10 Best Orzo Recipes

These are the best Orzo recipes for easy weeknight dinners! From one pan creamy orzo to orzo soups, it’s one of the most versatile pastas and a favorite all around.

Orzo is one of our favorite pasta shapes, because it is small and can be used in a wide variety of recipes. Our kids also love it because it’s easy for them to scoop!

What is orzo?

Orzo is a small, flat pasta that looks like rice, in the sense that it is long and narrow and just a little larger.

It can be cooked like pasta, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, or similar to rice, in a one-pan method where it absorbs the majority of the cooking liquid as it simmers.

Like all pasta, it is perfect for taking on a variety of different flavors and can be paired with vegetables, meat, other proteins, and your favorite pasta sauce. It is perfect for warm and cold preparations!

See some of our favorite orzo recipes below, and let me know if you get a chance to try any!

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How to cook orzo:

There are two methods for cooking orzo:

Traditional boiled method:

Simply bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the orzo pasta and cook until al dente, roughly 7-8 minutes (but always check the package and taste test for best results).

Rice method:

Bring 2 cups of salted water to a boil, then add in the uncooked orzo. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed.

Our favorite easy Orzo recipes:

Sun Dried Tomato and Spinach Orzo

Delicious and filling, this Sun Dried Tomato and Spinach Orzo one-pot dish is ready in less than 30 minutes! It's perfect for busy weeknights, or to serve at a dinner party or a special occasion!

Check out this recipe

Garlic Parmesan Orzo Recipe

This Garlic Parmesan Orzo Pasta is a one-pot recipe for tender orzo tossed in a light and cheesy cream sauce. It's simple to make and comes together in a total of 20 minutes!

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Sausage Orzo Soup

Sausage Orzo Soup is filling, comforting, and so easy to make, with flavorful Italian sausage and yummy orzo pasta in a savory tomato sauce, it's perfect for warming up on a cold day or for feeding the whole family on busy weeknights!

Check out this recipe

One Pan Chicken Meatballs with Orzo

This One Pan Chicken Meatballs with Orzo recipe is so delicious, and only takes 45 minutes to make! With homemade chicken meatballs in a creamy Parmesan sauce, it's cooked with yummy Orzo pasta to make a filling dish the whole family will love!

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Greek Pasta Salad

This Greek Pasta Salad recipe is flavorful and filling, made with the freshest ingredients and a homemade Greek dressing! It's very quick and easy to make, perfect to serve as a side dish with a hearty main, or as a light dinner on hot summer days.

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One Pan Tuscan Orzo with Chicken

This amazing One Pan Tuscan Orzo with Chicken recipe is perfect for making a healthy, filling, quick, and easy dinner the whole family will love on busy weeknights! 

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Greek Chicken Orzo

Bursting with Mediterranean flavor, this Greek chicken orzo is the perfect weeknight dinner! It comes together in one pan in just 35 minutes.

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Creamy Orzo Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash

This creamy orzo pasta with roasted butternut squash, kale, fresh sage and Parmesan cheese is a delicious and nutritious vegetarian dinner option.

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Orzo Pasta Salad

Orzo Pasta Salad bursting with your favorite Greek fixings on your table in 30 minutes! It’s easy to make, exploding with bright flavors and textures and is make ahead friendly!

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Parmesan Portobello Orzo – Budget Bytes

This super simple and flavorful Parmesan Portobello Orzo will become your next go-to side dish. Ready in 30 minutes, it pairs with chicken, beef, or pork.

Check out this recipe