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    Home » Sides

    Garlic Parmesan Orzo

    By Jill Baird · Published February 16, 2023 · Updated November 13, 2023 · 18 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    The perfect recipe for Garlic Parmesan Orzo side dish
    How to make the best homemade garlic parmesan orzo; one-pot side dish recipe
    How to make the best Garlic Parmesan Orzo side dish; one-pot recipe
    The perfect recipe for Garlic Parmesan Orzo side dish

    This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo is a quick and easy one-pot side dish that goes well with just about anything.  It’s made with orzo pasta, fresh spinach, garlic, and Parmesan cheese and finished with a little splash of cream.

    Jump to:
    • What is Orzo?
    • Ingredients in Garlic Parmesan Orzo
    • How to Make Orzo Garlic Parmesan
    • What Else Can I Add to Garlic Parmesan Orzo?
    • Storing Leftovers
    • Garlic Parmesan Orzo Recipe
    • More Easy Side Dishes

    What is Orzo?

    While orzo may be shaped to look like rice, it is actually a form of short-cut pasta that is traditionally made from white flour or semolina.  You’ll often find it in soups, casseroles, salads or in side dishes like this Parmesan Garlic Orzo.

    Orzo noodles are also confused as rice because it is cooked almost identically.  Just like with rice, orzo can be added to soups to cook or simmered and fluffed… you can even make risotto with it!

    We love enjoying this recipe with anything from a grilled chicken breast or pork tenderloin to a simple Teriyaki Glazed Salmon. Yum! If you're looking for more orzo recipes, be sure to try our Lemon Orzo or Orzo Soup.

    spinach parmesean orzo on a spoon, orzo parmesan garlic recipe.

    Ingredients in Garlic Parmesan Orzo

    • Butter - salted butter works great, but you can substitute unsalted if you want to watch your sodium intake.
    • Garlic - freshly minced garlic adds great flavor.
    • Chicken Broth - this gives the finished orzo so much more flavor than if you were to cook in water.  If you want to make this vegetarian, you can substitute vegetable broth.
    • Spinach - for the best flavor, use fresh spinach rather than frozen.
    • Parmesan Cheese - freshly grated or shredded works best.
    • Salt - we like sea salt.
    • Orzo - you can find orzo pasta in the pasta section of most grocery stores.
    • Heavy Cream - if you love your Garlic Parmesan Orzo extra creamy, add heavy cream after it has finished cooking.  This is completely optional.
    • Parsley - fresh chopped parsley adds a great fresh finishing flavor and a burst of color.
    garlic parmesean orzo

    How to Make Orzo Garlic Parmesan

    1. Saute ingredients.  In a large skillet over medium heat, add the butter and melt.  Once melted, add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until garlic is fragrant and lightly golden brown.  Add the chicken broth, spinach, Parmesan cheese, salt, and orzo pasta, stir lightly, and cover with a lid.  
    2. Simmer.  Reduce heat to low and cook the pasta at a low simmer, stirring every 2-3 minutes.  Cook the orzo until the cheese is melted, there is no more liquid and the pasta has cooked to al dente or about 8-9 minutes.
    3. Let sit.  Remove from heat and stir in the cream (if desired), then cover with a lid for 2-3 more minutes.  This will allow the pasta to soak up the rest of the liquid.
    4. Serve.  To finish, top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh minced parsley and serve warm.  Enjoy!
    parmesan Orzo on a plate with salad and chicken, creamy parmesan orzo recipe, orzo with spinach recipe.

    What Else Can I Add to Garlic Parmesan Orzo?

    Orzo recipes are so versatile! This really can be just a starting point for you to add a whole array of different veggies, meats and seasoning. Here are some of our suggestions:

    • Broccoli
    • Peas
    • Sautéed mushrooms
    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Parmesan Chicken
    • Bacon
    • Italian sausage
    • Red pepper flakes
    • Dried oregano
    • Lemon zest
    • Fresh basil or a dollop of Pesto

    Storing Leftovers

    Leftover Garlic Parmesan Orzo can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat either in the microwave or in a pot over medium low heat. If you do the stovetop method, it’s a good idea to add a splash of water, cream or broth before you reheat.

    garlic parmesean orzo
    Print

    Garlic Parmesan Orzo Recipe

    This creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo is a quick and easy one-pot side dish that goes well with just about anything.  It’s made with orzo pasta, fresh spinach, garlic and Parmesan cheese and finished with a little splash of cream. 
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 56kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen
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    Ingredients

