chop it finely before adding to prevent excess moisture.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute orzo with quinoa or rice and use gluten-free cream of chicken soup.
- Enhance protein by adding diced ham or crispy bacon bits alongside the chicken for extra flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 533 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 724 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 108 mg