I stole this recipe for Broccoli Cheese Orzo from a cookbook called Keep it Simple Y’All. This vegetable recipe can be a side dish or a vegetarian main dish. Onions are sautéed in a skillet, then carrots and seasonings are added. Uncooked orzo is added and toasted for a minute. Then chicken stock and heavy cream are added and cooked until the pasta is done. Next broccoli and cheddar cheese are stirred into the pasta mixture until the cheese is melted. The broccoli is so tasty when mixed with the rest of the ingredients, than even people who don’t like broccoli will like it.

The ingredients for this recipe are: 2 tbsp butter, 1 onion, 4 oz carrots, Salt, Pepper, 1 to 2 cloves garlic, 8 oz orzo pasta, 2 cups chicken stock, 1 cup heavy cream, 12 oz microwaveable frozen broccoli and 4 oz shredded cheddar cheese

I put the broccoli in the oven to roast before I start the rest of the recipe.

In a wide pan over medium high heat, sauté the onion and butter until softens, about 5 minutes.

Then add the carrots, salt and pepper.

Stir together and continue cooking until vegetables are soft, another 5 to 10 minutes.

Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour the pasta into the pan and stir with the vegetables and toast for 1 minute.

Then add the chicken stock and heavy cream.

Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the pasta gets too dry, add more stock, water or cream. It should be a loose, creamy consistency.

Now add the roasted broccoli.

Then add the shredded cheese.

Stir everything together until the cheese is melted. Season with more salt and pepper.

Scoop out and serve.

If you liked this recipe for Broccoli Cheese Orzo then you can also try Broccoli and Cheese Risotto, Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole or Gnocchi and Broccoli Bake.

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Broccoli Cheese Orzo

This vegetable recipe can be a side dish or a vegetarian main dish. Onions are sautéed in a skillet, then carrots and seasonings are added. Uncooked orzo is added and toasted for a minute. Then chicken stock and heavy cream are added and cooked until the pasta is done. Next broccoli and cheddar cheese are stirred into the pasta mixture until the cheese is melted.

Course Side Dish, Vegetable

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 onion diced
• 4 oz carrots cut into matchsticks
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 to 2 cloves garlic minced
• 8 oz orzo pasta
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 12 oz microwaveable frozen broccoli florets
• 4 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. In a wide pan over medium high heat, sauté the onion and butter until softens, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the carrots, salt and pepper. Stir together and continue cooking until vegetables are soft, another 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Pour the pasta into the pan and stir with the vegetables and toast for 1 minute.
5. Add the chicken stock and heavy cream.
6. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the pasta gets too dry, add more stock, water or cream. It should be a loose, creamy consistency.
7. While the orzo is simmering, prepare broccoli according to package instructions.
8. When the orzo is done, add the broccoli and cheese to the pan and stir together until smooth. Season with more salt and pepper.

Recipe Notes

I roast the broccoli in the oven before adding to the orzo.