Description
A comforting and creamy dish featuring orzo pasta, cheese, and a hint of lemon zest, perfect for busy nights or simple dinners.
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 – 1/2 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 it simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until cooked al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- Drain the orzo and return it to the pan, but remove it from heat.
- Add butter, salt, pepper, lemon zest, and the cheese. Gently stir to combine until the cheese melts.
- Add splashes of the reserved pasta water to adjust the creaminess.
- Taste and add any additional salt, pepper, or lemon zest if needed.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
For added nutrition, mix in cooked vegetables like spinach, peas, or bell peppers. Customize with your favorite cheese or add proteins like chicken or shrimp.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: cheesy pasta, orzo, comfort food, quick dinner, creamy pasta