Orzo could also be small, however it is aware of carry a dinner. It really works equally as properly in creamy skillet dinners, chilly pasta salads, and tacky facet dishes, and I like how rapidly it turns fundamental components into one thing that feels a bit of extra enjoyable. These 12 orzo recipes cowl all the things from cozy weeknight dinners to straightforward lunches, with budget-friendly sides and warm-weather favorites combined in too! That’s a lot of dinner potential from one little pasta form. 😉
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All recipes are rigorously examined in our Nashville Check Kitchen to make sure they’re straightforward, reasonably priced, and scrumptious.
If You’re New To Orzo
Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta with a young texture and fast prepare dinner time, so it’s good for tossing with greens, herbs, cheese, sauces, or vinaigrettes. You’ll often discover it down the pasta aisle. I like protecting a field readily available as a result of it’s a straightforward method to make proteins and greens really feel extra like a full meal with out costing a lot!
Hen and Orzo
Orzo is a good little dinner helper in these rooster recipes as a result of it soaks up broth, seasoning, and pan juices because it cooks. Which means the pasta really tastes like a part of the meal as a substitute of one thing you made individually to fill a spot on the plate.
1. Creamy Hen and Orzo Skillet
Creamy Hen And Orzo Skillet
Whenever you suppose you do not have time to prepare dinner, do that straightforward, buttery, and tremendous tasty Creamy Hen and Orzo Skillet! Bonus: It cooks in a single pan!
$9.45 recipe / $2.36 serving
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This creamy rooster and orzo skillet has cozy risotto vitality with out having you stand on the range stirring ceaselessly, which I respect deeply. The orzo cooks proper within the creamy sauce with the rooster, so it releases starch because it simmers and helps create a deliciously wealthy, velvety texture.
2. Lemon Pepper Hen with Orzo
One Pot Lemon Pepper Hen with Orzo
Lemon Pepper Hen with Orzo is a zesty one-pot meal that includes juicy rooster thighs, orzo, feta, and lemon pepper for tons of taste!
$7.54 recipe / $1.89 serving
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Vibrant lemon, black pepper, and buttery orzo hold this lemon pepper rooster with orzo tasting recent whereas nonetheless feeling hearty sufficient for a weeknight meal. The rooster roasts proper on prime of the orzo, so all these savory juices soak into the pasta beneath, and the entire thing comes collectively in a single dish. Should you already hold lemon pepper seasoning round, this recipe pulls collectively surprisingly quick.
3. Greek Hen and Orzo
Greek Hen and Orzo Recipe
This straightforward Greek Hen and Orzo recipe comes collectively in a single pot, making it the proper mid-week meal! Recent, easy & extremely scrumptious.
$13.48 recipe / $3.37 serving
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This Greek rooster and orzo recipe leans closely on pantry spices, lemon, and herbs to construct taste without having an enormous ingredient record. I’d completely serve this one for a cocktail party when you have rooster thighs to make use of up, as a result of it seems spectacular straight out of the skillet with out costing a lot to make!
Extra Scrumptious Orzo Skillets
Considered one of my favourite issues about orzo is how simply it turns right into a full skillet meal with only a handful of components. These recipes really feel a bit of restaurant-inspired, however they’re nonetheless sensible sufficient for busy nights and reasonably priced grocery runs.
4. Tuscan Orzo
Tuscan Orzo
Tuscan orzo is a one-pot meal made in simply half-hour with easy components. It is creamy, cozy consolation meals at its finest.
$7.46 recipe / $1.86 serving
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I needed this Tuscan orzo to really feel creamy, cozy, and a bit of restaurant-y with out turning into a sophisticated dinner venture. Sundried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, Parmesan, and a splash of heavy cream carry huge taste quick, whereas the orzo helps the sauce flip silky because it cooks.
5. Garlic Shrimp and Orzo Skillet
Garlic Shrimp and Orzo Skillet
This straightforward Garlic Shrimp and Orzo Skillet has tender shrimp, lemon, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and saucy orzo in a single weeknight-friendly pan!
$10.84 recipe / $2.71 serving
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Garlic shrimp and orzo skillet is the transfer when dinner must be quick however nonetheless feels a bit of fancy. The shrimp prepare dinner in minutes, so the true trick is letting the orzo absorb the garlicky broth and buttery pan taste at first comes collectively. I at all times use thawed frozen shrimp right here, which makes this a strong back-pocket dinner too!
