Creamy Orzo Recipe

Published: April 12, 2023 from dina

The Creamy Orzo Recipe is the best way to prepare these tiny noodles. It’s perfectly cheesy and so rich – everyone will love it!

Want an unbeatable family meal? Serve My Baked Orzo with Breaded Chicken Skewers or Air Fryer Pork Chops (VIDEO)

Table of contents

recipe details

I love making this creamy orzo recipe because everyone in the family loves its great flavor. It’s so easy and tastes rich and delicious every time.

TASTE GOOD: This Creamy Orzo is super cheesy with a delicious hint of garlic. The rich and creamy flavor is the best.
TEXTURE: This dish is loaded with al dente pasta and gooey, melted cheese.
TIME: This recipe takes about 30 minutes.
EASE: To prepare this cheesy side dish, you just have to follow a few very simple steps. It’s really easy to do.

what you will need

Ingredients in Creamy Orzo: mozzarella, parmesan, orzo, heavy cream, salt, and garlic cloves.

Notes on ingredients

fat whipped cream This ingredient adds plenty of rich, creamy flavor and a smooth texture.
Garlic cloves– For a deliciously hot aroma.
Grated parmesan cheese– This cheese is nutty and a little salty.
Grated mozzarella cheese– This is a rich and creamy cheese that melts into a gooey deliciousness.
orzo These little rice-like noodles pair perfectly with this cheesy dish.
Salt– Taste good.

Add-Ins and Substitutions

Substitute another type of pasta- You can swap out orzo for fly noodles or even angel hair noodles if you like. They all taste delicious.
add vegetables- Make this recipe with some spinach, diced tomatoes, onions, celery, carrots, or baby bella mushrooms.
do it with meat- Ground pork, beef, chicken breast, or shrimp would be delicious additions to this creamy orzo.
cream cheese Make this dish extra creamy and thick by adding cream cheese.

How to Make Creamy Orzo

Prepare the cheese and cream sauce. Heat the cream in a saucepan. Add the grated garlic and grated Parmesan cheese.

Steps to make Creamy Orzo: Heat the cream and add chopped garlic. Then, when hot, add the Parmesan cheese and whisk.

Prepare the noodles. Cook and drain the orzo pasta.
Combine. Pour the hot cream cheese into the saucepan with the pasta and stir.
Bake. Place the cheesy pasta mix in a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish and sprinkle with grated mozzarella and parmesan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

Pro tip: Butter the casserole dish before adding the creamy orzo to keep it from burning and sticking to the pan. It’s so much easier to clean this way!

Steps to Make Creamy Orzo: Cook the orzo, then add the cheesy cream. Place in a casserole dish, top with mozzarella and Parmesan and bake.

recipe tips

Add the parmesan when the cream is hot- Wait for the cream to heat up before adding the parmesan cheese to melt it.
salt pasta water Adding salt to the water the orzo is cooked in adds more flavor than adding salt afterwards.
Cook the orzo al dente Be careful not to overcook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the oven when mixed with the cream and cheese. You don’t want it super mushy.
fry it- In the last few minutes of cooking, you can grill the Creamy Orzo. This directs the heat to the cheese on top, giving you a nice golden brown layer.

frequently asked Questions

What is orzo?

Orzo is basically a pasta shaped like grains of rice. If you like the texture of pasta, you’ll love how this creamy orzo turns out.

Why is my orzo soggy?

If you cook the orzo for too long, it will become very mushy. Cook it only according to the al dente pasta package directions to keep it from going mushy after cooking in the oven.

A wooden spoon dipped in Creamy Orzo and topped with chopped chives.

serving suggestions

This creamy orzo recipe is an amazing side dish that goes great with so many flavors. You can serve it with meat, seafood, vegetables or bread.

Meat: Enjoy this as an accompaniment to a delicious meal of grilled chicken skewers, air fryer breaded chicken fillets (VIDEO), cast iron ribeye or air fryer pork chops (VIDEO).
seafood: Serve this creamy orzo with Cajun shrimp, panko-crusted salmon, pan-seared cod with sautéed veggies, or cilantro-lime salmon.
Vegetables: Pair this side dish with some Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Green Beans, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, or Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli.
Bread: Serve this pasta side dish with some focaccia bread, rustic bread (overnight), super soft brioche buns, or buttermilk cornbread.

Make this recipe ahead of time

Get ahead: You can pre-cook and rinse the pasta before storing it in the fridge. When ready, make the cheese cream, mix and bake.

storage: Store this creamy orzo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Heat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.

Freeze: You can freeze this dish in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Bring it to room temperature before reheating.

More deliciously cheesy dishes!

This recipe was originally posted on May 27th, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then.

Full Recipe Guide

This Baked Orzo is the best way to make these tiny pastas. It’s perfectly cheesy and so rich – everyone will love it!

Press Pen rate

Course: garnish

Kitchen: American

Preparation time: 5 protocol

Cooking time: 23 protocol

Total time: 28 protocol

Servings: 8th

Calories: 530kcal

instructions

Heat the cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the grated garlic.
Once the cream is hot, mix in 1 cup grated parmesan cheese.
Cook the orzo according to package directions, salting the pasta water. After boiling, drain the water.
Pour the hot cream cheese into the saucepan with the pasta and stir.
Place the noodles in a buttered 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Shred the mozzarella and sprinkle 1 cup over the orzo along with 1/2 cup grated parmesan.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

Nourishment

Hello, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I think life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy-to-follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be amazed at how quickly a healthy and delicious meal can be prepared. I hope you find something you enjoy!

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