    • 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter can substitute olive oil
    • 1 ½ Tablespoons Garlic minced
    • 2 ⅔ cups Chicken Broth
    • 2 cups Spinach fresh, chopped into ½" slices
    • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • 16 oz Orzo Pasta
    • ¼ cup Heavy Cream optional
    • 2 Tablespoons Parsley fresh chopped for garnish

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet over medium heat, add the butter and melt.  Once melted, add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until garlic is fragrant and lightly golden brown.  Add the chicken broth, spinach, Parmesan cheese, salt and orzo pasta, stir lightly and cover with a lid.  
    • Reduce heat to low and cook the pasta at a low simmer, stirring every 2-3 minutes.  Cook the orzo until the cheese is melted, there is no more liquid and the pasta has cooked to al dente, or about 8-9 minutes.
    • Remove from heat and stir in the cream (if desired), then cover with a lid for 2-3 more minutes.  This will allow the pasta to soak up the rest of the liquid.  To finish, top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh minced parsley and serve warm. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 491mg | Potassium: 100mg | Vitamin A: 840IU | Vitamin C: 6.7mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    More Easy Side Dishes

    • Baked Mac and Cheese
    • Rice Pilaf
    • Coconut Rice
    • Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes
    • Spanish Rice
    • Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
    • Lemon Herb Rice
    • Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes
    • More Rice Recipes
    • More Potato Recipes
    • Veggie Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    This Garlic Parmesan Orzo is a deliciously quick and easy side dish.  It's made with orzo pasta, spinach, garlic, and Parmesan cheese and can be ready in just about 20 minutes.  

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ali

      June 25, 2021 at 11:33 am

      I had to add an additional cup of chicken broth but otherwise good recipe

      Reply
    2. Diana

      May 25, 2021 at 10:33 am

      What a perfect comfort food recipe! My family loved it!

      Reply
    3. Sam

      May 25, 2021 at 8:29 am

      This orzo was so good! Garlic and parmesan are the best together!

      Reply
    4. Caroline

      April 06, 2021 at 7:32 pm

      This is delicious! Made it for the second time tonight. It would be way to much for 3 so I cut the recipe in half - decided to after the spinach was cut up so still used most of it. It had to sit a few minutes while the chicken finished cooking so used a splash of milk just before serving!
      Thanks for a easy, tasty side dish!

      Reply
    5. Jen

      February 28, 2021 at 11:50 am

      I made this w/ a few variations. I halved the recipe since I was using it as a side dish. I sautéed the rice a little before adding broth and also used a bit extra broth and added peas at the end. It was great and all gone. Next time will make a whole recipe!

      Reply
    6. Andrea

      December 09, 2020 at 7:57 pm

      Nowhere near enough liquid or time to cook the pasta. I had to add almost 2 additional cups of broth and it easily took 20+ minutes. The flavor was fine, but after adjusting the liquid by that much I had to improvise of the spices to the point where this recipe is just kinda pointless.

      Reply
      • The Carefree Kitchen

        January 22, 2021 at 9:31 am

        Shoot, Sorry yours didn't turn out how you were hoping. I went back to the drawing board, added more liquid and a splash of cream at the end. Thanks for the feedback.

        Reply
      • Elena

        January 06, 2022 at 6:53 pm

        I agree. I've made it 3 times and each time I have to adjust so I basically ended up with my own recipe. I do like the flavor of garlic and parmesan though. So i'll keep trying or will have to find something similar.

        Reply
    7. Tasha

      November 15, 2020 at 5:12 pm

      Tasty side dish! I did find that it required more liquid to thoroughly cook the orzo which also required more of the other ingredients to sustain the recipe. It also needed cream but i didn’t have any so I substituted with Alfredo sauce. Would make again.

      Reply
      • The Carefree Kitchen

        January 22, 2021 at 9:30 am

        I love the idea of alfredo sauce, sounds amazing!

        Reply
      • The Carefree Kitchen

        January 22, 2021 at 9:32 am

        I updated the recipe to include more liquid. Thanks for the feedback!

        Reply
    8. Ann Gorski

      October 10, 2020 at 6:53 pm

      I used broccoli cut into small florets instead of spinach. I also needed at least 3/4 cup more liquid. I used about 1/2 cup chicken broth and 1/4 cup heavy cream. I will definitely make this again! I loved the garlic flavor.

      Reply
      • The Carefree Kitchen

        January 22, 2021 at 9:32 am

        Thanks for the feedback, I updated the recipe.

        Reply
    9. Sonia

      July 22, 2020 at 4:45 pm

      Has anyone tried this cold as a pasta salad?

      Reply
    10. Claire

      July 19, 2020 at 3:08 pm

      Pasta turned out with a “sticky” texture. Highly recommend adding a splash of cream.

      Reply

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