creamy lemon orzo

This easy Creamy Lemon Orzo is a rich, creamy dish with bright lemon and fresh basil. This one-pan creamy lemon orzo is made in only 20 minutes! It is the perfect side dish or served alongside grilled chicken or steak.

Creamy Lemon Orzo

Tablespoons Salted Butter

Onion ((diced))

Orzo

Garlic Cloves ((minced))

Chicken Broth

Parmesan Cheese ((good-quality))

Heavy Cream

Lemon

Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice ((add more for more lemon flavor))

Tablespoons Fresh Basil ((chopped))

Salt and Pepper ((to taste))

Heat a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat and add butter. Add onions and cook for about 5-6 minutes or until onions are tender and translucent.

Add the orzo and toast for 2 minutes. Add garlic. Add in chicken broth and reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until the orzo is tender and most of the chicken broth has been absorbed.

Remove from the heat and add parmesan cheese until it is melted. Stir in heavy cream, fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, and basil. Taste for seasonings and add salt and pepper as needed.

For extra creaminess, stir in some salted butter right before serving and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of the orzo. For extra lemon flavor, garnish with lemon zest.

A fuss-free meal with pan-seared salmon and lemony orzo cooked together with spinach and Parmesan for a quick and easy dinner. A winner for busy nights— this all-in-one dish is sure to be loved by everyone at your table!

One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo

salmon fillets

salt (divided)

tsp black pepper (divided)

tsp sweet paprika

garlic powder

olive oil

unsalted butter

yellow onion (finely chopped)

garlic

dry orzo pasta

thyme

chicken broth

baby spinach

juice from ½ lemon

Parmesan

black pepper (for servng)

chili flakes (for serving)

prepping

Get your prep done before you start cooking: Grate the Parmesan cheese, finely chop the onion and mince the garlic cloves. Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with garlic powder, sweet paprika and ½ teaspoon salt and pepper.

searing

Heat oil and butter over medium high in a large nonstick pan or skillet. Add salmon fillets and sear, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.Reduce heat to medium, add garlic and onion. Cook until soft and fragrant for about 2 minutes. Stir in thyme and the remaining salt and pepper. Add orzo and toast for 1 minute.

cooking

Pour in broth and bring to a boil. To maintain a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook uncovered while stirring occasionally to prevent the orzo from sticking, until almost al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 8 minutes.

simmering

Add spinach, stir and simmer until wilted for about 2 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and Parmesan. Add more broth, if needed. Taste and adjust salt.

finishing

Return salmon to the skillet and simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the salmon is heated through.

serving

Top with freshly ground black pepper and chili flakes. Enjoy!

A delicious one-pot orzo dish served with roasted spiced chickpeas.

chickpeas

paprika

salt and pepper (to taste)

onion

Italian seasoning

garlic (minced)

asparagus

white wine

orzo (dry)

vegetable broth

lemon (juiced)

coconut milk

spinach (chopped)

Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a baking sheet. 

Add the chickpeas to the sheet pan, along with the olive oil, paprika, salt &amp; pepper. Toss, and bake for 20 minutes, until crispy.

In the meantime, in a pan over medium heat, add the olive oil, garlic, onion and asparagus spears. Saute until the asparagus is bright green and the onions are translucent.

Add the white one to deglaze the pan, followed by the orzo. Saute for 1 to 2 minutes to “toast” the orzo. Now add the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, and then lower heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. 

Add the coconut milk, spinach and lemon juice. Stir until combined and simmer for an additional two minutes. 

Top the dish with roasted chickpeas and enjoy. Alternatively, mix half of the chickpeas in, and save the rest for the topping.

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Creamy Lemon Orzo

One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo

Creamy Lemon Orzo

Top 3 creamy lemon orzo recipes from across the web

The most viewed creamy lemon orzo recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

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Creamy Lemon Orzo

One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo

Creamy Lemon Orzo

The most viewed creamy lemon orzo recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine