Description
A comforting and flavorful side dish featuring tender orzo pasta tossed in a fragrant garlic-butter sauce and finished with savory Parmesan cheese. This easy Garlic Parmesan Orzo is perfect as a side for grilled chicken, seafood, or roasted vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
- 4 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt (for the water or broth)
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water or chicken broth to a boil with 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Stir in the orzo and cook for 8–10 minutes until al dente. Drain, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water.
- While the orzo cooks, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Stir in the butter until melted and blended with the oil.
- Add the drained orzo to the skillet and toss gently to coat it in the garlic-butter mixture.
- If dry, stir in reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until creamy.
- Add the freshly grated Parmesan, stirring until melted and coating the orzo. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in chopped parsley for freshness, if using.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use chicken broth instead of water to cook the orzo.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts better and provides superior flavor compared to pre-grated.
- If you don’t have chicken broth, water with added salt works well. Season the cooking liquid well for best results.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of water or broth to restore creaminess, or microwave in portions, stirring every 30 seconds.
- To freeze, store in an airtight container for 2–3 months. Reheat from frozen by baking at 350°F (175°C) for about 25–30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/5 of recipe)
- Calories: N/A
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A