French Onion Chicken Orzo

Charlotte

A cozy one-pan dinner inspired by classic French onion soup, made with tender chicken, deeply caramelized onions, and orzo simmered in savory broth, finished with melted cheese for rich comfort in every bite.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 40

Total Time 55

Course Dinner

Cuisine French

Servings Servings

Calories 520 kcal

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil or butter
3 large yellow onions thinly sliced
1 tsp salt divided
½ tsp black pepper
1½ lb chicken breasts or chicken thighs
3 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup orzo pasta uncooked
3 cups beef broth or chicken broth
1 bay leaf optional
¾ cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese

Instructions

Caramelize the onions

Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden and caramelized. Remove onions from the pan and set aside.

Cook the chicken

Season chicken with remaining salt and black pepper. Increase heat to medium and sear chicken in the same pan until golden on both sides (about 3–4 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.

Build the orzo base

Reduce heat slightly. Add garlic and thyme to the pan and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in orzo and toast lightly for 1 minute.

Simmer

Pour in broth and add bay leaf. Stir well, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Return caramelized onions and chicken to the pan.

Finish cooking

Cover and simmer for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and chicken is cooked through. Add more broth if needed.

Add cheese

Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Cover for 2–3 minutes until melted.

Serve

Remove bay leaf and serve warm.

Notes

For extra richness, stir in 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream before adding cheese.
Chicken thighs stay juicier, but chicken breasts work well too.
Use beef broth for classic French onion flavor or chicken broth for a lighter taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 38gFat: 26gSodium: 820mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6g

Keyword French Onion Chicken Orzo

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!