Creamy Parmesan-Garlic Orzo is a flavor-packed, fast, and straightforward facet dish recipe that is prepared in 20 minutes. It pairs properly with nearly any protein. Add a veggie and dinner’s completed!

At my home, we depend on the “dinner trifecta” a number of nights every week. Pairing a protein with greens and a carb means dinner comes collectively rapidly and is mostly (often…hopefully?) loved by everybody.
I’m at all times attempting to think about concepts for the carb portion that transcend rice, buttered noodles, or buttered bread (inform me you’re an elder millennial with out telling me).
Creamy Parmesan-Garlic Orzo is simply as easy, however full of WOW taste.
This creamy, comforting facet dish is prepared in 20 minutes and goes with nearly any protein. Take that, buttered bread!


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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast and straightforward. Very mac-and-cheese-esque with practically not one of the work. Plus it’s prepared from begin to end in about 20 minutes.
- Household-friendly. The mix of garlic, butter, and pasta is at all times a success at my home.
- Luxurious. This orzo facet is tremendous creamy and splendid tasting, however your complete recipe requires simply 2 Tablespoons of half-and-half!
- Versatile. Serve alongside all the pieces from beef to rooster, pork, or seafood.
Essential Components Wanted
I nearly at all times have all the pieces wanted to whip up this creamy orzo facet dish readily available. Right here’s what you’ll want:
- Orzo: I exploit gluten-free brown rice orzo. See under for my favourite model, and what kind of orzo to keep away from.
- Garlic and butter: add cozy, craveable taste to the dish.
- Rooster broth: is used to cook dinner the orzo as an alternative of water for max taste. Rooster inventory works too.
- Parmesan cheese: provides savory taste, and a creamy texture.
- Half-and-half: provides the orzo a wealthy, creamy end – and also you solely want slightly.
- Lemon: brightens up the dish because the very finish. That is optionally available, however price it, imo!


What to Serve it With
Creamy orzo is the proper plate companion with actually any protein, whether or not or not it’s rooster, beef, pork, or seafood. Listed here are some recipes to get you began!


Pair with Crispy Baked Rooster Thighs
The best way to Make Creamy Parmesan-Garlic Orzo
Step 1: Saute garlic in butter.
Begin by melting butter in a medium-size pan over medium warmth. Add minced garlic then saute till gentle golden brown. Be certain to not overcook or burn the garlic. There’s no turning again if that occurs!
Add rooster broth, dried parsley, and a pinch of salt then flip the warmth as much as convey the inventory to a simmer.


Step 2: Add the orzo.
As soon as the rooster broth is simmering, stir in orzo. I like Jovial Brown Rice Orzowhich is gluten free. Place a lid on prime of the pot, flip the warmth all the way down to low, then gently simmer till the orzo is tender, 15-17 minutes, stirring usually.
Orzo Tip
Jovial additionally has a cassava-based orzo, however I don’t love the style or texture. Stick to the brown rice product as an alternative!


Step 3: End the dish.
As soon as the orzo is tender, take away the lid, flip off the warmth, then stir in freshly grated parmesan cheese. Subsequent add half and half then stir to mix.


Lastly, squeeze in a little bit of recent lemon juice. The orzo shouldn’t style lemony, simply brightened. That is optionally available, however I believe it provides to the general taste of the dish.
Give the orzo one final style then add further salt if wanted.


That’s all she wrote. Straightforward as that! Scoop onto plates and serve.
The best way to Retailer and Reheat
Switch any leftovers to a storage container with a lid then refrigerate.
To reheat, add a splash of rooster broth or half-and-half then microwave till heat.


Extra Straightforward Aspect Dish Concepts
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 2 cups rooster broth
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup (6.5oz) gluten-free brown rice orzo, Jovial really useful, see notes
- 2 Tablespoons half-and-half OR heavy cream
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, not powdered parmesan cheese
- 1/4 recent lemon, optionally available
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Soften the butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium warmth. Add the garlic then cook dinner whereas stirring continually till it turns into gentle golden brown – be extraordinarily cautious to not burn the garlic. Add the rooster broth, dried parsley, and salt then stir to mix. Flip the warmth as much as excessive to convey the broth to a simmer.
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As soon as simmering, add the orzo then stir to mix. Place a lid on prime of the pot, flip the warmth all the way down to low, then gently simmer till the orzo is tender, 15-17 minutes, stirring usually and including a splash extra rooster broth close to the tip if wanted. Make sure to maintain the warmth on low to keep up a really mild simmer.
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Flip the warmth off then add the parmesan cheese and stir to mix. Add the half-and-half then stir to mix. Squeeze in a little bit of recent lemon juice, if utilizing, then stir to mix. Style then add extra salt if wanted. Scoop onto plates then serve – the orzo will thicken because it cools.
- Jovial has a cassava flour orzo pasta, which I don’t love, nor do I like to recommend for this dish. I a lot favor their Brown Rice Orzo.
Energy: 235kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 8g, Fats: 9g, Saturated Fats: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g, Monounsaturated Fats: 2g, Trans Fats: 0.2g, Ldl cholesterol: 25mg, Sodium: 598mg, Potassium: 135mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 259IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 81mg, Iron: 1mg
Dietary values are estimates solely. Please learn our full diet data disclaimer.


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