Our Parmesan Orzo recipe is simple, delicious, and the perfect companion to our Saucy Italian Meatballs. And if you’re feeling like keeping it simple and treating yourself to adult mac and cheese, this is the dish for you.
The Best Parmesan Orzo
This delicious cheesy side dish is sure to become a family favorite. Coming together in under 15 minutes and using simple ingredients, you’ll be adding this to your weekly menu time and time again. For a complete meal, serve this simple side dish with our cast iron flank steak or our saucy Italian meatballs.
Love Orzo – try our Simple Cheesy Orzo, Lemon Orzo, this Sausage Zucchini Skillet + Orzo or this Kalamata Lemon Orzo Skillet!
What You Will Need
- water – A simple ingredient to cook your orzo pasta.
- chicken broth – Adds a depth of flavor to your pasta.
- orzo – A simple pasta that looks like rice but is made from whole grain semolina flour or white flour.
- butter – Just a bit to add creaminess.
- parmesan cheese – A rich, nutty, and tangy cheese that provides the best flavor and texture.
- lemon zest – Just a bit to add brightness throughout.
- kosher salt – To help all the other flavors shine their brightest.
- reserved pasta water – A simple way to thin out your cheesy pasta, giving it the best silky, cheesy texture.
How To Make Parmesan Orzo
Start by adding the water and chicken broth to a medium saucepan, cover, and bring it to a boil. Next, carefully add the orzo and stir to combine.
Let the orzo simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Using a measuring cup, scoop up about half a cup of pasta water to add later in the cooking process.
Use a colander to drain your pasta. Then return it to the sauce pan and remove it from the heat. Next, add in the butter, salt, pepper, a little lemon zest, and cheese.
Gently stir everything together as the cheese slowly melts. Add splashes of reserved pasta water to thin out the cheesy pasta and to make the consistency more creamy.
After tasting, add any additional salt, pepper, or lemon zest to your liking.
What To Serve With Parmesan Orzo
This side dish is the perfect companion for our saucy Italian meatballs. It’s a fun spin on the classic spaghetti and meatball that the whole family is sure to love. Add our fennel salad or our strawberry spinach salad for a pop of color and a balanced meal. And don’t forget about dessert! These blueberry crumb bars are as delicious as they are gorgeous.
Recipe FAQs
- serving suggestions – Our saucy Italian meatballs are a must, but this dish pairs with most main courses thanks to its simple, yet delicious, flavor.
- storage – Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
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Parmesan Orzo
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Description
Parmesan Orzo – a creamy, delicious and easy parmesan orzo recipe that is the perfect side dish for any meal!
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cup orzo
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
- reserved pasta water
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 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.
Notes
- Storage: store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- Serving: we love serving these with pretty much anything, but it is especially good with these Saucy Italian Meatballs!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 scoop
- Calories: 121
- Sugar: 0.8 g
- Sodium: 483 mg
- Fat: 4.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.4 g
- Protein: 6.4 g
- Cholesterol: 12.3 mg
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