Description
A comforting and delicious Cheesy Orzo Pasta dish, perfect for a quick dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups orzo
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 – 1 1/2 cups colby jack cheese (grated)
Instructions
- Add chicken broth and water to a medium saucepan.
- Cover and bring to a boil.
- Add orzo and let simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until cooked al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- Drain and return the orzo to the pan but remove from heat.
- Add butter, salt, pepper, lemon zest, and cheese. Gently stir to combine; the cheese will take a minute to fully melt.
- Add splashes of the reserved pasta water to thin out and make the consistency creamier.
- Taste and add any additional salt, pepper, or lemon zest.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
For added flavor, sprinkle some extra cheese on top or add fresh herbs like parsley or basil. Use low-sodium chicken broth if watching salt. Mix in vegetables for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Cheesy Orzo, Pasta, Comfort Food, Quick Dinner, Easy Recipe