Parmesan Orzo Recipe

Parmesan Orzo - An easy parmesan orzo recipe that is creamy, full of butter, garlic, parmesan, and herbs. It's easy to make in under 15 minutes.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you decide to purchase through my link, I may earn a very small commission at no additional cost to you.

Why I love Orzo with Parmesan

• It's a vegetarian orzo recipe (if you swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth) so it is easy to tailor to a meatless meal.
• It's super flavorful with fresh herbs and garlic.
• It pairs really well with chicken, shrimp, and fish.
• It's a really easy orzo recipe! It comes together in less than 15 minutes.

Parmesan Basil Orzo Ingredients

• unsalted butter
• garlic
• orzo
• Kosher salt & ground black pepper
• chicken broth (vegetable broth if making it vegetarian)
• milk (I use 2%)
• fresh oregano, basil, and thyme
• grated parmesan

Cooking Orzo in Chicken Broth

Detailed instructions and measurements for Parmesan Orzo are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

1. Add your butter to a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter. 
2. Once butter is melted, add the garlic, orzo, salt, and pepper. Toast the orzo, stirring frequently, just until it starts to brown, about 2 minutes.
3. Pour in your broth. Stir to combine.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil and then turn down the heat and allow it to simmer. Stir occasionally while the orzo simmers. Let it simmer until almost all the liquid has absorbed.
5. Pour in the milk. Stir to combine.
6. Add the fresh oregano, fresh basil, and fresh thyme. Stir to combine.
7. Add in the grated parmesan cheese. Mix to combine until all the parmesan has melted. Serve with extra herbs and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top.

Tips and Tricks for Easy Orzo Recipes

Be sure not to burn your garlic and orzo during the toasting process. It's important to stir frequently to prevent burning.

The fresh herbs add amazing flavor to this dish. If you don't have access to fresh herbs, dried works well too. You may need to adjust quantities.

How to Serve Easy Orzo Recipes Like This One

Orzo pairs really well with:

• Shrimp Scampi
• Grilled or Baked Chicken
• Salmon
• Grilled Flank Steak

how to lower calories or WW points

You can use a lower calorie/lower point butter substitute to toast the orzo with the garlic.

Whole wheat orzo is slightly lower in calories than regular orzo.

Use a nonfat or plant based alternative milk.

Reduced fat parmesan could be used in place of full fat parmesan.

Favorite Recipes from Sweetly Splendid

Creamy Orzo with Parmesan

An easy parmesan orzo recipe that is creamy, full of butter, garlic, parmesan, and herbs. It's easy to make in under 15 minutes. 

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 227 kcal

Protein 8 g

Equipment

• skillet
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x4x

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup orzo
• Kosher salt & ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cups chicken broth vegetable broth if making vegetarian
• 2 tablespoons milk I use 2%
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• ¼ cup grated parmesan

Instructions

 

• Add your butter to a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter. 
• Once butter is melted, add the garlic, orzo, salt and pepper. Toast the orzo, stirring frequently, just until it starts to brown, about 2 minutes. 
• Pour in your chicken broth. Stir to combine. 
• Bring the mixture to a boil and then turn down the heat and allow it to simmer. Stir occasionally while the orzo simmers. Let it simmer until almost all the liquid has absorbed. 
• Pour in the milk. Stir to combine. 
• Add the fresh oregano, fresh basil, and fresh thyme. Stir to combine. 
• Add in the grated parmesan cheese. Mix to combine until all the parmesan has melted. Serve with extra herbs and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top. 

Notes

Be sure not to burn your garlic and orzo during the toasting process. It’s important to stir frequently to prevent burning. 

The fresh herbs add amazing flavor to this dish. If you don’t have access to fresh herbs, dried works well too. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Creamy Orzo with Parmesan

Serving Size

 

0.5 cup

Amount per Serving

Calories

227

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

8

g

12

%

Saturated Fat

 

4

g

25

%

Trans Fat

 

0

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Cholesterol

 

16

mg

5

%

Sodium

 

354

mg

15

%

Carbohydrates

 

32

g

11

%

Fiber

 

2

g

8

%

Sugar

 

1

g

1

%

Protein

 

8

g

16

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword orzo, pasta, side dish

Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!