Chicken Orzo Bake (with Boursin)
Developed and tested by Robyn Conley Downs
on Mar 24, 2025 (last updated Apr 16, 2026) 
This simple baked chicken orzo is a dump-and-bake, one-pan dinner with Boursin cheese, pre-cooked chicken, orzo pasta, cherry tomatoes, and spinach. No chopping, no pre-cooking, and ready in 35 minutes!
Boursin Chicken Orzo Pasta is the Perfect Weeknight Dinner
I knew I hit gold when I first made this orzo with chicken recipe, and my daughter immediately asked me to make it again, which (between you and me) doesn’t happen very often. So what makes this dump-and-bake casserole work so well? For starters, the soft, tangy Boursin cheese already has seasonings and herbs, (just like in my sausage orzo butternut bake), and it adds sooo much extra flavor without extra work. Plus there’s juuust the right amount of liquid so the orzo pasta is tender and chewy, not mushy or stuck together.
To keep things super easy, you can use rotisserie chicken or my slow cooker shredded chicken, as either work really well. As an added bonus for using pre-cooked chicken, you don’t have to worry about the meat and pasta cooking at different times. Seriously, this baked chicken orzo truly is a one-pan meal since it has the chicken, pasta, and veggies all in one, as makes life so much simpler, especially when it’s family- and kid-approved! And for another creamy one-pan orzo dinner, my marry me chicken orzo uses a similar dump-and-bake approach with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. So good!
Welcome to My Kitchen, Let’s Make Creamy Chicken Orzo Pasta!
Make it Gluten Free
To make this 35-minute dinner gf, just swap in a gluten free orzo pasta brand you like.
Testing Tips for Creamy Baked Orzo, Every Time
- Give it a Stir: Stir everything before adding the cheese to ensure your orzo doesn’t burn on the bottom. And after you uncover and stir everything again, if the orzo is sticking to the pan, just give it a hefty stir to get it unstuck.
- Boursin: Just plop the Boursin cheese in the middle of your baking dish and nestle it down, no need to stir it into the dish.
- Pasta: Don’t substitute a different pasta shape! When I tested this with rotini, the liquid ratio was completely off and the dish came out watery and the pasta didn’t cook properly. Orzo is essential here because of how it absorbs the stock during baking.
- Oven: Make sure your oven is fully preheated to 425°F before the dish goes in. If the oven is still coming up to temp, the orzo won’t be done at 30 minutes.
- Set Time: The orzo will look loose when it first comes out of the oven. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. It firms up as it rests and absorbs the remaining liquid.
Chicken Orzo Bake (with Boursin)
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 of Boursin cheese
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups baby spinach
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Coat a 9×13 ceramic baking dish with cooking spray.
- Add the chicken, orzo, chicken stock, salt, and pepper, stirring until well combined.
- Nestle the Boursin cheese into the middle of the dish and sprinkle the cherry tomatoes evenly over the top. Do not stir.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Add the spinach, and stir until everything is well combined. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the orzo is completely cooked through.
- Stir again and serve. The casserole will continue to set as it cools, so if it's still a bit liquidy, just let it sit for 5- 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Oven Temp: Make sure your oven really is at 425°F, so your casserole cooks in just 30 minutes.
- Check for Doneness: Give the orzo a little test-taste at 30 minutes, and pop it back in the oven for 5 minutes if it’s not as chewy as you like.
This was an easy and delicious meal. I added Italian seasoning to it. We will defiantly be making this one again.
Donika, so happy to hear this one was a hit for you, thanks so much for leaving a reivew!
Was delicious, easy to make and the kids loved it!
Trista, yay, so happy to hear this one was a hit, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
OMG this was the best and easiest casserole. Followed the recipe but added fresh Rosemary, garlic powder and onion powder. For the chicken I used 2 cans of Costco chicken..
So happy to hear you enjoyed this one Mary Beth, and great to know it worked well with canned chicken. Thanks so much for your tips and for leaving a reivew!
This was dinner tonight. Easy to make. Easy to clean up. But most importantly, it was delicious!
Christine, yay, it’s checking all the boxes! So happy to hear this one was a hit, and thanks as always for leaving a review!
Another Winner!! LOVE how easy this was to throw together, bake, and enjoy:) As luck would have it, my grocery had Boursin at half off! (It was totally within dates too!). I’d never tried it, so this was my sign from the universe, as your recipe popped in my mailbox that same morning!
I forgot to get spinach at the store, so I used chard and kale from my garden for the greens:) DELISH!! I followed the recipe other than that, and appreciated how simple and quick this was, yielding a delicious dinner (veg included!!).
