orzo and salmon

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!

Sometimes you need a good dinner that only requires a single pan. This orzo is a creamy cheesy lemon garlic lovers dream paired with perfectly tender salmon and the best part is it doesn't take much time to put it all together.

Creamy Lemon Garlic Orzo with Salmon 

tbsp Olive oil

Dijon mustard

Lemon juice

tsp Smoked paprika

Garlic powder

Salmon portions

Salt & pepper

tsp Fresh rosemary

Chicken boullion cube

Orzo

Water

Heavy cream

Butter

water

tsp Red pepper flakes

tbsp Fresh parsley

Gouda

Parmesan/Pecorino romano

Salt

Black pepper

White pepper

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, dijon mustard, lemon juice, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well.

   Pour the marinade over your salmon portions and season with salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate for at least 10 minutes.

   Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add a bit of olive oil.

   Place the marinated salmon in the pan and cook until it’s about 80% cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the salmon from the pan and set aside.

   In the same pan, add 2 tbsp olive oil. 

   Sauté the minced garlic and chopped fresh rosemary for about 1 minute, until fragrant.

   Add the orzo to the pan and stir to coat in the garlic and rosemary. 

   Add the chicken bouillon cube and pour in the water. Stir to dissolve the bouillon and bring to a simmer.

   Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the orzo absorbs most of the liquid and is al dente.

Once the orzo is cooked, stir in the heavy cream, butter, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. Add extra water if a more saucy consistency is desired. If you’re adding cheese, stir in the shredded Gouda and Parmesan (or Pecorino Romano) at this point and adjust salt &amp; pepper to taste.

   Place the cooked salmon portions back on top of the orzo.

   Squeeze half a lemon over the top of the salmon and orzo.

   Cover the pan again and let everything cook on medium heat for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the salmon to finish cooking.

   Serve immediately once finished cooking to maintain creamy texture. Plate the orzo with salmon and garnish with additional fresh parsley and lemon, if desired.

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Top 3 orzo and salmon recipes from across the web

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

Top Tags

One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo

Creamy Lemon Garlic Orzo with Salmo...

Creamy Lemon Garlic Orzo with Salmo...

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