Greek Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cups orzo
uncooked
- 1 lb. cooked chicken
shredded, about 4 cups, roughly 3 chicken breasts or 6 chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 red onion
diced
- 4 cloves garlic
minced
- 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes
packed, diced
- 2 cups baby spinach
roughly chopped
- 1 cup feta cheese
crumbled, plus more to serve
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives
pitted and sliced, optional
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 lemon
juiced and zested
- 5 cups chicken broth
or water
- Fresh parsley
to serve
Directions
- 1
Preheat oven to 400°F.
- 2
If you don’t have cooked chicken, bake the chicken breasts or chicken thighs in the oven for 25 minutes. Once cooked, place the chicken on a cutting board and use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-size pieces.
- 3
In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, add the diced onion, drizzle with olive oil, and stir until well coated. Transfer the baking dish to the oven for 5 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
- 4
Remove the baking dish from the oven, add the orzo, minced garlic, diced sundried tomatoes, chopped spinach, kalamata olives (optional), oregano, olive oil, and salt, and stir to combine.
- 5
Add the chicken, feta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest to the casserole dish, and stir again to combine with the other ingredients.
- 6
Pour in the broth and give it a final stir until everything is well incorporated and the orzo, veggies, and chicken are mostly submerged in the liquid.
- 7
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, then transfer it to the oven to bake for 15 minutes.
- 8
Remove the baking dish from the oven, remove the foil, give everything a good stir, and then return it to the oven, uncovered, for a final 15-20 minutes until the orzo is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- 9
Once cooked, remove the baking dish from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving with a sprinkle of feta and parsley. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Greek Chicken Casserole
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 13 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving a wholesome, flavor-packed weeknight dinner that’s as easy to clean up as it is to make? This Greek Chicken Casserole brings the vibrant tastes of the Mediterranean right to your table, all crafted in a single pan.
We designed this recipe for busy evenings, prioritizing both simplicity and incredible nutrition. It's a true weeknight hero, delivering over 30 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving, making it a genuinely satisfying meal that fuels your family without fuss. The one-pan approach minimizes cleanup, letting you spend more time enjoying your dinner.
Prepare for a comforting yet vibrant experience. You’ll discover tender orzo pasta expertly cooked within the casserole, absorbing all the rich, savory chicken broth. It perfectly complements the succulent, shredded cooked chicken. Each bite is a delightful medley, brightened by the tangy chew of sun-dried tomatoes and the briny pop of kalamata olives. Aromatic garlic and earthy oregano infuse a deep Mediterranean flavor, while fresh baby spinach wilts seamlessly into the creamy texture. The casserole is crowned with a generous layer of crumbled feta cheese, adding its signature salty tang, all beautifully uplifted by the bright zest and juice of fresh lemon. It's a wonderfully balanced dish that feels both hearty and fresh.
This recipe is wonderfully flexible. If kalamata olives aren't a family favorite, you can easily omit them without losing the casserole's essence. For a different flavor profile, consider adding some chopped artichoke hearts alongside the sun-dried tomatoes. You can also vary the greens; while baby spinach is fantastic, a mix of chopped kale would also work well.
This hearty Greek Chicken Casserole stands proudly as a complete meal on its own, perfectly suited for a cozy family dinner or a relaxed gathering. Serve it warm, garnished with a vibrant scattering of fresh parsley and an extra sprinkle of feta for an appealing finish.