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This chicken farro casserole is a wholesome meal that will fill you up and satisfy your cravings. The combination of juicy chicken, nutty farro, sundried tomatoes, and cheese makes this dish a hearty, filling dinner. Serve it with our strawberry spinach salad or sauteed beet greens for a delicious meal.
If you have been including more healthy grains in your diet and have yet to try farro, this recipe for Chicken Farro Bake will satisfy you. It’s a one pot meal that is easy to make, full of protein, and makes excellent leftovers.
Have you noticed lately that farro has been appearing on the menus in even the fanciest restaurants? This ancient grain is making a come-back to our modern times.
What is farro?
Farro refers to three ancient species of wheat: einkorn, emmer, and spelt. These grains are known for their high nutritional value and are considered more healthy than modern-day wheat. Farro has a nutty, earthy flavor and a chewy texture when cooked.
? The Ingredients
Here is a list of the ingredients you will need for this chicken farro recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details.
- Farro wheat berries
- Fresh mushrooms
- Leeks. You can substitute with onions if you want.
- Garlic.
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Chicken broth
- Sour cream
- Monterey jack cheese
- Chicken thighs (bone-in)
- Sea and freshly ground pepper
How to Make It
Farro and chicken come together in this dish to create a comforting meal that will become a regular go-to in your kitchen.
Here is a brief overview to get an idea of what to expect with this chicken farro recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details.
- Cook the farro, then transfer it to a casserole dish and add the mushrooms.
- Saute the leeks and garlic in a skillet, then add them to the dish with the farro. Spread the drained sun-dried tomatoes over the leeks.
- Whisk the chicken broth and sour cream together and pour over the casserole.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top and add the chicken thigh, skin side up.
- Transfer to the oven and bake.
The chicken thighs get so tender and juicy. As the chicken cooks on top, the juices drip through the casserole and add extra flavor to the farro and veggies.
Cheese choices to use in Farro Chicken Bake:
For the cheesy layer, we used shredded Monterey Jack. Here are a few cheese choices that could be substituted:
- Fontina
- Gruyère
- Gouda
- Ricotta
- Crumbled Feta
Tips for This Chicken Farro Dinner
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check the doneness of the chicken. The internal temperature should reach 165°F when done.
- If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can check for doneness by cutting into the thickest part of the chicken and ensuring the juices run clear.
- For added crunch, top the finished casserole with toasted breadcrumbs before baking.
- We cooked the farro on the stovetop, but you can make Instant Pot Farro if you prefer.
- Using skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs helps keep the chicken from drying out. If you use skinless, boneless chicken thighs, reduce the cooking time.
For More Recipes with Chicken Thighs
- Chicken with white wine
- Oven roasted chicken thighs
- Crockpot chicken thighs
- Honey glazed chicken thighs
- Moroccan chicken stew
- Chicken and dumplings
Storage and Reheating
This chicken farro dinner is even better the next day. Store the leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy it as a quick and easy lunch or dinner throughout the week! Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3 days, and they reheat well in the microwave.
You can freeze the farro casserole for up to 3 months if you store it in a freezer-proof container.
If you’re looking for an easy, flavorful, and healthy meal that will satisfy the whole family, this Chicken Farro Bake is a great option. It’s simple to prepare with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry or refrigerator.
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Chicken Farro Casserole
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1-½ cup farro wheat berries
- 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 2 leeks, white parts only, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained of oil
- 1-½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese, about 4 ounces
- 6 chicken thighs, bone-in
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- Paprika dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13 oven-proof casserole dish with oil spray
- Add the oil to a large pot set over medium heat and when it is hot add the farro berries, stirring to coat with the oil. Cook the farro, stirring frequently until they become toasty. You will hear them pop and crackle as they toast. Pour 6 cups of water over the farro and bring to a boil. Cook the farro until it al-dente or still has a little bite. It should take 15 to 30 minutes depending on the type of farro you have.
