This Cheesy Chicken Orzo Casserole Recipe makes an easy, delicious and filling meal any night of the week. It's the perfect way to use up leftover chicken too!
My family could eat meals with cheese just about every day of the week. I have yet to find a dish with cheese they will push away. They are also big fans of pasta and bacon, so a lot of our casseroles have those tasty ingredients as well. This week I found a Cheesy Chicken Orzo Casserole recipe I thought would be yummy.
I wanted to ramp up the flavors a bit, so I added bacon and peas. We had grilled out the night before and I had leftover chicken, so I added that as well.
The result? Probably the best chicken casserole I have ever made. Seriously! My family asked for seconds, and then thirds! I bet your family will love this Cheesy Chicken and Orzo Casserole as much as mine!
For the chicken in this recipe you can use a rotisserie chicken that you have shredded, but I prefer to use pre-cooked shredded chicken that I make in the crockpot and store in the freezer. It's very convenient for all kinds of chicken recipes – including this one!
Cheesy Chicken Orzo Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
1-pound chicken, cooked and cubed
½ pound bacon, chopped.
1 tbsp. garlic
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
8 ounces shredded Monterey jack cheese
1-pound orzo
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
How to make chicken orzo casserole:
Preheat oven to 400. In a medium skillet, cook bacon on medium high until crispy. Move to a paper towel to drain.
Save ¼ of the bacon drippings. Cook garlic 1-2 mins.
Reduce heat to medium and whisk in flour. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly. Cook for 5 mins., whisking occasionally. Add Monterey jack cheese, salt and pepper and blend well. Set aside. In a large pot, cook orzo according to instructions, but cook 2 minutes less. Drain.
Add back to pot along with the chicken, the peas and ¾ of the bacon and mix gently. Add cheese mixture and blend well.
Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with vegetable oil. Add mixture.
Sprinkle parmesan cheese and remaining bacon. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until cheese is browning and bubbly.
Cheesy Chicken and Orzo Casserole
This Cheesy Chicken Orzo Casserole Recipe makes an easy, delicious and filling meal any night of the week.
Ingredients
- 1-pound chicken, cooked and cubed
- ½ pound bacon, chopped.
- 1 tbsp. garlic
- 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 8 ounces shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 1-pound orzo
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- In a medium skillet, cook bacon on medium high until crispy. Move to a paper towel to drain. Save ¼ of the bacon drippings and cook garlic 1-2 mins.
- Reduce heat to medium and whisk in flour. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly.
- Cook for 5 mins., whisking occasionally. Add Monterey jack cheese, salt and pepper and blend well. Set aside.
- In a large pot, cook orzo accordingly to instructions, but cook 2 minutes less. Drain.
- Add back to pot along with the chicken, the peas and ¾ of the bacon and mix gently. Add cheese mixture and blend well.
- Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with vegetable oil. Add mixture. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and remaining bacon.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, until cheese is browning and bubbly.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 764Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 156mgSodium: 1183mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 53g
Nutrition is calculated automatically and may not be accurate.
Scott says
Ooh, yummy! I don’t think there’s a single thing in there that I don’t love. Need to try this!
Ellen Christian says
That looks absolutely delicious. It would definitely be a huge hit at our house.
Barb W. says
Sounds and looks delicious! I think my kids would enjoy it. Have to try making soon!
Brandy says
This looks like a delicious option to make up for the family! Thanks for sharing.
Allison says
This casserole looks so delicious! My kid will eat anything as long as there is cheese. This recipe will add variety to the dishes she likes to eat.
Darla Peduzzi says
This looks so good! I am going to pin it and give it a try. I just might need to tweek the peas because my big kid (hubby) picks them out if there are too many 🙂
Kim says
What did you use for a substitute for peas?
Julie Wood says
I have never cook with orzo before and this recipe look so yummy and I want to try it. Thanks for sharing. It looks like an easy recipe!
rochelle haynes says
This looks good love to try this
G K says
Chicken and pasta are two of my favorite things. Surprisingly, I’ve never had orzo before.
Elena says
Looks delicious! I am going to try this recipe
Kimberly Flickinger says
This cheesy chicken casserole looks delicious, I will definitely have to try this!
Hannah C says
Yummy, this looks fantastic!
Jerry Marquardt says
I can’t wait to try out your special recipe for this Cheesy Chicken Orzo Casserole. I think it looks delicious, and hope I do as good as you did in the mouthwatering photos.