Welcome to a tasty world of simple and delicious Orzo Recipes! Orzo is like pasta that looks like rice, and it’s the main ingredient in these yummy recipes. They’re not complicated, and they’ll make your taste buds happy. Whether you’re really good at cooking or just starting, these recipes are meant to be easy and tasty.
Come along on a yummy journey where each recipe is made to be simple and tasty. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro in the kitchen or just learning – these recipes will make you feel inspired and impressed. Orzo is like magic in these dishes, giving them different textures and flavors.
Prepare to make your meals more special with our Yummy Orzo Recipes. We have something for everyone, from delicious main courses to refreshing salads. Let the smell of cooking orzo fill your kitchen, and enjoy the tasty flavors.
Start a cooking adventure with our Yummy Orzo Recipes, where easy meets gourmet in every delicious bite!
1. Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo – Easy and Quick Recipe
Do you love cheesy and creamy pasta? Well, this Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo is the perfect dish for you, and the best part is, it only takes 15 minutes to make! Whether you want it as a side dish or a satisfying meal on its own, this recipe is a winner.
What Is Orzo?
Orzo is a small pasta that cooks up quickly, making it a great option for busy days. It’s not only delicious but also versatile, and you can use it in various dishes.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups dry orzo pasta
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon pepper (adjust to taste)
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups half and half
- 1½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
How to Make Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo:
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and melt butter. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened.
- Add dry orzo to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes to lightly toast it, enhancing its nutty flavor.
- Season with salt and pepper, then stir in chicken broth and half and half. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid, stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, and serve immediately.
Customize Your Orzo:
This recipe is flexible! Enhance it with your favorite veggies like spinach, broccoli, asparagus, peas, or mushrooms. Want more protein? Add chicken or bacon to make it a heartier meal. Experiment with herbs like dried oregano, red pepper flakes, or Italian parsley for extra flavor.
How to Serve:
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo can be served as a delightful side dish or the star of the show. Pair it with dishes like Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken Legs, Kale And Quinoa Salad, Warm Kale Salad, Summer Salad, Sole Meuniere, Pork Tenderloin, or Pan-Seared Pork Chops for a complete meal.
Leftovers:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 – 4 days. Unfortunately, this creamy pasta dish doesn’t freeze well.
Nutrition Information:
- Calories: 518
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Cholesterol: 67mg
- Sodium: 657mg
- Potassium: 339mg
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
- Vitamin A: 824IU
- Vitamin C: 4mg
- Calcium: 405mg
- Iron: 1mg
| Step | Ingredients | Quantity | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olive oil | 2 tbsp | In a large skillet, heat olive oil and melt unsalted butter. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened. |
| 2 | Orzo pasta | 2 cups | Add dry orzo to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes to lightly toast it, enhancing its nutty flavor. |
| 3 | Salt and pepper | To taste | Season with salt and pepper, then stir in low-sodium chicken broth and half and half. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. |
| 4 | Parmesan cheese | 1½ cups | Remove the lid, stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, and serve immediately. |
2. Easy and Creamy Orzo with Garlic, Parmesan, and Tomatoes Recipe
Enjoy a delightful and creamy orzo dish without the hassle! This simple weeknight dinner, inspired by the end of tomato season, uses Greek yogurt for a rich and velvety texture. In just 30 minutes, you can have this one-pan pasta on your table.
Ingredients for Creamy Orzo:
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 5 cups cherry tomatoes (about 1.5 pounds)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 2 cups dry orzo
- 3-4 cups water or broth
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ to ½ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions:
- Blister the Tomatoes:
- Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan.
- Add whole cherry tomatoes and minced garlic.
- Season with salt and pepper, stir, and cover until tomatoes soften (5-8 minutes).
- Stew the Tomatoes:
- Mash softened tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
- Let them cook uncovered until softened and juicy (3-5 minutes).
- Cook the Orzo:
- Add orzo to the pan and cover with water or broth.
- Add salt and pepper, stir, and cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Temper the Yogurt:
- Before orzo absorbs the liquid, spoon some warm tomato broth into a measuring cup.
- Add yogurt, whisk to combine, bringing it to room temperature.
- Combine:
- When the pasta is tender and absorbed most juice (about 10 minutes), turn off the heat.
- Add the warmed yogurt and stir to combine.
- Finish and Serve:
- Stir in grated cheese and fresh parsley.
- Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking before serving.
