Go Back

Monterey Chicken One Pan Orzo

A delicious and hearty one-pan dish that combines creamy chicken, cheese, and orzo pasta, perfect for family dinners or weeknight meals.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 490
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Creamy Base
  • 1 can 10.5 oz unsalted cream of chicken soup
  • 1 container 16 oz sour cream
  • 2.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Seasonings
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Main Ingredients
  • 1 package 16 oz orzo pasta, uncooked
  • 1 package 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained
  • 3 cups cooked chicken, diced (about 1 pound) Can use rotisserie chicken
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (reserve 1 cup for topping)
  • 1 can 6 oz crispy fried onions, divided
Garnish
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (reserved from above)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chicken broth until smooth and well combined.
  3. Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well to distribute the seasonings.
  4. Add the uncooked orzo pasta, drained spinach, diced chicken, and 2 cups of shredded Monterey Jack cheese to the bowl. Gently fold everything together.
  5. Add half of the crispy fried onions and stir to combine.
Baking
  1. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
  2. Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup of Monterey Jack cheese and remaining crispy fried onions on top.
  3. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  4. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
  5. Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  6. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.

Notes

If using fresh spinach, sauté it before adding. This dish can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.