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Here’s a FULL DETAILED RECIPE for Greek Chicken Orzo Bake with Lemon Feta Sauce — creamy, tangy, and bursting with Mediterranean flavors. 🥗🍋🐔
🍋 Greek Chicken Orzo Bake with Lemon Feta Sauce
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
Total Time: 50–55 minutes
Servings: 4–6
⭐ Ingredients
For the Chicken & Orzo
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, diced
- 1 cup orzo pasta (uncooked)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- Salt & black pepper to taste
For the Lemon Feta Sauce
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup cream or milk
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt & pepper to taste
Optional Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Kalamata olives, halved
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season diced chicken with salt, pepper, and a pinch of oregano.
- Sear chicken until lightly browned but not fully cooked (about 4–5 minutes).
- Remove from skillet and set aside.
Step 3: Sauté Vegetables
- In the same skillet, add onion, garlic, bell pepper, and zucchini.
- Sauté for 3–4 minutes until slightly softened.
- Add cherry tomatoes and cook another 2 minutes.
Step 4: Combine Orzo and Chicken
- In the greased baking dish, combine:
- uncooked orzo
- partially cooked chicken
- sautéed vegetables
- chicken broth
- oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper
- Stir gently to combine.
Step 5: Make Lemon Feta Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together:
- feta cheese
- Greek yogurt
- cream/milk
- lemon juice and zest
- minced garlic
- salt & pepper
- Pour sauce evenly over the chicken-orzo mixture.
Step 6: Bake
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25–30 minutes, until orzo is tender and chicken is fully cooked.
- Remove foil and bake another 5–10 minutes to let the top lightly brown.
Step 7: Serve
- Garnish with chopped parsley and Kalamata olives if desired.
- Serve warm as a hearty main dish.
💡 Tips & Variations
- Make it lighter: Use low-fat Greek yogurt and skip cream.
- Vegetarian option: Substitute chicken with chickpeas or roasted cauliflower.
- Extra flavor: Add sun-dried tomatoes or spinach to the bake.
- Meal prep: Keeps well in the fridge for 3–4 days; reheat before serving.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free orzo.
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