What is Orzo? A Pasta That Cooks Like Rice

I’ve been living in the U.S. for about 10 years, but it wasn’t until I met my husband five years ago that I discovered orzo pasta! Sounds funny, right? Yes, I literally “discovered” orzo by accident while shopping for rice at Safeway or Whole Foods—I can’t remember which. I was looking for brown rice and ended up buying what I thought was a larger grain variety.

When I got home, my husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) saw my purchase and said, “Woo, pasta tonight!” I looked at him, confused, and said, “Huh?” That’s when I realized orzo is actually pasta, not rice! 😂

Once I learned how to cook easy orzo, I started experimenting with different methods. My favorite way to makecreamy orzo? Using the oven! It’s my best friend when it comes to easy cooking, making one-pot (pan) orzo pasta recipes simple and effortless. Below, I’m sharing my go-to Easy One-Pan Orzo Recipes with Parmesan Cheese, a quick and flavorful dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

One-Pan Orzo Pasta

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, American

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 ½ cups orzo
  • 300 ml chicken broth
  • 5-6 mushrooms
  • french beans add according to your preferences.
  • shrimp add according to your preferences.
  • 1 tiger pepper optional
  • ½ tbsp tomato paste
  • salt add according to your preferences.
  • paprika add according to your preferences.
  • black pepper add according to your preferences.
  • 1 tsp Vegetable oil
  • Parmesan or Mexican blend cheese add according to your preferences.

Equipment

  • 1 baking pan ( container )

Method
 

Step 1: Bake the Orzo
  1. In a baking pan, combine orzo, vegetable oil, chopped tomato, and salt, black pepper and 300ml chicken broth.
  2. Cover with foil and bake at 355°F (180°C) for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Ingredients
  1. Chop the garlic, French beans, mushrooms, and tiger pepper.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
  1. In a bowl, mix: 100ml chicken broth + 1 tablespoon tomato paste + black pepper + salt
Step 4: Second Bake
  1. After 30 minutes, remove the orzo from the oven and add the chopped vegetables and sauce to the baking dish.
  2. Cover and bake at 360°F (182°C) for 25 minutes.
Step 5: Final Bake
  1. Remove the foil to allow the liquid to reduce. Don’t forget to add cheese if you want a cheesy layer.
  2. Bake uncovered for 10 more minutes.

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