Description
This Greek Chicken Orzo Bake is a comforting and flavorful casserole featuring tender chicken seasoned with Greek spices, combined with tender orzo pasta, fresh spinach, juicy diced tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese. Baked to perfection, this dish offers a delicious medley of Mediterranean flavors, enhanced by lemon zest and a touch of oregano, making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or a special family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Orzo Mixture
- 16 ounces orzo pasta, cooked and drained
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
- 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese
- 4-5 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ cup chicken broth
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 teaspoons Greek seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
- 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese (for topping)
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat and Combine: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a large casserole dish to prevent sticking. In this dish, combine the cooked and drained orzo pasta, drained diced tomatoes, 6 ounces of crumbled feta cheese, fresh spinach, dried oregano, and lemon juice. Pour the chicken broth evenly over the mixture to keep it moist during baking.
- Season Chicken: In a separate bowl, toss the chicken breast pieces with Greek seasoning and olive oil until they are thoroughly coated, ensuring every piece is flavorful.
- Assemble and Bake: Arrange the seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer on top of the orzo mixture in the casserole dish. Avoid stirring them in. Cover the dish with a lid or foil, and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, allowing the chicken to cook through and flavors to meld.
- Uncover and Finish: After 1 hour, remove the cover and sprinkle the casserole with the remaining 6 ounces of crumbled feta cheese and lemon zest. Bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes, which will lightly brown the feta and enhance the lemon aroma.
- Serve: Once done, garnish the bake with fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, oregano, or dill for added freshness and color. Serve the dish hot as a satisfying Mediterranean meal.
Notes
- For homemade Greek seasoning, combine equal parts dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Make sure to drain the diced tomatoes well to avoid excess moisture in the casserole.
- You can substitute fresh spinach with baby kale or Swiss chard if preferred.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated, but the orzo may absorb more broth overnight, so add a splash of chicken broth when reheating.
- For a lower sodium version, use low-sodium chicken broth and reduced salt or omit added salt in the seasoning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
