Name: Baked Chicken Orzo with Boursin, Cherry Tomatoes, and Spinach Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (such as from a rotisserie chicken); 1 ½ cups orzo pasta; 3 cups low-sodium chicken stock; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 5.3 ounces Boursin cheese; 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes; 2 cups baby spinach

Description

This Baked Chicken Orzo with Boursin cheese is a comforting and flavorful casserole that combines tender shredded chicken, creamy Boursin cheese, fresh spinach, and juicy cherry tomatoes baked together with orzo pasta. It’s an easy one-dish meal perfect for weeknight dinners, delivering a creamy texture and vibrant flavors in under an hour.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

3 cups cooked shredded chicken (such as from a rotisserie chicken)
1 ½ cups orzo pasta
3 cups low-sodium chicken stock
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5.3 ounces Boursin cheese
1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes
2 cups baby spinach

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it reaches the correct temperature for even baking of the casserole.
Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly coat a 9×13 ceramic baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Combine Ingredients: In the baking dish, add the shredded chicken, orzo pasta, chicken stock, salt, and black pepper. Stir gently to combine everything evenly.
Add Cheese and Tomatoes: Nestle the Boursin cheese in the center of the mixture without stirring it in. Then sprinkle the cherry tomatoes evenly over the top to retain their shape and add bursts of flavor.
Bake Covered: Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to cook the orzo and let flavors meld.
Add Spinach and Stir: After 30 minutes, remove the foil, add the baby spinach to the dish, and stir gently until all ingredients are well mixed and spinach begins to wilt.
Finish Baking: Return the dish to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the orzo is tender and the casserole is heated through.

Notes

Oven Temperature: Ensure your oven is fully preheated to 425°F before baking to allow the orzo to cook properly within the time frame.
Check for Doneness: Taste the orzo after 30 minutes of baking; if it’s not as tender as you prefer, continue baking for an extra 5 minutes before adding the spinach.