Creamy Chicken Orzo Bake Recipe
A comforting and easy-to-make creamy chicken pot pie with tender shredded chicken, orzo pasta, and mixed vegetables baked to golden perfection in a rich, velvety sauce.
- Author: Amy
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Proteins and Dairy
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
Vegetables
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots mix
- ½ cup diced celery
- ½ cup diced onion
Grains & Broth
- 1 ½ cups orzo pasta
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Seasonings & Herbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the chicken pot pie.
- Cook Orzo: Boil salted water and cook the orzo pasta for 6 to 7 minutes until it is slightly undercooked. Drain and set aside. This prevents the pasta from becoming mushy after baking.
- Sauté Vegetables: In an oven-safe skillet or casserole dish, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and celery and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Make the Sauce: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the sautéed vegetables and cook for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a simmer and allow it to thicken into a creamy sauce.
- Season and Combine: Add garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir in the shredded chicken, cooked orzo, and frozen peas and carrots. Mix thoroughly to evenly coat the ingredients with the creamy sauce.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet or casserole dish to the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, until the filling is bubbly and the top has a lovely golden hue.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, and serve the creamy chicken pot pie warm for a hearty meal.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour and use gluten-free orzo or an alternative pasta.
- Using leftover cooked chicken makes this recipe quick and easy; rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, reduce the amount of chicken broth slightly or cook the sauce a bit longer before adding chicken and orzo.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like mushrooms or corn to customize the pot pie.
Keywords: chicken pot pie, creamy chicken pot pie, easy chicken pot pie, orzo pot pie, baked chicken recipe