Thanks Robyn! I don’t have all the ‘busyness’ that most folks do in their lives, yet I still appreciate the ease, variety, and nutrition that your recipes provide:) Cheers!
Robin, woohoo, love that you were able to find Boursin on sale and try it for the first time. I bet garden grown kale was amazing in this, what a great swap! So happy you enjoyed, and thanks so much for leaving a review!
Super easy and super delish! I substituted about 3/4 of a can of white beans in tomato sauce for the cheese to make it dairy-free. The 2nd time I made this, I used arugula instead of spinach. Came out great! Truly a clutch option for when you get home from work late but still want a hot and nourishing dinner option.
Arlyn, thank you so much for sharing these tips and notes for making it dairy-free and the subs + swaps you used. So helpful! I appreciate you leaving a review, thanks so much!
Boursin also makes a lactose free version!
Janice, yes, thanks for sharing this tip, I know it will be helpful for others who are dairy-free! Trader Joe’s is also making a dairy-free version as well, if you happen to have a store near by. Thanks for your notes and for leaving a review!
This is so helpful to know!! Thank you! I was wondering about using chevre or sheep’s feta, but I will try the lactose or dairy free version of boursin!
You’re so welcome!
Hi, i made this the other evening and it was DELISH!!!!! I’ve given the recipe to all my friends and neighbors.
This dish will definitely be on rotation….
Thank you,
Sally D
Sally, yay, I love it when a recipe makes it into the regular rotation! Thanks so much for sharing and for leaving a review!
Delish! I added some asparagus and a squeeze of lemon!
Danae, ohhh, yum, I will definitely have to try this one with asparagus and lemon next time, yum! Thanks for sharing your tips and for leaving a review!
Did you still add the spinach or was that in place of it?
Sherry, I think either option would work!
This recipe is to die for!!! I could eat it everyday. The cheese is yummy. Before this I never knew what boursin cheese was! It’s absolutely delish
Janice, I agree with you about being able to eat this every day! I’m so happy you discovered how delicious Boursin cheese is as well. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
So easy to make, quick & super tasty! My husband said it tasted like a dish you’d find in Italy. Kid approved too.
Wonderful to hear this one was a hit! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review.
Great recipe. I’m enjoying it right now!
I found a similar recipe on Instagram. However, everything was in the metric system and I couldn’t find the video that showed how to assemble everything. Your recipe was great!
I’m wondering if flavored cream cheese would work similar to the Boursin.
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe, Mike! Yes, you can use cream cheese in place of the Boursin, keeping in mind a few things. While the cream cheese will give you the creamy texture, you’ll miss the garlic and herb flavors from the Boursin. In this case, I might recommend adding garlic (fresh minced or granulated garlic), and fresh or dried herbs like dill, parsley, and the like.
Yum!! Tasty and easy for a weeknight meal. Had some leftover rotisserie chicken and it came together so quickly. Excited for my lunch leftovers tomorrow.
Nicole, perfect use for rotisserie chicken right? So happy to hear it was a hit, thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a reivew!
Had to update, lunch was even better. I ate it cold and it reminded me of a pasta salad. Will definitely make again!
Nicole, ohhhhh, I love a good update! Great notes on eating this cold as leftovers with pasta salad vibes. Yum! Thanks for the follow-up. 🙂
This was delicious and as a non-cook, it was easy for the newbie. I roasted the chicken beforehand in the slow cooker and this will now become a staple in my rotation and meal prep. Thanks so much for the delicious recipe!
Stacy, yay, I’m so happy this was easy to make and I love that you used the slow cooker chicken too! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
Okay this recipe is top notch because oh so simple and still great flavor! Even my kids enjoyed it; ages 5 and 2. I made a simple spinach salad on the side with honey lemon vinaigrette. Will repeat!
Natalie, yay, happy to hear this orzo bake was enjoyed by all – and spinach salad with honey lemon vinaigrette sounds like the perfect side. Yum! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
Hi! My home smells amazing right now and I can’t wait to dig in. Procedure question: does the foil go back on the dish for the last five minutes. Mine is looking a little runny (but will surely still be delicious!)
Adrienne, the foil stays off the last few minutes. Once you take it out of the oven at the end and stir the orzo should absorb the remaining liquid so it should be creamy but not runny. I hope it was a hit!
Made this for tonight’s dinner and my husband and I agree it’s a keeper, and couldn’t have been easier. The only adjustments I made were to cut it in half because there are only two of us, and I mixed a bit of white wine with the chicken stock, just because it sounded good. It was!
