This Broccoli Cheddar Baked Chicken Orzo is your new go-to comfort meal that's family-friendly and balanced. It's cheesy, flavorful, and made in one pan for less fuss and easy cleanup.
I love broccoli cheddar soup, and this Broccoli Cheddar Baked Chicken Orzo brings that same cozy flavor to the dinner table in a balanced, filling way. It's rich and satisfying, with tender orzo, melty cheese, and plenty of finely chopped broccoli in every bite, making it perfect even for those who usually aren't big broccoli fans!
Even better, it all comes together in one pan for less fuss and minimal cleanup. It's an easy weeknight dinner that feels comforting without requiring much effort, which makes it a win in my kitchen!
If you love my Creamy Chicken and Tomato Pasta, One Pan Creamy Mushroom Chicken and Rice, or Butternut Squash and Sausage Orzo with Kale, this one fits right in. It's cozy, family-friendly, and full of flavor, making it a recipe you will want to make again and again.
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- One pan meal. Everything cooks in one dish, which means fewer dishes, less stress, and an easier weeknight dinner.
- All the components of a balanced meal. This meal includes lean protein from the chicken and cottage cheese, fiber and nutrients from the broccoli, and carbs from the orzo.
- Large batch and freezer friendly. You'll have plenty to enjoy right away and even more to save for later. Store leftovers for quick lunches or freeze a few portions for busy days when you need a quick, nourishing meal.
Broccoli Cheddar Baked Chicken Orzo Recipe
Orzo. Orzo is a small pasta that is almost a cross between rice and pasta! It can usually be found in the pasta aisle!
Broccoli. For our veggie of choice we are using broccoli florets - cut small enough that even the biggest broccoli haters will love this dish.
Garlic. I always recommend using freshly pressed garlic if available.
Vegetable broth. Look for a low sodium vegetable broth, this is the best way to minimize added sodium in our diets.
Cottage cheese. Use higher fat content cottage cheese for a creamy, seamless consistency! I recommend 4%.
Chicken. Cooked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken can both be used in this recipe.
Dijon mustard. For a little boost of flavour!
Spies. Mustard powder, cayenne, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder.
Cheese. Cheddar and Parmesan cheese create the perfect blend! I recommend shredding your cheese yourself as pre-shredded cheeses typically don't melt as well!
Lemon. For a burst of freshness!
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- To a casserole dish add uncooked orzo, broccoli, garlic, vegetable broth, shallots, cottage cheese, spices, lemon zest and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Mix well and ensure all the orzo and broccoli is covered by the broth.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove from the oven, and stir in shredded chicken.
- Top with remaining cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese and bake for another 20 minutes.
- Optional to brown the cheese: broil for about 2-5 minutes.
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: Jovial has a gluten free orzo that is a great substitution in this recipe!
To make dairy-free: unfortunately I wouldn't recommend making this one dairy free however definitely give my Vegan Pasta Bake a try!
To make nut-free: this recipe is naturally nut free!
If you want to try different varitations, there are plenty of ways to make this recipe your own! Try one of these ideas:
- Cottage cheese can be replaced with ricotta cheese if desired for a creamy consistency.
- Cooked chicken can be replaced with cooked ground chicken, ground turkey or ground beef!
- Looking to add more veggies? Stir in 2 cups of spinach when you add in the chicken!
Equipment
Storage
You can make this Broccoli Cheddar Baked Chicken Orzo ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For freezer storage, bake the casserole first, then transfer it to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat: place the casserole in an oven safe container, sprinkle with some water to keep the casserole moist and reheat at 350F until heated through.
To microwave: reheat portions in a microwave safe dish. If you are noticing it is dry- add a little chicken broth or water.
Top Tips for Success
I highly recommend using full fat cottage cheese - low fat cottage cheese will not melt quite as well, meaning it won't be mixed in with the other ingredients as intended!
Cut your broccoli florets as small as possible! This makes sure you won't have any large chunks of broccoli and will help the broccoli cook through fully.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have not tested this recipe using rice! If you decide to try please let me know how it turns out.
Yes! If you aren't a fan of cottage cheese, you can blend the sauce so there's virtually no taste or texture. Just keep in mind it'll add one more dish to clean. You can also use ricotta cheese instead if you prefer!
If you are using frozen broccoli florets, I recommend decreasing the vegetable broth by ½ cup.
More Cozy Dinner Recipes
If you liked this Broccoli Cheddar Baked Chicken Orzo, try these recipes:
- Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- Creamy Tortellini Spinach Soup
- Ginger Chicken Meatballs in Thai Red Curry
- Biscuit and Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
See you in the kitchen!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these Broccoli Cheddar Baked Chicken Orzo, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Broccoli Cheddar Baked Chicken Orzo
Ingredients
- 340 g uncooked orzo
- 2 broccoli crowns, finely chopped
- 2 shallots diced
- 6 garlic cloves, pressed
- 3.5 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1.5 cups 4% cottage cheese, (not low fat)
- 2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1.5 tsp mustard powder
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- zest of ½ lemon
- 2 cups shredded cheese, divided
- 1 lb cooked chicken breast, shredded - see notes below
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- To a 9x12inch casserole dish add uncooked orzo, broccoli, shallots, garlic, vegetable broth, cottage cheese, spices, lemon zest and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Mix well. Ensure all the orzo and broccoli is covered by the broth.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove from the oven, and stir in shredded chicken. Top with remaining cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese and bake for another 20 minutes. Optional to brown the cheese- broil for about 2-5 minutes.
DENISE says
Made this with gluten free orzo. So easy to make and we loved it!
Lindsay says
Beautiful recipe! We devoured this. For making ahead, do you recommend fully cooking ahead of time and reheating in oven? Thank you.
Frederique Oberlin says
Made this one tonight and it was a hit with the whole fam! I subbed 1 1/2 cups of basmati rice and for the second portion of the bake I covered it tightly with foil and the rice came out perfectly. Definitely putting this one into rotation.
Liz says
Really tasty and easy! It was a touch salty for our taste so I'll reduce down to 1 tsp next time, but we'll definitely be making it again.
Nicole Addison says
A one pan meal EVERYONE will love- I hope you enjoy this one!