Garlic Parmesan Orzo

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I stole this recipe for Garlic Parmesan Orzo from peasandcrayons.com. This recipe is a quick and easy to make one pan side dish. Onions and garlic are sautéed before adding in milk, broth and seasonings. Uncooked orzo pasta is added in next, once the pasta is cooked Parmesan cheese and spinach is folded in. This side dish combines pasta and vegetables and can be paired with any main entrée. This recipe uses several ingredients you may already have on hand in your pantry, cupboard or freezer (you can easily substitute frozen spinach for fresh).

Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large pan over medium-high heat and sauté ¼ cup minced shallot and 2 cloves of minced garlic until tender, adding the garlic towards to end to prevent browning.

Add 1 cup milk, 2 cups chicken broth, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper and ¼ tsp garlic powder. Stir with whisk to deglaze pan. Turn the heat to medium, then add in 1 cup uncooked orzo.

Next, stir to mix in the orzo. Cook for 10 minutes, once boiling, reduce to low and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally.

Once the orzo is al dente, remove from heat. Sauce will be thin and thicken as it cools. Add ¾ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese and 2 cups chopped spinach.

Then gently fold the spinach and cheese into the orzo.

Serve warm with extra cheese if desired.

If you liked Garlic Parmesan Orzo you can also try Vegetable & Orzo Tian, Cheesy Orzo, or Roasted Eggplant & Tomato Orzo Pasta.

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Garlic Parmesan Orzo

This recipe is a quick and easy to make one pan side dish. Onions and garlic are sautéed before adding in milk, broth and seasonings. Uncooked orzo pasta is added in next, once the pasta is cooked Parmesan cheese and spinach is folded in. This side dish combines pasta and vegetables and can be paired with any main entrée.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large shallot ¼ cup minced
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup dry orzo pasta
  • ¾ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups chopped fresh spinach

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a large pan over medium-high heat and sauté the shallot and garlic until tender, adding the garlic towards to end to prevent browning.
  2. Add milk, broth, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Stir with whisk to deglaze pan.
  3. Turn the heat to medium, add the orzo and stir. Cook for 10 minutes, once boiling, reduce to low and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally.
  4. Once al dente, remove from heat. Sauce will be thin and thicken as it cools. Add parmesan cheese and chopped spinach and fold into the orzo.
  5. Season to taste as desired plus add additional cheese if needed.

Recipe Notes

I use a 10 oz box of frozen spinach that I thaw and drain before I add to the recipe.