Parmesan Orzo Side Dish

Anyone else get stuck in a side dish rut? I feel like we always have the same three things.

I wanted to branch out, and needed something to go with our Parmesan Crusted Tilapia and a little pasta sounded so good.

This Parmesan Orzo is cheesy, filling, and kid-friendly to boot. Really, I promise. It’s basically like an adult version of mac ‘n cheese. 😉

What is orzo?

If you haven’t tried orzo before, you absolutely NEED to!

Orzo is a flat, rice-shaped pasta that is great served plain, in soups, or in salads.

The texture is similar to that of rice, but it cooks up a lot faster. It has double the protein of brown rice (and less fat).

How to Make Parmesan Orzo

This recipe comes together with just a few simple ingredients and under 30 minutes. You need:

• butter
• orzo pasta
• chicken broth
• parmesan cheese
• basil (we used dried, but fresh would be good, too)

It’s ready in 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Melt butter in skillet over medium-high heat. Add pasta and saute until lightly browned (about 3-5 minutes).

Step 2: Stir in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, then cover and let it cook (stirring occasionally) until liquid is absorbed and orzo is tender, about 10-12 minutes.

Step 3: Mix in parmesan cheese, basil, and salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Add-Ins or Substitutions

This recipe is really easy to make your own. Here are some different ingredients you can add in or substitute:

• 1/2 cup cream in place of 1/2 cup chicken broth (it will make the entire recipe creamier and even more mac and cheesy)
• Sauteed mushrooms
• Grilled, diced chicken (and then you could serve it as the main dish)
• Minced garlic
• Chopped fresh spinach
• Tomatoes
• Shredded Romano cheese for topping

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More pasta side dishes

• Broccoli and Cheese Orzo
• The Best Homemade Pasta Salad
• Mediterranean Chicken and Orzo Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad