This Ultimate Creamy Parmesan Orzo recipe is simple, elegant, and incredibly flavorful making it perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Craving a comforting side dish that’s ready in under 15 minutes? Hence, this ultimate creamy Parmesan orzo recipe is the perfect solution. Moreover, this simple yet elegant dish features tender orzo pasta, sautéed shallots and garlic, and a rich, creamy sauce made from Parmesan cheese and chicken or vegetable stock.
What is Orzo?
Specifically, orzo, a small, rice-shaped pasta, is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Its unique shape and texture make it perfect for soups, salads, and pilafs. But today, we’re focusing on its creamy potential.
Key Tips For Making This Ultimate Creamy Parmesan Orzo!
- Don’t Rinse the Orzo: Importantly, the starch from the un-rinsed orzo helps create a creamy sauce. Additionally, try using an organic orzo pasta.
- Adjust Cooking Time:Â For a creamier sauce, cook the orzo for a few extra minutes.
- Make Ahead:Â Specifically, cook the orzo, let it cool, and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat ultimate creamy Parmesan orzo with additional broth before serving.
Why You Should Make This Creamy Orzo Recipe:
- Simple Ingredients:Â First, this recipe requires basic pantry staples and fresh herbs.
- Quick and Easy:Â Next, the entire dish can be prepared in under 15 minutes.
- Incredibly Flavorful:Â Furthermore, the combination of aromatic shallots, garlic, and fresh herbs creates a burst of flavor in every bite of this ultimate creamy Parmesan orzo pasta.
- Customizable:Â Specifically, feel free to experiment with different proteins, vegetables, and cheeses.
Customization Tips:
- Protein:Â Add grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, or crispy bacon for a hearty meal.
- Cheese: Try different cheeses like Gruyère, Asiago, or Pecorino Romano.
- Herbs:Â Experiment with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano.
- Spices:Â Moreover, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a squeeze of lemon juice for a bit of heat or acidity.
Make-Ahead Tips:
- Cook the Orzo:Â Specifically, cook the orzo according to the recipe instructions, but cook it for 5 minutes less.
- Cool and Store:Â Importantly, let the ultimate creamy Parmesan orzo cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheat:Â When ready to serve, reheat the orzo on the stovetop with additional broth to achieve the desired creaminess.
Ways to Serve The Ultimate Creamy Parmesan Orzo Pasta:
- Weeknight Dinner:Â Serve with a side salad or roasted vegetables. Specifically, it pairs perfectly with our quick and simple crispy-skin salmon recipe.
- Special Occasion:Â Elevate the ultimate creamy Parmesan orzo dish by adding truffles or caviar.
- Feed A Crowd:Â Importantly, this dish is perfect for sharing and can be easily doubled or tripled.
Overall, this ultimate creamy Parmesan orzo recipe is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. Moreover, serve it with a side salad, grilled chicken, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Trending Video Tutorials:
Disclosures:
Terms of Use
The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products.
Product disclosures
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, JulietKitchen may earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Nutritional informationÂ
Importantly,this website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.
Ultimate Creamy Parmesan Orzo
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 shallot peeled and finely minced
- 3 cloves fresh garlic peeled and grated – 1 tablespoon
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves finely chopped
- 1 1/4 cups orzo organic recommended
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 1/2 – 3/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a 3-quart saucepan. Use medium heat.2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Sauté shallots 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.1 shallot
- Add in garlic and 1/2 of the parsley. Mix and cook 30 seconds3 cloves fresh garlic, 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
- Add in the orzo, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix and cook 2 minutes.Note: I use organic orzo and don't rinse it. The starchiness is important to the creaminess.1 1/4 cups orzo, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Carefully pour in the chicken or vegetable stock. Mix. Cover the pot but not fully cover it. Cook the orzo 8 to 10 minutes, staring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the pan. Adjust the flame medium low if necessary.2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- Turn off the flame. Add in the parmesan and remaining parsley, Stir to combine and melt the cheese with the residual heat in the orzo. Serve immediately and enjoy with your favorite protein.Note: The orzo can be made up to a day in advance and reheated on the stovetop and use 1/2 to 3/4 cups more stock to bing it back to the creamy texture. If making in advance with plans to reheat, cook the orzo for only 5 minutes, cool and refrigerate until ready to serve.1/2 – 3/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Video
Nutrition