My only regret is that now I wish I’d made the full recipe because I think it would be delicious leftover. Next time.
Quincy, great idea to add a little white wine, yum! And it does make really good leftovers! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
Thank you Robyn, I made this delicious meal this evening and my family loved it. I couldn’t find orzo at my supermarket so substituted small shells. Worked wonderfully. I also added fresh grated Parmesan on top for the last few minutes of baking. Serves with garlic cheese bread. One caution, If your family has as big an appetite as mine, you might only be able to serve 4, or maybe 5.
Kelly, yay, so happy to hear you enjoyed this one and thanks so much for sharing your notes! I actually updated the serving size to 5 based on your feedback, so thanks for that and for leaving a reivew!
ONG made this tonight for dinner with a simple salad so delicious. Will be making again!
Amie, yay, I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this one-thanks so much for sharing your notes and for leaving a review!
This is one of my new favorite recipes!!! I added diced onion and pepper and shredded zucchini for extra veggies. This is absolutely amazing!!!
Leigh-Ann, what a great idea to add extra veggies! Thanks for sharing your tips and for leaving a review. 🙂
Simple to make and delicious!
Happy to hear you enjoyed this one, Nicole!
So delicious!! I like things a bit spicy so I added more garlic and Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes per my family’s taste buds! This is a keeper, thank you
Erin, great idea to spice it up a bit! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
Hi! Can you double the recipe?
Ashlee, I haven’t tried it but I image so! You may need to add a bit more time to baking, since there will be more orzo and stock and therefor will take a bit more time to cook through. I’d start with 10 extra minutes, test, then add more time if needed. If you give it a try let me know how it turns out!
This has become one of my very favorites. I’m going to have to make a double batch next time so I can have left overs. My family and I devour it every time. Thanks for a fabulous, easy recipe!!
Michele, yay, so happy to hear this has become a favorite, it’s definitely one of ours as well! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
Thank you for great recipe! I cooked three chicken breasts and root veggies in water and ended up with bonus chicken noodle soup! Chopped most of the chicken for the casserole and added Tuscan seasoning. Sprinkled with feta at the end of cooking, too. Everyone was happy!
Lenka, sounds like some delicious additions! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed, and thanks so much for sharing your tips and for leaving a review!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Bueno
Glad you enjoyed this one, Monika!
Can I use frozen spinach?
Hi Doris, I haven’t tested this recipe with frozen spinach, so I can’t say for sure. If you decide to use frozen, make sure it’s completely defrosted and squeezed completely dry. Then start with maybe 1/2 cup and then add more if you think it needs it. If you give it a try let me know how it turns out!
My husband is not a casserole fan but he loved this! Super easy to make and so good that I’ve made it two weeks in a row. Second time I added panko and Parmesan on top and toasted for a little crunch.
Amy, so happy to hear even your husband enjoyed this one, and great idea to add a breadcrumb topping. Yum! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
So easy and yummy for a quick mid week dinner! My family loves it and they are picky eaters.
Yay, I love when a recipe appeals to everyone in the family, even the picky ones! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
This was delicious!
Can leftovers be frozen?
Linda, yes, this recipe freezes really well for up to three months! I like to defrost in the fridge over night, then give it a good stir when warming back up and you’re good to go. Happy to hear you enjoyed, and thanks for leaving a review!
I made this for a crowd and it was very popular. Needed it to be gluten free so I substituted Arborio rice and adjusted liquid and cook time slightly. Delicious!
Jennifer, I’m so happy to hear this one was a hit and what a great idea to sub rice with some adjustments! Thanks so much for sharing your notes and for leaving a review.
Just made it again last night. Hubby was a “no way” to spinach so I substituted broccoli. I really don’t think there is anyway to mess up this recipe. It’s really versatile and always tastes amazing
Jennifer, great to hear this one works with broccoli! Thanks for sharing your tips and for leaving a review!
My family loved this, and it was so easy! Thank you for sharing!
Dana, I’m so happy to hear this one was a hit with the family! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and leaving a review!
I made this last week for my husband and I. We could have eaten the entire 9×13 casserole dish of it but I saved the rest and froze it. We are having the rest of it tonight I.CAN’T. WAIT.! YUMMY!
Jane, great idea to freeze some for later! So happy to hear you enjoyed – thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
Great recipe. I have picky eaters in my home and they loved it! I’m wondering if you’ve made it with rice instead of the orzo. If so, does the cooking time have to be longer?
Thanks!
