🍋 Greek Chicken Orzo Bake with Lemon Feta Sauce

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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

  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Season diced chicken with salt, pepper, and a pinch of oregano.
  3. Sear chicken until lightly browned but not fully cooked (about 4–5 minutes).
  4. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Step 3: Sauté Vegetables

  1. In the same skillet, add onion, garlic, bell pepper, and zucchini.
  2. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until slightly softened.
  3. Add cherry tomatoes and cook another 2 minutes.

Step 4: Combine Orzo and Chicken

  1. In the greased baking dish, combine:
    • uncooked orzo
    • partially cooked chicken
    • sautéed vegetables
    • chicken broth
    • oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper
  2. Stir gently to combine.

Step 5: Make Lemon Feta Sauce

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together:
    • feta cheese
    • Greek yogurt
    • cream/milk
    • lemon juice and zest
    • minced garlic
    • salt & pepper
  2. 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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