Creamy, cheesy, garlic-flavored parmesan orzo is an effortless one-pot comfort dish that’s perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Tender orzo is gently simmered in fragrant garlic, shallot-infused flavored broth, and finished with cream, Parmesan, and fresh parsley. Toast orzo pasta in butter/olive oil for a deep nutty flavor.
Try this light, refreshing, healthy lemon chicken orzo soup for a busy weekday dinner, and try Greek orzo pasta salad with feta cheese, which makes a great summer potluck recipe.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Easy to make using simple ingredients.
- One-pot dish, which can be served as a side dish or main.
- Versatile, add your choice of vegetables or protein.
- Cook this velvety texture in just 20 minutes.
- Ultimate comfort food that is perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends.
Ingredients
- Orzo – Dry rice-shaped pasta.
- Broth – Use vegetable broth or low-sodium chicken broth. You may also use my Instant Pot bone broth recipe to make your broth and use it in the recipe.
- Olive oil and butter – to sauté the aromats and vegetables.
- Aromats – you can use shallots, or yellow onion, and loads of garlic.
- Half n half or heavy cream – for rich sauce consistency.
- Seasonings – salt, pepper, red chili flakes.
- Parmesan – always use block cheese and grate it fresh before use. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a finishing touch of savory flavor.
- Parsley – adds freshness.
Ingredients Additions & Substitutions
- Lemon – add freshly squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest at the end for tangy, umami flavor.
- Sun-dried tomatoes – feel free to add sun-dried tomatoes to the pasta.
- Vegetables – add mushrooms, baby spinach, or frozen peas.
- Protein – cooked and chopped chicken or sauteed shrimps.
- White wine – feel free to add a splash of white wine for a rich flavor.
- Feel free to substitute fresh parsley with fresh basil or fresh thyme.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Melt butter in a large pan. Sauté shallots until they turn translucent.
Step 2: Sauté garlic until fragrant.
Step 3: Add olive oil to the pan, and toast the orzo pasta.
Step 4: This adds a deep, nutty flavor.
Step 5 & 6: Do not brown orzo; toast on medium heat until it just begins to brown.
Step 7: Pour the broth and season with a pinch of salt.
Step 8: When broth begins to boil, turn heat and cover the pan with a lid, and let it simmer for 10-12 minutes. Do not overcook orzo. It has to be al dente. Once orzo is cooked al dente, turn off the heat.
Step 9: Make sure to cook orzo al dente; don’t overcook it.
Step 10: Add the cream and mix it well. Remove pan from heat—season with ground pepper and red chili flakes to taste.
Step 11: Grate Parmesan over pasta.
Step 12: Mix until Parmesan melts into the sauce.
Additional step – add fresh lemon zest and freshly squeezed lemon juice to garlic Parmesan orzo.
Expert tips
- Toast orzo pasta in butter/olive oil for a deep nutty flavor to enhance the taste of the dish.
- Don’t overcook orzo. Always cook orzo pasta al dente. Orzo cooks pretty fast and turns mushy if overcooked.
- Always buy a Parmesan cheese block and grate it yourself. Pre-grated cheese from the store usually has chemicals to keep it from lumping together, and it does melt well.
- Feel free to include your favorite vegetables.
- To take a creamy garlic Parmesan orzo pasta dish to the next level, add seasonings – salt, pepper, and red chili flakes to taste. Do not forget to garnish with fresh parsley or substitute with fresh basil or fresh thyme.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy orzo dish can be served as a side dish or main. Serve it hot as a side dish with grilled chimichurri chicken, garlic sauteed shrimp, grilled tilapia, or seared salmon.
Leftovers and Storage
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat creamy orzo gently in a saucepan on low heat. Add a splash of milk or broth while reheating.
I don’t recommend freezing Parmesan orzo.
Recipe FAQs
Orzo is a form of short-cut pasta shaped resembling a large grain of rice. It’s also called risoni. Although it looks like rice, it’s not exactly rice, and it’s not gluten-free (unless made using gluten-free ingredients).
NO. Even though it resembles rice, it’s not rice. It’s a shortcut pasta and has gluten. Do not rinse or soak the orzo before cooking.
Other Creamy Pasta Recipes
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📋Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon butter
- 1 small shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups vegetable broth
- ½ cup half n half or heavy cream
- ¼ cup Parmesan freshly grated
- Pinch of salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red chili flakes
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pan. Sauté shallots until they turn translucent.
- Sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Add olive oil to the pan, and toast the orzo pasta. This adds a deep, nutty flavor.
- Do not brown orzo; toast on medium heat until it just begins to brown.
- Pour the broth and season with a pinch of salt.
- When broth begins to boil, turn heat and cover the pan with a lid, and let it simmer for 10-12 minutes.
- Do not overcook orzo. It has to be al dente. Once orzo is cooked al dente, turn off the heat.
- Add the cream and mix it well.
- Remove pan from heat—season with ground pepper and red chili flakes to taste.
- Grate Parmesan and mix until Parmesan melts into the sauce.
- Additional step – add fresh lemon zest and freshly squeezed lemon juice to garlic Parmesan orzo.
Video
Notes
- Toast orzo pasta in butter/olive oil for a deep nutty flavor to enhance the taste of the dish.
- Don’t overcook orzo. Always cook orzo pasta al dente. Orzo cooks pretty fast and turns mushy if overcooked.
- Always buy a Parmesan cheese block and grate it yourself. Pre-grated cheese from the store usually has chemicals to keep it from lumping together, and it does melt well.
- Feel free to include your favorite vegetables.
- To take a creamy garlic Parmesan orzo pasta dish to the next level, add seasonings – salt, pepper, and red chili flakes to taste. Do not forget to garnish with fresh parsley or substitute with fresh basil or fresh thyme.
Nutrition
Created by Jyothi Rajesh
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I’m Jyothi Rajesh (Jo for short) and i’m the founder of the food blog, Curry Trail where I share my culinary Adventures. I live in Bangalore, India. I’m a mom of two beautiful kids. My passion is creating and sharing delicious and easy recipes for the home cook. I have been blogging since 2007 and many of my recipes have appeared in both online and print publications over the years. Learn more about Jyothi Rajesh.
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