A no-fuss, weeknight dinner made with juicy chicken, tender orzo, and broccoli baked together in a creamy Boursin cheese sauce. It’s budget-friendly, great for meal prep, and perfect for those busy nights when you want something delicious fast!
Easy One-Pan Chicken & Pasta Recipe
This is the recipe when you don’t have the time to slave over the stove but still want something delicious to eat, it’s the one you NEED to make! It’s that kind of recipe that feels fancy but is super easy to make, making it perfect for pretty much anyone who doesn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
Everything cooks together in one baking dish. Just imagine seasoned chicken, tender orzo pasta, fresh broccoli, and a creamy, garlicky Boursin cheese that melts, giving the dish a luscious cheese sauce. You end up with a warm, comforting meal that’s easy to prepare, clean up, and enjoy, packed with flavor!
Let me show you just how easy this family favorite recipe is!
TKW Family Love
So easy to make and so delicious. Dinners can be hard with two kids involved in so many activities but I love that I can throw this together quickly and let it bake while I do a few things around the house. Both my kids really like it (one is not a huge chicken fan) and asked if I could make it again soon. I love how it is a whole meal in one dish.
Baked Boursin Chicken & Orzo Ingredients
Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or need a quick dinner after a long day, this one-pan wonder is a no-brainer! It’s budget-friendly, customizable, and totally satisfying…you know, how a weeknight dinner should be!
- Boneless Chicken Breasts
- Orzo
- Fresh Broccoli
- Boursin Cheese
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Chicken Stock
Chef Lori’s #1 Tip for Baked Chicken
- To ensure even cooking, pound the chicken breasts to get them as even in thickness as you can. If one end is super thin, tuck that under the rest of the chicken, as that can help prevent it from drying out.
How to Make Baked Chicken & Pasta
For this recipe, I personally used an 11″ x 8″ rectangular baker as it was just for the two of us, but the recipe is written for a 9×13″ baking pan.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. To a 9×13″ baking dish, add in the orzo, olive oil, broccoli, Chupacabra Cluckalicious, and chicken stock.
- Give it a quick stir to incorporate, then add in the Boursin cheese (crumble it up if it’s not already), then give it another quick stir.
- Season both sides of the chicken, then place it in the dish, gently nestling it down into the liquid a bit.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for ~40 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 150°F.
- Uncover, stir the orzo, and sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese. Continue baking until the chicken reads 165°F.
- Remove from the oven, and stir it. There should be liquid left in the pan. Gently stir it in (you can remove the chicken and plate if it’s easier to stir). The orzo will absorb the remaining liquid as it rests for about 5-10 minutes. You do NOT want it to be dry in the pan.
Cheesy Baked Chicken & Orzo
When the dish comes out, you will see a fair amount of liquid left…this is how it should be.
To make it easier, remove the chicken, and gently stir the orzo around for a minute or two. The pasta will soak up the rest of the liquid. If you want it more creamy, you can even add about a 1/4 cup of warm heavy cream.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It seems we are all so busy these days between jobs, errands, kids, and just life. One thing you will never catch me doing is ordering out or hitting up a drive-thru.
Chicken Broccoli Orzo with Boursin FAQs
- Why is there so much liquid in the pan after it bakes? This is normal. As you stir the dish together while it’s cooling, the orzo will soak up the rest of the liquid. Trust the process.
- I can’t find Boursin; what else can I use? Boursin adds a rich, herby creaminess, but you can easily substitute it with garlic and herb cream cheese, goat cheese, or even mix some cream cheese with garlic powder and seasonings.
- Do I need to cook the orzo before baking? Nope! The orzo cooks right in the pan with the rest of the ingredients. It soaks up all the delicious flavors.
- Can I use chicken thighs? Yep, as long as they are boneless, you can. Technically, bone-in works as well, but I don’t want to have to worry about a bone getting mixed into the orzo.
- Can I freeze leftovers? Technically, yes, but the texture of the orzo and creamy sauce may change slightly after freezing.
How to Reheat Orzo Chicken & Broccoli
- Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F, add 1/4 cup of chicken stock to the pan, cover with foil, and reheat for about 20-25 minutes or until warmed through.
- Microwave: Cover with plastic wrap and microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through. If needed, add a few Tablespoons to a 1/4 cup of chicken stock to the dish to prevent drying out.
What to Serve with Chicken & Orzo Pasta Bake
While this is a complete meal, you can easily round it out with a simple side, salad, or a light dessert.
- Dinner rolls with warm honey butter
Here’s what I used:
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TKW Family Love
Easy good weeknight dinner! Made it with frozen broccoli since that’s all I had and slightly more orzo to off set the water in the frozen broccoli. I also shredded the chicken and diced it as well and works great!
Baked Boursin Chicken & Orzo with Broccoli Recipe
A no-fuss, weeknight dinner made with juicy chicken, tender orzo, and broccoli baked together in a creamy Boursin cheese sauce. It’s budget-friendly, great for meal prep, and perfect for those busy nights when you want something delicious fast!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: one pan recipes, chicken and pasta, chicken dinner, easy recipes, meal prep dishes, busy dinners
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: one pan recipes, chicken and pasta, chicken dinner, easy recipes, meal prep dishes, busy dinners, comfort food
Ingredients
- 2 cups orzo, uncooked
- 1 1/2 cup broccoli florets, fresh
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 1/3 cups chicken stock
- 1 Tablespoon Chupacabra Cluckalicious, divided
- 5.3 ounces Boursin, crumbled
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, and pounded evenly
- 1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. To a 9×13″ baking dish, add in the orzo, olive oil, broccoli, 1 1/2 teaspoons of Chupacabra Cluckalicious, and chicken stock.
- Give it a quick stir to incorporate, then add in the Boursin cheese (crumble it up if it’s not already), then give it another quick stir.
- Season both sides of the chicken with the remaining Chupacabra Cluckalicious, then place it in the dish, gently nestling it down into the liquid a bit.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for ~40 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 150°F.
- Uncover, stir the orzo, and sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese. Continue baking for another 10-12 minutes until the chicken reads 165°F.
- Remove from the oven, and stir it. There should be liquid left in the pan. Gently stir it in (you can remove the chicken and plate if it’s easier to stir). The orzo will absorb the remaining liquid as it rests for about 5-10 minutes. You do NOT want it to be dry in the pan.
- Plate and enjoy! Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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