11 Orzo Recipes—Including Sides, Soups, and Mains

11 Orzo Recipes Starring Your New Favorite Pasta—From Sides and Soups to Mains

This rice-shaped pasta is such a breeze to cook, we bet you'll want to serve it every night of the week.

Published on June 26, 2024

Is there anything orzo can't do? This collection of orzo recipes is our love note to the diminutive rice-like pasta, a reminder that this tasty staple cooks quickly, boasts a comforting texture, and plays well with a wide range of flavors and sauces. There's no reason to sideline it as a side dish—orzo can also play an integral role in easy entrees and even get gussied up for dinner parties. And just because it's a type of pasta doesn’t mean you should serve it like spaghetti; we'd argue orzo is much more versatile—and you should give it a whirl. These delicious recipes are the perfect place to start.

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Late-Summer Vegetable Soup

Packed with corn, green beans, and zucchini and cooked in tomatoes and chicken broth, this soup really tastes like the end of the season. Quick-cooking orzo adds substance; we prefer it over rice in this late-summer meal.

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One-Pot Seafood Orzo Risotto

Orzo gets fancy in this festive seafood risotto. Though we call it a risotto, it's more of a paella-like pasta dish that cooks on the stovetop. Add seafood, then pop it under the broiler until it's cooked through.

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Herbed Orzo

This herbed orzo side is so simple and so good that you may find it hard to go back to white rice after you try it. It’s fat-free to boot; lemon juice, salt and pepper, and a handful of chopped fresh herbs are all you need to heighten its flavor.

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Brothy Orzo and Pork Meatballs

Meatballs meet their match in this enticing one-pot dinner. Made with ground pork, fennel seed, and Parmesan, these fragrant bites are cooked in a light, bright broth with orzo then drizzled with lemon juice, fresh dill, and more cheese.

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Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad

This might be the ultimate pasta salad; it’s like summer in a bowl. The recipe makes enough for a crowd—you can halve it or make the full batch and use half as the filling for a delightful frittata.

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Lemony Pesto Chicken Soup

Cooking the orzo is the main task for making this bright, lively soup that tastes like the essence of spring. We use shredded chicken from leftovers or a rotisserie bird, store-bought broth, and pesto, so your meal is ready in no time.

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Baked Salmon With Creamy Orzo

This delicious one-pot dinner comes together in 45 minutes and tastes like restaurant fare. The orzo cooks with bacon and celery; we think it’s the former and not the latter that gives the pasta a creamy texture. The salmon fillets are dusted with coriander and lemon zest and nestled into the orzo to cook.

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Skillet Shrimp and Orzo

A trip to Spain by way of orzo, this paella-inspired skillet seafood dinner is simple enough for a family-night meal and festive enough to wow guests. Cooking it in one pot allows the orzo to soak up all the zesty flavors.

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Braised Chicken With Artichokes, Olives, and Lemon

This homey, braised chicken dish ties the flavors of the Mediterranean together beautifully. The bed of orzo offers a welcome change from rice.

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Chicken Puttanesca With Orzo

A quick dinner that’s sure to satisfy, this puttanesca gets its punchy flavor from a tomato-based sauce made with olives and capers. The chicken cutlets team up with orzo instead of penne or other more common pasta shapes.

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