- Drain the farro and transfer it to the prepared casserole dish, spreading evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Add the sliced mushrooms on top of the toasted farro in an even layer.
- To the same skillet, add the sliced leeks and the garlic and cook until the leeks become wilted and the garlic is fragrant. Transfer to the casserole and spread evenly on top of the mushrooms. Distribute the drained sun-dried tomatoes over the leeks. In a dish or pitcher, whisk the chicken broth and sour cream together and pour over the casserole.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top and add the chicken thigh, skin side up. Season with salt and pepper and dust lightly with paprika.
- Transfer the baking dish to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes until the chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- If using boneless chicken breasts, reduce the bake time to 30-40 minutes.
- The safe temperature for either bone-in or boneless chicken thighs is 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
Amazing Pat! I searched Farro/Chicken Thigh/Cast Iron and found your recipe. I salted/peppered/red pepper flaked over the layers as the layers ae built, and then freshly grated parmesan over the top once plated. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Wow! Erik, that sounds awesome! I’m so pleased that this recipe was well received by you…thank you for your feedback! We love hearing from our readers on how these recipes work for them. ?
I used uncooked farro and toasted that and baked the casserole at 375 for 45 min. The farro didnot absorb the chicken broth sauce as I thought it would. the farro was hard but nutty flavored. The instructions did not say to cook the farro before toasting it. Did I do something wrong?
Hi, Ruth…Thank you for your feedback. No, you did not do anything wrong when you made this recipe. Some packages of farro needs a little more baking time to soften. Cooking another 5 minutes should work. I will put a note in the recipe to check the farro for doneness. Thanks again for your comments.
Have you made it with chicken breasts? If so, what the the cooking time?
Hi, Stephanie….thanks for that great question! No, I have not used chicken breasts in this recipe but it would definitely be delicious. Since chicken breasts would cook faster than the thighs they would be over-cooked if they baked at the same time as the thighs in the recipe. How I would do this is to prepare the casserole as instructed but not add the chicken breasts. Bake the casserole for 15 minutes, remove the dish from the oven and add the chicken breasts then bake the casserole for the remaining 30 minutes. When done the internal temp of the chicken breasts should be 165° when checked with a thermometer.
Thanks for trying our recipe, we would love to hear how it turns out. 🙂
I am yet to try farro, as it is ancient grain it will be good. I like this flavor rich farro chicken bake delicious one pot meal and easy to put together.
Thanks, Swathi…..I hope you find and try some farro, it’s great stuff and really versatile. Nice change from rice, potatoes and pasta. This is a delicious and easy example. 🙂
This looks really healthy and hearty. I love the flavors imparted from the leeks and the sun-dried tomatoes!
Thanks, Jenni….it is a really great dish for weekdays or anytime. 🙂
Thanks, Jenni….this is really a great weekday or anytime healthy dish 🙂
We’ve been cooking with farro for quite a while now. We first discovered it at Costco in a large package. Ever since then our pantry has always held a supply of it. It’s such a great addition to any protein like the chicken. It absorbs the tasty juices and you only have one pan to clean up.
Hi, Marisa…Farro is a great choice when you want a change from rice or potatoes. It makes a great salad too!
wow this sounds fantastic and I really love all on one pan meals like this one its so much easier!
Thanks, Claudia…This is a great recipe and can also be put together a little in advance, then baked.
I love farro and so does my family! we have been enjoying it for a long time. I love your farro chicken bake, it has everything to make an amazing meal!
Thank you, Eileen….:)
Love how hearty and filling this looks. And you made it look so easy to make!
Michelle, it is pretty easy! I like easy 🙂 Thanks for our nice comments.
I never miss an opportunity to eat something with farro in it! I love how it tastes, and the texture is just incredible. What a great family meal!
Thank you, Kylee….Don’t you love ‘one-dish’ dinners! This is delicious and nutritious! 🙂