This Parmesan orzo features small, tender pasta that has been coated in a rich, creamy, and oh-so-tasty cheese sauce! It's a simple one-pot recipe that comes together in less than 30 minutes! Enjoy it as a side dish, paired with some bread, or as the main course itself!
Easy Parmesan Orzo Pasta Recipe
Quick, one-pot recipes are perfect for those busy weeknight meals where you need to throw together a dinner for the family at the last minute! This Parmesan orzo is ready to go in under 30 minutes and is made entirely in one pot (so you won't have a ton of dishes to clean!)
Enjoy it as a side dish or just eat it by itself! I like to toss in some leftover chicken that I may have on hand to load it up with protein, but it is super tasty as-is, too!
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🥘 Parmesan Orzo Ingredients
This creamy pasta dish uses some common ingredients in addition to your orzo pasta! Check for orzo on the pasta aisle of your local grocery store.
- Chicken Broth - 2½ cups of chicken broth.
- Orzo Pasta - 1½ cups of uncooked orzo pasta.
- Garlic - 2 teaspoons of finely minced garlic.
- Salt - ½ teaspoon of salt.
- Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
- Heavy Cream - ⅓ cup of heavy cream.
- Parmesan Cheese - ¼ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Basil (optional) - ¼ cup of fresh basil, chopped.
- Parsley - 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley or basil for garnish.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Parmesan Orzo
This one-pot meal couldn't be any easier to whip up! You will need a medium-sized skillet, a wooden spoon, and measuring cups!
This recipe is for 4 servings, but you can easily stretch it further by adding your favorite protein!
- Mix. In a medium-sized skillet, mix 2½ cups of chicken broth, 1½ cups of orzo pasta, 2 teaspoons of minced garlic, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta is cooked to your preference (stirring occasionally).
- Stir. Remove from the heat and stir in ⅓ cup of heavy cream, ¼ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese, and the optional ¼ cup of chopped basil.
- Serve. Garnish with 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley or basil and serve immediately.
This Parmesan orzo can be enjoyed as a side dish or the main course! Serve it with some baked panko chicken for a well-rounded meal! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- You can add in some veggies to add some extra flavor and nutrition! Try it with some peas, tomatoes, asparagus, grated carrots, spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, and more!
- This dish is incredibly versatile! Add your favorite protein for a well-rounded meal. I recommend chicken, bacon, or sausage!
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for added spice!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Keep any leftover Parmesan orzo stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
Reheating Orzo
Reheat your leftovers on the stovetop with a splash of broth or cream, stirring frequently until heated.
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❓ FAQ
The appearance of orzo may lead you to believe that it is a type of rice. However, orzo is just a small type of pasta! It can be made from whole grain, white, or semolina flour.
Many grocery stores carry orzo pasta. However, it can sometimes be more difficult to find. You can usually ask the store to order it for you (for free) or buy it online.
Nope! While they do look incredibly similar, they are two completely different things. Risotto is made from short-grain rice (such as arborio), and orzo is a wheat-based pasta.
🍝 More Pasta Recipe
I have so many different pasta recipes and pasta side dishes you can check out! Here are a few of my favorites!
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta - Tender shrimp are tossed with spaghetti and coated in a lemon garlic sauce!
- Pasta e Fagioli Soup - A hearty soup that features small pasta, veggies, meat, and beans!
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo - Perfectly cooked chicken is mixed with fettuccine noodles and homemade alfredo sauce!
- Crockpot Mac & Cheese - Prepare this gooey, rich pasta dish in your slow cooker!
- Baked Spaghetti & Meatballs - A simple casserole with spaghetti, pasta sauce, and flavorful meatballs!
- Lasagna - Lasagna noodles are layered with cheese and hearty meat sauce!
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📋 Recipe
Parmesan Orzo
Ingredients
- 2½ cups chicken broth
- 1½ cups orzo pasta (uncooked)
- 2 teaspoon garlic (finely minced)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- ¼ cup basil (optional, chopped)
- 2 tablespoon parsley (chopped, or basil)
Instructions
- In a medium-sized skillet, mix together the chicken broth, orzo pasta, garlic, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.2½ cups chicken broth, 1½ cups orzo pasta, 2 teaspoon garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta is cooked to your preference (stirring occasionally).
- Remove from the heat and stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and the optional chopped basil.⅓ cup heavy cream, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, ¼ cup basil
- Garnish with chopped parsley or basil and serve immediately.2 tablespoon parsley
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- You can add in some veggies to add some extra flavor and nutrition! Try it with some peas, tomatoes, asparagus, grated carrots, spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, and more!
- This dish is incredibly versatile! Add your favorite protein for a well-rounded meal. I recommend chicken, bacon, or sausage!
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes for some added spice!
- To store: Keep any leftover Parmesan orzo stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
- To reheat: Reheat your leftovers on the stovetop with a splash of broth or cream, stirring frequently until heated.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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