Description
Cheesy Orzo – a simple and delicious cheesy orzo recipe that is packed with flavor and the perfect side dish for any meal!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups water
- 1 1/2 cup orzo
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 – 1/2 cups colby jack cheese, grated
Instructions
- Add chicken broth and water to a medium-saucepan.
- Cover and bring to a boil.
- Add orzo and let simmer, uncovered, 8-10 minutes or until cooked al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Drain and return orzo to the pan but remove from heat.
- Add butter, salt, pepper, a little lemon zest and the cheese. Gently stir to combine – the cheese will take a minute to fully melt. Add splashes of the reserved pasta water to thin out and make the consistency more creamy.
- Taste and add any additional salt, pepper or lemon zest.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Chicken Broth: you can use all water, BUT for best results use the recommended chicken broth – it really brings in a ton of added flavor!
- Lemon Zest: we don’t want it to taste too lemony, that tiny bit of zest goes a long way and just amplifies the flavor by adding a bit of acidity!
- Storage: store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Serving: we love serving this with these Baked Meatballs and if you want to add some veggies, we suggest Steamed Broccoli!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 oz
- Calories: 177
- Sugar: 0.7 g
- Sodium: 483 mg
- Fat: 9.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Protein: 9.6 g
- Cholesterol: 31.2 mg