Pesto Chicken Orzo Bake

This easy pesto chicken with orzo is the perfect weeknight dinner! Roasted chicken is nestled in a base of orzo, pesto, and roasted red peppers for a rich and satisfying meal the whole family will love.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Orzo Bake Recipe:

• One pan: This Mediterranean chicken orzo is low-fuss and great for busy home cooks – fewer dishes to clean is always a win in my book! 
• Minimal prep: Baked orzo with chicken requires just a few minutes of prep time before you can pop it in the oven and go about your evening while the oven does the rest. 
• Simple ingredients: This recipe only uses 10 ingredients- including salt and pepper- all of which are super easy to find and you may already have at home. 

Let’s Get Started! Here’s What You’ll Need:

Ingredients

Chicken Breast - I like making this chicken and orzo bake with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but it also works great with boneless skinless chicken thighs. If using chicken thighs, see my notes below for recipe adjustments. 

Avocado Oil - If needed, you can also use another neutral-flavored oil or olive oil instead. 

Feta Cheese - Choose crumbled feta or crumble it from a block. For more mild cheese notes, this recipe is also delicious with fresh mozzarella. 

Roasted Red Peppers - You will need one roasted red pepper or ½ of a 12-oz jar. Use a whole pepper, or roasted red pepper strips, depending on what you have on hand or can find at the store. Either way, we'll cut them bite sized before adding to the recipe.

Chicken Broth - Adds savory dimension and flavor to the baked pasta. Chicken stock, vegetable broth, or bone broth will also work. 

Pesto - Use your favorite storebought pesto, or make your own. For a flavor variation, you can even use kale pesto, red pesto, or your favorite pesto variety.

Orzo - This is a small pasta similar to rice. Although orzo is shaped like rice, avoid substituting it for rice in this recipe as they cook differently. 

Seasonings - Since the pesto does the heavy lifting in this Mediterranean chicken orzo recipe, we’ll only need salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to round out the dish.

Equipment: 

Large Pan with lid - Choose a pan that can hold all the ingredients with some room to spare – I recommend a 5.5 quart saucepot or a dutch oven. Since this bakes covered in the oven, it'll need a lid, though you can cover the dish with aluminum foil instead in a pinch.

Spatula or Wooden Spoon - For stirring the ingredients. 

Tongs - We need to be able to flip the chicken when searing it.   

Measuring Spoons/Cups- For the pesto and getting the right amount of liquid to cook the pasta.

Kitchen Knife and Cutting Board - For preparing the chicken and peppers.

How to Make Chicken Orzo Bake

Prepare the chicken.  

Preheat the oven to 350°F, then slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise. This will make them thinner and make sure they're fully cooked when the pasta is. If you happened to buy thin-sliced chicken breasts or chicken tenders, those are already small enough to skip this step.

Season the chicken breasts.  

Season both sides of the chicken with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

Sear the chicken. 

Add the oil to a large pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and sear them for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. 

Slice the peppers.  

While the chicken sears, cut the roasted red peppers into bite-sized pieces.

Assemble. 

After searing, remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the sliced red peppers, pesto, broth, water, and orzo to the pan and stir until combined, making sure to get any brown bits from the bottom of the pan stirred in. Add the seared chicken breasts back to the pan, and cover with the lid.

Bake & Garnish.

Pop in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the pasta is tender and the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. When done, garnish the baked chicken orzo with feta cheese and enjoy!

Recipe Success Tips

• Don’t skip the sear. Searing is an important step for boosting flavor and locking in moisture, which prevents the chicken from drying out as it bakes. Sear the chicken over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Exception: if using leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken that is already cooked.
• Add your favorite veggies. Chicken and orzo recipes are a great opportunity to sneak in extra greens or vegetables! I recommend adding more delicate greens like spinach a few minutes before removing the pesto orzo and chicken from the oven so they have time to wilt but won’t overcook and become mushy. Other fantastic add-ins are roasted zucchini, caramelized onions, or sautéed mushrooms.
• Using boneless chicken thighs: To make this orzo chicken bake with chicken thighs, increase the searing time to 3-4 minutes on each side and bake for 25-30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 165°F.

Serving Suggestions 

This chicken orzo recipe is a hearty and complete meal on its own but also pairs great with Mediterranean-inspired sides thanks to the pesto and feta flavors. Try it out with the following options: 

• Greek Salad
• Air Fryer Italian Roasted Tomatoes  
• Shortcut Focaccia Bread

Storage Directions

• Refrigeration: Transfer leftover orzo chicken bake to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. 
• Freezing: Allow the chicken and orzo to cool completely before storing it in a freezer-safe container and freezing for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. 
• Reheating: Reheat leftover chicken and orzo over medium heat on the stovetop, or place on a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high in short intervals until heated through. Add a splash of broth or water to rehydrate the orzo as needed. 

More Easy Chicken Recipes 

• Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Chicken Legs 
• Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs
• Sous Vide Chicken Teriyaki
• Baked Chicken Broccoli Potato Casserole 
• Feta Baked Chicken 

Enjoy!

I hope this one-pot orzo becomes a go-to dish for you on busy weeknights and that your whole family loves it! If so be sure to come back and leave a review, I love hearing from you!

📖 Recipe