Description
Creamy lemon orzo is a cozy, quick weeknight dish with the brightness of lemon, richness of cream, and comfort of pasta—all in one pot.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil or butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Sauté garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in orzo and toast slightly for about 2 minutes.
- Add broth and bring to a simmer.
- Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 8–10 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Cook for 2–3 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve warm, garnished with parsley or lemon zest if desired.
Notes
Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Keep a close eye on the orzo while cooking to avoid overcooking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 40mg