Hi Marisa, I have, with one small tweak. You will want to bring the stock to a boil prior to adding it the the recipe and cover tightly with foil from the beginning to ensure the long grain white rice is cooked properly. If you give it a try let me know how it turns out!
This recipe was a huge hit with my husband and daughters! It was quick and easy for a crazy weeknight. Everyone loved it, and we had leftovers too. Highly recommend!
Melissa, whoohoo, so happy to hear this one was a hit with the whole fam, I always love it when that happens! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review (as always!).
This is one of my absolute favorite meals! I’ve made it at least a dozen times since discovering it. I typically add additional seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, thyme & sage) but otherwise follow this recipe exactly. Thank you!
Megan, ohhhh, I love the idea of bumping up the seasonings a bit for even extra flavor. So happy to hear you enjoyed, and thanks so much for leaving a review!
I made this and substituted sun dried tomatoes for the cherry tomatoes, and veggie broth for the chicken broth. It was absolutely phenomenal! This is going on the regular rotation. Thank you for the recipe
Sandro, oh yum, your swaps sound delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your notes and for leaving a review!
I would like to double the chicken to make it higher protein. Should I add double the Boursin so that it doesn’t lose flavor with all of the chicken?
Hi Natalie, I don’t think you’d need to double the Boursin, but just make sure the chicken is well seasoned before going in to the dish. If you’re using rotisserie chicken you should be good to go. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Absolutely delicious. Perfect dish for me since I have a tooth ache.
Annlizeth, I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this chicken orzo! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review.
Made this for the first time about three weeks ago. Fabulous! Didn’t change a thing. My husband and I ate almost the whole dish by ourselves. Will be making it tonight with leftover turkey.
Jane, wonderful to hear you’re enjoying this one, and fantastic idea to add leftover turkey! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a reivew.
I used rotini because that’s what I had on hand, and I guess that was a mistake because it came out very soupy and the flavor of the Boursin was completely lost in the broth.
Hi Mary, you’re correct, rotini definitely can’t be substituted for orzo in this recipe. I hope you’ll give it another try with orzo if you get a chance!
So quick, easy, and delish!
Charlotte, I’m so happy to hear this one was a hit, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and leaving a reivew!
Drooling over this delicious comfort food! I used chicken breasts that I cooked stovetop with some olive oil/salt/pepper/Italian seasoning, cut into chunks, and it worked great! I was a little short on chicken stock, and it was still delicious, but I’m sure it would be even better with it!
Melissa, yay, I’m so happy to hear this one was a hit and great idea to cook your chicken first with seasonings! Thanks so much for sharing your tips and for leaving a review!
fabulous recipe, thank you! i added arugula along with the spinach and some additional seasonings. will definitely be making again! thank you!
Kelsey, wonderful, I’m so happy to hear this chicken orzo bake was a hit, and great idea to add arugula, yum! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and leaving a review!
This was so good!! Simple and easy to make too! Only substitution I made was I used 1/2 cup of sundried tomatoes because I didn’t have cherry tomatoes. My husband said we definitely need to add this one into the regular dinner rotation. Thanks for the fantastic recipe!
Allison, great sub idea! So happy you enjoyed, thanks for sharing your tips and leaving a review!
Mine came out very watery. I added pasta instead or orzo after it was done baking. What did I do wrong? Thank you.
Hi Merle, pasta won’t well in this recipe, that’s why I call for orzo. I’d recommend following the recipe next time for best results!
Easy and delicious, looking for some new high-protein meals that the family would eat. This is one pan, and it tastes like something you might get in a restaurant.
Stacey, wonderful to hear this was a high-protein family dinner hit! So happy to hear you enjoyed, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
What a lovely recipe for tired mothers of picky eaters! This came together in a jiffy and was met with approval from even my pickiest eater. I made a few dietary edits, making it gluten free and low acidity (no tomatoes). I used a box of Jovial brand brown rice orzo, an entire container of chicken broth, and subbed out tomatoes for frozen broccoli. An added dash of garlic powder and Italian herb seasoning…it turned out exceptionally well. Thank you Robyn!
Lyn, yay, I’m so happy to hear this one was a hit, and thanks for sharing your swaps and subs, especially for making it gluten-free!
Great taste and very easy!
Cathy, yay, I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this chicken orzo bake! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for leaving a review!
Such a wonderful and easy dinner! I did use sun dried tomatoes rather than fresh as that is what I had on hand. My husband and pregnant bonus gave it thumbs up! Will definitely be making again!
Julie, ohhhh, yum, I bet this one is lovely with sun-dried tomatoes. Thanks so much for sharing your notes and fore leaving a reivew!