French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole
This cozy casserole brings together deeply caramelized onions, tender chicken thighs, creamy orzo, and gooey Gruyere cheese — all baked into a bubbling one-dish wonder. It's French onion soup, meets cheesy chicken pasta, in comfort food form.
Equipment
- Large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven
- Wooden spoon
- Sharp Knife
- 9x13 baking dish (optional)
- Cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 4-5 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1.5 cups orzo pasta, uncooked
- 3 cups beef broth
- 0.5 cup white wine (or more broth)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella (optional)
- 2 slices French bread, toasted and torn
- 2 tbsp melted butter (for bread topping)
- 3 tbsp butter (for onions)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for onions)
- 1 tsp sugar (helps caramelization)
- 0.5 tsp salt (for onions)
Instructions
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot. Add sliced onions, sugar, and salt. Cook 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deep golden and caramelized. Add water if needed to prevent sticking.
- Push onions aside and add chicken to center of pot. Season with salt and pepper. Brown 3–4 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Add garlic and sauté briefly. Deglaze with wine or broth, scraping up browned bits. Stir in beef broth, Worcestershire, Dijon, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Add orzo and stir well.
- Nestle chicken into orzo mixture. Cover pot (or transfer to baking dish and cover). Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes, until orzo is tender and liquid mostly absorbed.
- Remove lid and bay leaves. Sprinkle Gruyere and Parmesan over casserole. Add optional bread topping. Bake uncovered 10–15 more minutes until cheese is melted and golden. Broil briefly if needed.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Serve in bowls with crusty bread. Store leftovers chilled up to 4 days.
Notes
Make the caramelized onions ahead to save time on busy nights. Swap chicken thighs for turkey or white beans for a twist. For a crispier top, broil the final cheese layer briefly. Add a splash of broth when reheating leftovers to keep it creamy.