Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole
Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole pairs juicy seared chicken thighs with tender, buttery orzo that soaks up savory broth and melted Parmesan. Bright hits of lemon, briny sun‑dried tomatoes, and wilted spinach balance richness for a cozy yet vibrant bite. It’s perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend family meal.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 10 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 55 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 19
- Heart Health
- 68
- Metabolic
- 35
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 35
- Performance
- 36
- General Wellness
- 1
Assemble all ingredients, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- 2
Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.
- 3
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken thighs and cook until seared and lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer the browned chicken to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
- 4
Lower the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the Dutch oven, then add the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- 5
Add the butter to the Dutch oven. Once melted, add the orzo and quickly stir until fully coated with butter. Carefully pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the Dutch oven with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
- 6
Bake, covered, in the preheated oven until the orzo has absorbed most of the liquid, about 15 minutes.
- 7
Remove the Dutch oven from the oven. Stir in the spinach, Parmesan, dried tomatoes, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- 8
Nestle the chicken thighs into the orzo mixture. Cover, return to the oven, and bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and an instant-read thermometer inserted near the center reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
- Calories 801.89 kcal High 40%
- Protein 36.61 g Good Source 73%
- Carbohydrate 79.36 g 29%
- Total Fat 36.69 g High 47%
- Saturated Fat 11.62 g High 58%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 129.59 mg High 43%
- Sodium 883.25 mg High 38%
- Dietary Fiber 4.63 g Moderate 17%
- Total Sugars 2.4 g --
- Added Sugars 0.04 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 341.12 mg Good Source 26%
- Iron 4.85 mg Good Source 27%
- Potassium 532.42 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin A 24.63 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 28.81 mg Good Source 32%
- Vitamin D 0.09 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Lemon Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole is made with 14 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 1 hr and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Baby Spinach, Black Pepper, Butter, and Chicken Broth. Each serving provides about 801.89 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole made of?
- The main ingredients are Baby Spinach, Black Pepper, Butter, Chicken Broth, Chicken Thigh. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole?
- About 1 hr in total: 20 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 801.89 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole healthy?
- Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Orzo Casserole has an easyChef Pro health score of 41/100. Per serving, it provides 801.89 calories and 36.61 g of protein, or 73% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium, iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 883.25 mg (38% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 11.62 g (58% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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