Facet Dishes
These orzo facet dishes are easy, reasonably priced, and simple to pair with absolutely anything. In addition they work very well for meal prep as a result of the leftovers reheat properly with out getting dry!
6. Broccoli Cheddar Orzo
Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Recipe
Creamy, tacky, and full of broccoli, this one pot Broccoli Cheddar Orzo is a fast and comfortable weeknight favourite that comes collectively in underneath half-hour.
$7.48 recipe / $1.49 serving
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If mac and cheese and a fast veggie facet had a center floor, it might in all probability look loads like this broccoli cheddar orzo. The cheddar sauce coats the tiny pasta very well, whereas the broccoli retains it from feeling too heavy. My household loves this with roasted greens, baked rooster, or as a straightforward lunch by itself.
7. Parmesan Portobello Orzo
Parmesan Portobello Orzo
This tremendous easy and flavorful Parmesan Portobello Orzo will turn out to be your subsequent go-to facet dish. Prepared in half-hour, it pairs with rooster, beef, or pork.
$5.22 recipe / $0.87 serving
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Earthy mushrooms and Parmesan make this portobello orzo style surprisingly wealthy for such an easy recipe. The portobellos prepare dinner down and add a ton of savory taste (I like a umami bomb mushroom dish!), and the entire skillet feels cozy however nonetheless straightforward sufficient for a weeknight.
Salads with Orzo
Orzo additionally shines in chilly pasta salads as a result of the small form mixes simply with dressings, herbs, and chopped greens. These recipes are additionally nice for meal prep, cookouts, lunches, and people nights when it’s too heat to take care of an excellent heavy dinner.
8. Italian Orzo Salad
Italian Orzo Salad
Filling sufficient to function a lightweight meal, however gentle sufficient to behave as a straightforward facet dish, this Italian Orzo Salad is a flexible addition to your weekly meal prep.
$8.77 recipe / $2.19 serving
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This Italian orzo salad is full of chickpeas, spinach, roasted purple peppers, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, AND grape tomatoes. I like bringing this one to potlucks as a result of it holds up properly within the fridge, particularly when you hold the dressing separate till serving. Plus, the smaller pasta form makes it straightforward to scoop up all the things collectively as a substitute of chasing large noodles across the bowl!
9. Spinach Orzo Salad
Spinach Orzo Salad
A fast home made balsamic French dressing makes this easy Spinach and Orzo Salad additional particular. Function a lightweight lunch or a facet with dinner.
$8.27 recipe / $2.06 serving
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Our spinach orzo salad with balsamic French dressing retains issues fairly easy however nonetheless has loads of taste! The nice and cozy orzo gently softens the spinach, so the salad feels extra cohesive with none additional cooking steps. This one is a good lighter lunch possibility as a result of the pasta makes it filling, however the French dressing retains it vibrant.
10. Orzo Pasta Salad
Orzo Pasta Salad
This gentle & recent Orzo Pasta Salad is stuffed with colourful veggies and a scrumptious home made dressing. Good for BBQs or meal prep it for the week!
$9.99 recipe / $1.24 serving
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This orzo pasta salad is a fridge-cleanout hero in the absolute best means. Crisp greens, herbs, and a lightweight French dressing make it versatile sufficient to serve with nearly any summer time dinner. I additionally love utilizing this recipe to avoid wasting random bits of produce from being forgotten. Much less waste, extra lunch. We like to see it.
11. Zucchini and Orzo Salad
Zucchini and Orzo Salad with Chimichurri
Zucchini and Orzo Salad with Chimichurri is a recent summer time salad that makes the proper recent and zesty facet dish for summer time grilling.
$6.52 recipe / $1.63 serving
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If zucchini season takes over your kitchen every year, our chimichurri zucchini orzo salad is an excellent problem-solver. The zucchini stays uncooked for crunch, the orzo retains it filling, and the chimichurri makes the entire bowl style recent and daring!
12. Carrot and Orzo Salad
Carrot & Orzo Salad
This carrot & orzo salad is gentle, recent, and lets the pure flavors of carrot, parsley, and lemon shine by, with only a contact of feta for enjoyable.
$4.07 recipe / $1.02 serving
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This carrot orzo salad feels recent, colourful, and really spring/summer time lunch coded. Tender pasta, candy carrots, recent herbs, and a tangy dressing come collectively rapidly, and it holds up very well for lunches through the week. I additionally like including chickpeas to this one if I wish to flip it into extra of a full meal.
