Description
A quick, creamy, and comforting side dish made with orzo pasta, butter, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe comes together in under 20 minutes using simple pantry staples.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package directions (usually 8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside. Do not rinse.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted and foaming, add the minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly golden but not brown.
- Add the drained orzo to the skillet with the garlic butter. Pour in the chicken broth and stir well to combine, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes until the liquid reduces and the orzo absorbs some broth.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy, coating the back of a spoon. If too thick, add a splash more broth or water.
- Remove from heat. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed. Stir in chopped parsley if using. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
Do not rinse the cooked orzo, as the starch helps thicken the sauce. Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest melt. For a dairy-free option, swap butter for olive oil and Parmesan for nutritional yeast. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free orzo.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 10
Keywords: garlic butter orzo, quick side dish, weeknight dinner, easy pasta, creamy orzo, 15 minute meals, comfort food