One Pan Hen Caprese Orzo Bake

Need a straightforward dinner that delivers taste however screams consolation? That is it.

A ravishing one pan rooster caprese orzo bake that turns the flavors of a contemporary caprese salad into a comfortable, tacky baked pasta dinner. Each kiddos and adults will love the creamy pesto orzo, gooey mozzarella cheese topping, and candy balsamic glaze!

I examined this recipe a number of alternative ways first in order that I knew it was tremendous simple to make with easy elements. You’ll bake the whole lot up in below half-hour, and you’ll even add add additional veggies when you’d like! Get this one in your dinner menu ASAP. It’s sure to change into a brand new favourite from yours actually.

The whole lot you’ll must make these caprese orzo bake

You’re going to like how simple and flavorful the whole lot on this dish comes collectively. Right here’s what you’ll must make it:

Hen: we’re utilizing boneless skinless rooster thighs for additional taste on this recipe. They’re practically not possible to overcook which makes them good for this recipe.
Orzo: I really like how creamy and tender the orzo will get right here. You’ll first simmer it with garlic, a shallot, low-sodium rooster broth, basil pesto, and lemon juice.
Cherry tomatoes: gotta have contemporary tomatoes for the “caprese” a part of the dish! Cherry tomatoes will get good and jammy after baking with the orzo.
For topping: you’ll add contemporary slices of mozzarella cheese (or shredded cheese works simply effective) as the ultimate step, after which garnish with a balsamic glaze and contemporary basil. SO GOOD.

Customise your caprese baked orzo

Use your fav pesto: be happy to make use of a store-bought pesto for ease, or use the simple basil pesto from my cookbook!
Decide your pasta: any quick pasta form ought to work properly in right here (even pearl couscous!)
Add a lift of veggies: add some greens to this recipe by stirring in about 2 to 4 cups of spinach with the garlic till wilted.

Can I make it gluten-free or dairy-free?

To make gluten-free: use gluten-free orzo or rice. If utilizing rice, I counsel utilizing 1 1/2 to 2 cups of rinsed, raw white rice. Sadly, brown rice will take too lengthy to prepare dinner.
To make dairy-free: skip the mozzarella topping or add your favourite dairy-free cheese on prime! Then make sure you use a dairy-free pesto.

Attempt a do-it-yourself balsamic glaze

You should purchase premade balsamic glaze from many grocery shops, nevertheless it’s additionally SO simple to make proper at house with only one ingredient (sure, it’s simply balsamic vinegar!):

Add 1 cup balsamic vinegar to a small pot and place over medium warmth. You may as well add in a teaspoon of sugar in order for you it rather less acidic tasting.
Convey to a slight boil, then cut back warmth to low and simmer, stirring each jiffy till it thickens, reduces in half, and coats the again of a spoon, about 20 minutes.
If the glaze thickens an excessive amount of, merely reheat till it has thinned and might be simply drizzled onto the caprese baked orzo. Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 months.

The way to make this rooster caprese orzo bake

Brown the rooster. Begin by browning the rooster thighs in olive oil, salt, and pepper in a giant braiser. As soon as browned set them apart on a plate.
Prep the orzo. Prepare dinner down the garlic and shallot in the identical pot, then add the broth, pesto, orzo, lemon juice, and salt and convey to a simmer.
Add the rooster. Nestle the rooster into the simmering orzo, then scatter the cherry tomatoes round it. Convey the whole lot to a boil.
Bake, garnish & devour. Bake the the whole lot till the orzo is tender, then prime with mozzarella slices and broil till bubbly and barely golden. Prime with balsamic glaze and contemporary basil and luxuriate in!

Storing ideas

You may retailer any leftover rooster caprese baked orzo in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days. Merely reheat within the microwave.

Extra one pan dinners you’ll love

Get all of my one pan meals right here!

I hope you like this one pan rooster caprese orzo bake! Should you make it make sure you go away a remark and a ranking so I understand how you preferred it. Take pleasure in, xo!

The
Formidable Kitchen
Cookbook

125 Ridiculously Good For You, Typically Indulgent, and Completely By no means Boring Recipes for Each Meal of the Day

One Pan Hen Caprese Baked Orzo

Prep Time 15 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 25 minutes

Complete Time 40 minutes

Serves6 servings

Straightforward one pan rooster caprese orzo bake simmered with juicy cherry tomatoes and basil pesto, after which baked to perfection with melty mozzarella cheese. Prime it off with contemporary basil and a drizzle of candy balsamic glaze. Kiddos and adults will love this protein-packed caprese baked orzo — the proper household dinner!

Elements

Hen
1 ½ to 2 kilos boneless skinless rooster thighs (about 6 medium thighs)
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly floor black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Orzo
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, diced
3 ½ cups low-sodium rooster broth
⅓ cup basil pesto
1 pound dry orzo
½ lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pint cherry tomatoes (1 ½ cups)
Toppings
6 ounces whole-milk mozzarella, reduce into 8 skinny slices (or sub 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella)
2 to three tablespoons balsamic glaze
¼ cup contemporary torn basil leaves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 levels F.
Put together the rooster: Pat the rooster dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
Brown the rooster: Place an oven-safe giant dutch oven or a 3.5 quart braiser over medium-high warmth and add within the oil. Add within the rooster and prepare dinner till golden brown, about 3 to five minutes per facet. You don’t want to prepare dinner all through, as it is going to end cooking within the oven. Take away from the pan and switch to a plate.
Put together and prepare dinner the orzo: Cut back warmth to medium and add in one other tablespoon of oil, then instantly add within the garlic and shallot. Prepare dinner, stirring steadily, till garlic is aromatic, about 1 minute. Subsequent, stir within the rooster broth and pesto whereas scraping up any yummy bits from the underside of the pan. Stir within the orzo, lemon juice, and salt, and blend till properly mixed. Convey combination to a delicate simmer. Organize the rooster on prime, together with any amassed rooster juices on the plate, and gently nestle into the orzo combination, then scatter the tomatoes throughout the rooster. Convey combination to a delicate boil.
Bake: Place within the oven and bake, uncovered, for 15 to twenty minutes or till orzo is tender and cooked although. Take away from the oven and add slices of mozzarella cheese on prime of the rooster. Change the oven to the broiler setting on excessive and broil till the cheese is melted and barely golden brown in locations, 2 to three minutes.
End with toppings: Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the rooster and orzo. End it off with contemporary torn or julienned basil leaves.

Recipe Notes

Make it nutrient-dense: Add in a 5 (ounce) bag of spinach (about 4 cups) straight in step 4 with the garlic and prepare dinner till wilted.
To make gluten-free: use gluten-free orzo or rice. If utilizing rice, I counsel utilizing 1 1/2 to 2 cups of rinsed, raw white rice. Sadly, brown rice will take too lengthy to prepare dinner.
To make dairy-free: omit the mozzarella topping or use your favourite dairy-free cheese on prime.