Marry Me Chicken Sushi Bake (Printable)

Creamy chicken and orzo baked in savory muffin cups with basil and sun-dried tomatoes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken & Pasta

01 - 2 cups cooked orzo pasta (about 6.3 ounces dry)
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

→ Marry Me Sauce

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
09 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Assembly & Topping

12 - 2 large eggs
13 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
15 - 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
16 - Olive oil spray

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with olive oil spray.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add heavy cream, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
04 - Stir cooked chicken into the sauce and simmer for another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cooked orzo, chicken mixture, eggs, shredded mozzarella, and chopped basil. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
06 - Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin cups, pressing lightly to compact each portion.
07 - Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs over each cup and lightly mist with olive oil spray.
08 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until the tops are golden and set.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then loosen edges with a knife and carefully remove from muffin tin.
10 - Garnish each cup with additional fresh basil before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These bake cups are the perfect size for parties—elegant enough to impress, easy enough to eat standing up without a plate.
  • The creamy Marry Me sauce elevates simple orzo and chicken into something that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • They can be assembled ahead of time, which means less stress when guests arrive and more time to actually enjoy them.
02 -
  • If your eggs are too warm when you add them to the mixture, they can start to scramble in the bowl—wait until the sauce cools slightly or you'll end up with a grainy texture instead of a smooth binding.
  • Don't skip the cooling step in the muffin tin; those 5 minutes make the difference between cups that fall apart and ones that release cleanly and hold their shape on the plate.
03 -
  • Taste your sauce before mixing everything together—you can adjust seasoning when it's still in the pan rather than discovering it needs salt after everything is combined.
  • If you're out of fresh basil, use fresh parsley as a backup, but don't skip the fresh herb garnish at the end; it's what makes people's eyes light up when the plate lands in front of them.
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