French Onion Chicken Orzo for Cozy Family Dinners
This French onion chicken orzo casserole blends sweet caramelized onions, tender chicken, creamy orzo, and melty Gruyère into a comforting one-dish dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup half-and-half (or cream/milk mix)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese (divided)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pan, caramelize onions in butter and oil over medium-low heat for 25–30 minutes.
- Add garlic and thyme; cook 1 minute.
- Remove half the onions and set aside.
- Stir in orzo; toast for 2–3 minutes.
- Add chicken, broth, cream, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently.
- Stir in 1.5 cups Gruyère and Parmesan.
- Transfer to greased 9×13 pan. Top with reserved onions and remaining cheese.
- Bake at 375°F for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, deglaze onions with a splash of white wine.
- Use gluten-free orzo or rice for a GF version.
- Add spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies.