One-Pot Trader Joe’s Creamy Chicken & Rice Orzo Bake with Crispy Stuffing Topping (Recipe)
ChatGPT came up with this recipe, actually – and I’m saving it here for the future. It’s creamy, crunchy, savory + super easy for a weeknight November dinner.
One-Pot Trader Joe’s Creamy Chicken & Rice Orzo Bake with Crispy Stuffing Topping
Ingredients
- 1 box TJ's Rice Orzo Pilaf Mix
- 1–1½ lbs chicken breasts, cut into quarters (or bite sized pieces, which my family would have preferred)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups chicken broth (plus more if needed)
- ½ cup half-and-half
- ½ tsp thyme
- Kinder's The Blend
- 1 cup dry stuffing mix
- 2 tbsp butter
- TJ's crispy fried shallots (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a 12-inch oven-safe cast iron skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in broth and half-and-half. Add seasonings and the rice mix's seasoning packet.
Stir in uncooked rice-orzo and nestle chicken pieces into the sauce. Add broth if needed to submerge the rice.
Bring to a gentle simmer, cover with an oven-safe lid or tin foil, and bake for 30–35 minutes. Continue cooking as needed until the rice is tender and chicken reaches 165°F.
Remove lid and bake uncovered for 5–8 minutes if the sauce is too watery.
Sprinkle stuffing and panko over the top. Dot with butter.
Bake uncovered another 10–12 minutes until golden and crispy. Finish with crispy fried shallots!
Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
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A little tip: Stuffing is perfect for fall, but panko, Parmesan, or crispy fried onions would make this a great year-round dinner.
Pair it: A Good French Sauvignon Blanc
Made in my Smithey cast iron skillet. One pot, very little cleanup, and everyone loved it.
