Dump-and-Bake Hen Pesto Orzo Recipe

This rooster pesto orzo is the form of dinner I lean on once I need creamy consolation meals with out babysitting a skillet. Add all the pieces to at least one casserole dish, set an entire puck of Boursin within the center, and let the oven flip it right into a pesto-y, sun-dried tomato-packed dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Dump-And-Bake Dinner

• Actually dump and bake: There is no such thing as a have to sear the rooster, sauté the onion, or boil the orzo first.
• One-dish cleanup: The rooster, pasta, greens, and creamy sauce all come collectively in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.
• Huge pesto taste: Pesto, garlic-and-herb Boursin, and sun-dried tomatoes make each chunk savory and shiny.
• Full household dinner: Hen, orzo, and peas make this cozy casserole satisfying sufficient to serve by itself.

Featured Elements

• Hen breast: Reduce the rooster into even 1 to 1½-inch items so each chunk cooks on the identical price.
• Dry orzo: Add it straight from the package deal. The small pasta absorbs the seasoned broth because it bakes.
• Pesto: Retailer-bought pesto retains this dinner particularly simple, however my selfmade pesto works, too.
• Solar-dried tomatoes: Oil-packed tomatoes deliver concentrated sweetness and a savory Italian-inspired taste.
• Frozen peas: They go into the dish nonetheless frozen and add colour and greens with out one other prep step.
• Boursin: An entire puck melts within the middle of the casserole, then stirs into the broth and pesto for an ultra-creamy end.

How The Dump-And-Bake Technique Works

The casserole stays tightly coated so steam can cook dinner the dry orzo and uncooked rooster on the identical time. After baking, a 10-minute uncovered relaxation lets the orzo take up the remaining broth. Stirring within the melted Boursin final transforms that starchy cooking liquid and pesto right into a creamy sauce—no separate pot or roux required.

My High Ideas

• Maintain the rooster items even: Purpose for 1 to 1½-inch items so that they end cooking at roughly the identical time.
• Submerge the orzo: Stir effectively earlier than baking and ensure the pasta is sitting within the broth reasonably than piled above it.
• Cowl the dish tightly: Trapped steam is important for cooking the pasta. Crimp the foil securely across the edges of the pan.
• Verify each rooster and pasta: The orzo ought to be tender, and the rooster wants to succeed in 165ºF. Proceed baking in 5-minute increments if both one wants extra time.
• Don’t skip the remaining: The sauce thickens because the casserole sits, so give it the complete 10 minutes earlier than stirring within the cheese.

Straightforward Swaps

Any taste of Boursin can be utilized, although Garlic & Superb Herbs reinforces the pesto taste superbly. Boneless skinless rooster thighs can stand in for the breasts when minimize into evenly sized items; at all times confirm that the rooster reaches 165ºF. I don’t advocate swapping the orzo with out testing, as a result of one other pasta form could require a unique quantity of broth or baking time.

What To Serve With Hen Pesto Orzo

This casserole already has rooster, pasta, and peas, so it’s a full meal by itself. To stretch dinner for a crowd, pair it with a recent caprese quinoa salad or garlic Parmesan dinner rolls for scooping up the creamy pesto sauce.

Storage And Reheating

Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Orzo continues to soak up sauce because it sits, so add a splash of broth or water earlier than reheating gently within the microwave or on the stovetop.

Often Requested Questions