Description
A quick, one-pot (mostly) weeknight dinner featuring tender orzo pasta in a rich, creamy garlic and parmesan sauce with wilted spinach. Ready in about 20 minutes and kid-approved.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces orzo pasta
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 3–4 cups fresh baby spinach
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: Lemon zest, red pepper flakes, cooked chicken or shrimp
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Mince garlic, grate parmesan, and wash spinach.
- Boil orzo: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook orzo according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Sauté aromatics: While orzo cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Build sauce: Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes. Add heavy cream and simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add cheese and spinach: Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in parmesan cheese until melted. Stir in spinach until wilted (about 1 minute). Add a splash of reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Combine: Add drained orzo to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add lemon zest if using.
- Serve: Serve immediately topped with extra parmesan, fresh basil, or olive oil.
Notes
Reserve pasta water for sauce consistency. Use fresh parmesan, not pre-grated, to avoid grainy sauce. Remove from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. For gluten-free, use GF orzo. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 14
Keywords: orzo recipe, creamy garlic parmesan orzo, weeknight dinner, easy pasta, one pot meal, family friendly, vegetarian dinner