Serve with a fresh tomato salad in the summer or pair it with roasted fennel or a lemon and Parmesan lettuce salad for a delightful meal.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 369
- Carbohydrates: 53.4g
- Protein: 17.1g
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2g
- Cholesterol: 6.8mg
- Sodium: 151mg
- Fiber: 3.7g
- Sugar: 8g
- Vitamin A: 2225.4IU
- Vitamin C: 63.4mg
- Calcium: 188mg
- Iron: 3.1mg
| Step | Ingredients | Quantity | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olive oil | 2 tbsp | Heat in a saucepan. Add cherry tomatoes and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cover until tomatoes soften (5-8 min). |
| 2 | Cherry tomatoes | 5 cups | Mash softened tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Cook uncovered until softened and juicy (3-5 min). |
| 3 | Orzo | 2 cups | Add orzo to the pan. Cover with water or broth. Add salt and pepper. Cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring occasionally. |
| 4 | Greek yogurt | 1 cup | Spoon warm tomato broth into a measuring cup. Add yogurt, whisk to combine, and bring it to room temperature. |
| 5 | – | – | When pasta is tender and absorbed most juice (about 10 min), turn off heat. Add warmed yogurt and stir to combine. |
| 6 | Parmesan cheese | ¼ to ½ cup | Stir in grated cheese and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. |
3. Simple and Delicious Lemon Orzo Recipe
Enjoy the tastiest Lemon Orzo with just six simple ingredients! This recipe features tiny rice-shaped orzo pasta, zesty lemon, flavorful broth, garlic, rich olive oil, and bold Parmesan. The best part? It takes less than 20 minutes to make!
Quick Lemon Orzo
Discover your new favorite dinner side that pairs well with almost anything! This dish is not only easy to make, but each bite is bursting with flavor, making it a hit with people of all ages. Plus, it’s versatile and can be customized (check out the variations below).
I love serving it alongside a quick pan-seared chicken, salmon, or shrimp to keep dinner fast and delicious. It’s also perfect for meal prep—just add a bit more broth or oil if it tends to dry out overnight in the fridge.
Possible Variations:
- Try using other small pasta like acini de pepe or Stelline.
- Use whole wheat orzo, tricolor vegetable orzo, or gluten-free orzo.
- Substitute butter for olive oil.
- Add more herbs, such as fresh basil or extra parsley.
- Use Romano cheese instead of Parmesan.
- For a lemon pepper kick, add 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper with the garlic.
Can I Substitute Rice for Orzo?
While rice can be used in some recipes, it’s not recommended as a direct substitute for orzo in a dish where orzo is the main ingredient. The cook times and overall recipe may need adjustments.
Helpful Tips for the Best Orzo Recipe:
- Adjust the cook time based on the orzo brand used.
- Keep an eye on the orzo towards the end to prevent scorching; add more broth if needed.
Lemon Orzo Recipe
The easiest orzo recipe made with tender orzo pasta, bright lemon, flavorful broth, vibrant garlic, rich olive oil, and bold Parmesan. And you can have it ready in under 20 minutes!
Servings: 4
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Ready in: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic (2 cloves)
- 2 2/3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, then more as needed
- Salt, to taste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest, divided
- 8 ounces (1 1/3 cups) dry orzo pasta
- 1/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley (optional for garnish)
Instructions:
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan set over medium-low heat. Add garlic and sauté 20 seconds or until fragrant and just barely deepening in color (not browning).
- Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo, 3/4 teaspoon lemon zest, and salt to taste then reduce heat to medium-low.
- Let simmer until orzo is tender, stirring once halfway through, about 10 minutes total. If needed, add a little more chicken broth if it’s becoming dry.
- Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, remaining 3/4 teaspoon lemon zest, Parmesan, and pepper. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Sure, here’s a simple 4-column table for the Lemon Orzo Recipe:
| Step | Ingredients | Quantity | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olive oil | 2 Tbsp | Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and sauté for 20 seconds until fragrant (without browning). |
| 2 | Garlic | 2 tsp (minced) | Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo, 3/4 tsp lemon zest, and salt to taste, then reduce heat to medium-low. |
| 3 | Low-sodium chicken broth | 2 2/3 cups (more as needed) | Let it simmer until orzo is tender, stirring once halfway through, about 10 minutes total. Add more chicken broth if it becomes dry. |
| 4 | Lemon zest, Orzo, Salt, Lemon juice, Olive oil, Parmesan, Pepper, Parsley (optional for garnish) | 1 1/2 tsp, 8 oz, to taste, 3 Tbsp, 1 Tbsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 tsp, 1 Tbsp (minced) | Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil, remaining 3/4 tsp lemon zest, Parmesan, and pepper. Garnish with parsley if desired. |
Nutrition Facts:
Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 310
- Calories from Fat: 81
- % Daily Value:
- Fat: 9g (14%)
- Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 3mg (1%)
- Sodium: 411mg (18%)
- Potassium: 313mg (9%)
- Carbohydrates: 45g (15%)
- Fiber: 2g (8%)
- Sugar: 2g (2%)
- Protein: 11g (22%)
- Vitamin A: 353IU (7%)
- Vitamin C: 11mg (13%)
- Calcium: 89mg (9%)
- Iron: 1mg (6%)
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Don’t forget the possible variations to customize it to your taste. Follow the helpful tips for the best results and explore other tasty orzo recipes suggested.
