Pesto Chicken Orzo Bake (One Pan, High Protein)

This Chicken Orzo Bake is a creamy, high-protein one-pan dinner that combines tender chicken, broccoli, orzo, and a blended pesto cottage cheese sauce in under an hour. The cottage cheese melts into the sauce for a rich, creamy texture without heavy cream, while the bone broth adds extra flavor and protein. Everything bakes in one dish; there’s no need to cook the chicken first, and cleanup is minimal. 

A Quick Look At The Recipe

• ✅ Recipe Name: Pesto Chicken Orzo Bake
• 🕐 Ready In: 45 minutes
• 👥 Serves: 6 servings
• 🔢 Calories: 582 cal
• 🥣 Main Ingredients: full-fat cottage cheese, basil pesto, dry orzo pasta, 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, small broccoli florets, cherry tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning
• ⭐ Why You'll Love It: This Chicken Orzo Bake is a creamy one-pan dinner made with tender chicken, broccoli, orzo, pesto, and blended cottage cheese for a rich sauce without heavy cream. Packed with protein and baked in a single dish, it's an easy, family-friendly meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.

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This simple chicken and orzo bake was created on a busy weeknight when I didn’t want to juggle multiple pots and pans at dinnertime. I wasn’t sure how my kids would feel about the cottage cheese blended into the sauce, but they didn’t even notice it was there. It simply made the dish extra creamy while giving each serving 43g of protein.

Now it’s one of those reliable dinners I turn to when I need something wholesome, filling, and guaranteed to be a hit around the table. Looking for more easy recipes packed with pesto flavor? Be sure to try red pesto pasta and pesto pasta salad. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This healthy chicken and orzo bake checks all the boxes for a busy weeknight meal. It’s high in protein, made in one pan, packed with vegetables, and requires very little hands-on time.

The creamy pesto sauce feels comforting enough for a family dinner while still being nourishing and meal-prep friendly. 

– Lyuda

Ingredients

• Cottage Cheese: Full-fat cottage cheese creates the creamy base for the sauce. Blend it with the pesto until completely smooth, so it melts seamlessly into the casserole. Cottage cheese is one of my favorite ways to boost protein, and it’s also delicious in these sweet potato beef bowls. 
• Basil Pesto: Store-bought pesto works perfectly and adds plenty of flavor with minimal effort. Choose a good-quality basil pesto for the best results.
• Orzo: Use dry, uncooked orzo for this recipe. It absorbs the broth and sauce as it bakes, creating a creamy texture throughout the dish.
• Chicken Bone Broth: Bone broth adds richer flavor and a boost of protein compared to regular broth. Chicken broth can be substituted if that’s what you have available.
• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs both work well. Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces so everything cooks evenly.
• Broccoli: Small broccoli florets hold their texture during baking and add color and nutrition to the casserole. Keeping the pieces small ensures they cook evenly throughout this chicken broccoli orzo bake. 
• Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes soften and burst in the oven, adding sweetness and freshness that balances the creamy sauce.
• Parmesan Cheese: Stir Parmesan in at the end of cooking for the best texture. It adds a savory, cheesy finish and helps bring the sauce together.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free orzo in place of traditional orzo. Because brands vary, you may need to adjust the amount of broth slightly and keep an eye on the baking time. 
• Protein Swap: Replace the chicken with cooked Italian sausage or use rotisserie chicken for an easy shortcut. If using cooked meat, just cook until the casserole is heated through, about 25-30 minutes.
• Make It Spicy: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the casserole for a little heat that balances the creamy sauce. 
• Extra Veggies: Stir in diced zucchini, mushrooms, or chopped bell peppers to add more vegetables and stretch the recipe even further. 
• Sun-Dried Tomato Version: Swap the cherry tomatoes for chopped sun-dried tomatoes for a deeper, more concentrated flavor. It gives the chicken pesto orzo bake a slightly richer, more savory finish.

How to Make a Chicken Orzo Bake 

This chicken broccoli orzo casserole comes together easily in one baking dish with just a few simple prep steps before it goes into the oven. Start by preheating the oven to 375°F so everything bakes evenly from the start.

Step 1: Blend the Sauce.

Blend the cottage cheese and pesto until completely smooth and creamy. This is what creates that rich, silky sauce throughout the bake.

Step 2: Add Everything to the Dish.

Add the dry orzo, chicken, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, garlic, seasoning, and the blended pesto mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

Step 3: Pour in the Broth and Stir.

Pour the chicken bone broth over everything and stir well until the orzo is fully submerged. This helps it cook evenly and soak up all the flavor as it bakes.

Step 4: Bake and Finish.

Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the orzo is tender, then stir and let it rest so the sauce thickens up. Serve warm, and if you want a fresh starter on the side, try it with my avocado cucumber and corn salad for a light, crisp pairing.

If you enjoy easy one-pan dinners, you’ll also love my creamy chicken sausage orzo bake.

Expert Tips

• Blend the cottage cheese completely: Even small curds can affect the final texture, so blend until perfectly smooth.
• Make sure the orzo is covered by liquid:  Any exposed pasta may cook unevenly during baking.
• Don’t overbake the casserole: Orzo continues absorbing liquid as it rests, so it’s okay if the dish looks slightly saucy when it comes out of the oven.
• Let it rest before serving: A 5 to 10 minute rest allows the sauce to thicken and the orzo to finish cooking.
• Store leftovers properly: Refrigerate leftover chicken and orzo bake in an airtight container for up to 4 days. When reheating, add a splash of broth before microwaving to bring back the creamy texture. I do not recommend freezing this dish because the orzo can become mushy after thawing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Orzo Bake

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If you make this, I’d love to hear how it turned out – a star rating or a note in the comments helps others find the recipe and helps me know what’s working in your kitchen. Tag me @gracefilledkitchen in your photos on social media so I can see your creations.