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Easy • Sides

Quick Creamy Spinach Orzo

A velvety, vibrant orzo dish packed with spinach and Parmesan, ready in minutes.

Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Servings
4
Level
Easy
Quick Creamy Spinach Orzo

Forget boring side dishes! This Quick Creamy Spinach Orzo is pure comfort in a bowl, transforming simple ingredients into something truly special. Perfectly cooked orzo pasta simmers in a luscious, savory broth with fresh spinach and Parmesan, creating a velvety dish that's surprisingly easy to make. It's a fantastic accompaniment to chicken or fish, or even a light vegetarian main.

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

Main

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small shallot or 1/4 small yellow onion, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 3 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
  • 4-5 oz fresh spinach (about 5 cups loosely packed)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat. Add minced shallot (or onion) and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

  2. Step 2

    Add orzo pasta to the pan and stir for 1 minute, to lightly toast the pasta.

  3. Step 3

    Pour in vegetable (or chicken) broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

  4. Step 4

    Stir in heavy cream and fresh spinach. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the spinach has wilted and the sauce is creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

  5. Step 5

    Remove from heat and stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese.

Tips

  • Stirring frequently during the last few minutes of cooking helps create that creamy texture by releasing starches from the orzo.
  • If you want to add a touch of brightness, stir in a squeeze of lemon juice at the very end.

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