Tired of chicken and orzo recipes with dry orzo pasta or bland chicken? This Greek chicken and orzo pasta in tomato sauce is rich, saucy and packed with comfort in every bite. It's the kind of orzo dish that will make your whole house smell like home.
This chicken and orzo bake is a staple in every Greek home. Juicy chicken, tender orzo pasta, and a rich tomato sauce that soaks into every grain. It's the Greek answer to comfort food; Hearty enough for Sunday dinner, simple enough for a weeknight. If you love orzo dishes, this recipe will win you over.
Straight from my mom's kitchen, this baked orzo with chicken isn't just dinner, it's tradition on a plate. What makes this Greek orzo dish different from other chicken and orzo recipes is the balance of rustic technique and a few smart tweaks I'll share with you. Traditionally, it's finished in the oven, but you can also make it entirely on the stove (more on that below).
If you like this chicken orzo pasta don't miss this Greek baked chicken recipe (with potatoes), and this Bamya recipe (a Mediterranean okra stew with chicken). Also make sure to try the lemony variation, this Greek lemon chicken and orzo recipe in one pan.
📋 Ingredient notes
To make this chicken and orzo recipe you'll need the following ingredients:
Chicken: For the best taste, bone-in chicken with the skin is best. If it's free range it's even better! I usually ask my butcher to cut a whole chicken into 6 pieces but you can also use the chicken cuts of your choice.
Orzo: In Greece orzo pasta comes in two sizes: fine (small) which is approximately the size of rice and large (thicker). For most of my recipes I prefer using the large size.
👉 Love orzo? Don't miss these 15 orzo recipes you'll make on repeat!
Tomatoes: If it's summer and you can find juicy, ripe tomatoes, use them by cutting them in the middle and grating them on the coarse side of a box grater. Other times I use canned tomatoes and puree them in the blender, or crushed tomatoes from a carton.
White wine: The alcohol will evaporate during cooking, but if you don't want or don't like wine then you can use chicken broth instead or even water.
Red pepper: It's not traditionally used in Youvetsi recipes, so you can leave it out, but I love the flavor it adds.
For the full list of ingredients with quantities, please see the recipe card ⬇️ at the end of this post.
👨🍳 Expert Tips
Follow these tips to make the best chicken orzo pasta every time!
✅ Take the chicken out of the refrigerator while you prep the ingredients and pat dry with paper towels before sauteing. This helps it brown better and reduces oil splashes.
✅ If the oil splaters while sautéing the meat, cover the pan loosely with a lid, leaving a gap for the steam to escape.
✅ Sauté the tomato puree for 1 minute to deepen its flavor, then deglaze with the wine.
✅ Orzo keeps cooking and absorbing liquid as it rests. Take it out of the oven while it's still slightly undercooked, then let it stand for 20 minutes.
🎥 Video
Watch this short video for how to make Greek chicken and orzo in tomato sauce:
🎵 Music on Video: Folk bed Musician: Audionautix.com
📖 Recipe
Greek chicken and orzo pasta in tomato sauce (Youvetsi)
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- ½ (750 g) chicken (cut into pieces)
- 1 ½ tablespoons (20 g) olive oil
- ½ onion (grated or chopped)
- ½ red bell pepper (chopped)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 clove of garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ cup (120 g) white wine
- 1 cup (240 g) pureed tomatoes
- 1 ½ teaspoons fine salt (or to taste)
For the orzo pasta:
- 8.8 oz (250 g) orzo pasta (large size)
- 1 ½ tablespoon (20 g) olive oil
- 2 ¼ cups (540 g) boiling water
For serving:
- Grated cheese such as dry Mizithra, Kefalotyri, Parmesan or crumbled feta.
Instructions
- Place a deep pot over high heat and when it's hot, add the olive oil and the chicken. Sauté until the meat is brown from one side (about 4 minutes), then flip and sauté from the other side (about 4 minutes more).
- Add the onion and the red pepper and stir until the vegetables are soft (about 3 minutes). Then add the black pepper, allspice, and bay leaf and stir for one more minute.
- Add the tomato paste and rub it on the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to caramelize, about 1 minute. Then add the wine, pureed tomatoes and salt. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook covered for 25 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 360°F (180°C), top and bottom heat setting, not fan-forced.Transfer the orzo pasta and the olive oil to a casserole dish (see note #3 for casserole size) and stir until the orzo is coated with the olive oil. Shake gently to level the surface.
- Add the chicken on top of the orzo and pour the tomato sauce over the chicken. Add the boiling water and stir gently to distribute the sauce evenly. Bake for 30 minutes. If the orzo looks dry at the end of baking, add a splash of boiling water.
- Take the Youvetsi out of the oven - it should still have some liquid bubbling on the surface. Let it sit for 15 minutes for the orzo to absorb the extra liquid and the sauce to become thick and glossy. Serve plain or with grated cheese on top.
Notes
👉 How to make it on the stove (no bake method)
➡️ Follow steps 1 to 3 but cook the chicken over the stove until completely cooked through, about 40 minutes. ➡️ Then transfer the chicken pieces to a plate, and add the orzo, olive oil and boiling water to the pot. Stir well cover the pot with a lid and simmer very gently for 15 minutes. Stir every 2-3 minutes otherwise the orzo will stuck on the bottom of the pot (for the same reason avoid intense boiling). ➡️ After 15 minutes, return the chicken to the pot, turn off the heat and let the pot sit covered, for additional 20 minutes. The orzo will continue cooking with the residual heat. Serve immediately with grated cheese. .Similar Recipes to Try:
Nutrition
💭 FAQs
Tomato sauce is one of the best pairings for orzo because the pasta's small, rice-like shape soaks up the flavor beautifully. A simple sauce made with ripe tomatoes, olive oil, onion, garlic, and a touch of spices turns orzo into pure comfort food. The starch from the orzo mingles with the sauce as it cooks, making it naturally silky and rich without needing much else. Add crumbled feta, mizithra or Kefalotyri for a Greek touch, or finish with parmesan and fresh herbs for a more Italian feel. Either way, tomato sauce and orzo is a timeless, satisfying match.
Chicken orzo can be a healthy meal when made with the right balance of ingredients. The chicken provides lean protein, while orzo delivers energy-rich complex carbs, and if you cook it with tomatoes, onions, and other vegetables, you add fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. For an even healthier dish, use whole wheat orzo pasta.
If you tried this Greek Chicken with Orzo Recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Mary says
One of the best chicken Youvetsi I’ve made and with clear and easy instructions.
Makos says
Thanks Mary , I appreciate it!
George says
This chicken and orzo with tomato sauce was just like the one my mom used to make... My whole family loved this and asked me to make it again next week 🙂
Makos says
That’s great, enjoy!!!
Efi says
We make this at least once a month (we alternate with your lemon baked chicken and orzo) and everyone in my family loves it!
Makos says
Thanks so much Efi!