Last Updated 08-08-2024
GARLIC PARMESAN ORZO — Orzo pasta combines with butter, garlic and Parmesan cheese in this quick and easy side dish the whole family will love.
Usually my idea of a side dish is throwing some rice in the rice cooker. If I even remember to do that. But this Garlic Parmesan Orzo is so easy, I can fix it for my family any night of the week, and I don’t even have to plan ahead!
I always have the ingredients on hand for this savory, creamy side dish. And I can whip it up in about 15 minutes! In fact, it’s so easy, my kids can make this for me while I focus on the main dish.
And they’re usually happy to help because the absolutely love this amazing orzo side dish. Actually, I’m pretty sure they’d eat it as a main dish. Pasta, garlic, butter and Parmesan cheese?
Sounds like a perfectly acceptable dinner to me!
You’ll also love how versatile this pasta is. It’s so easy to add veggies for a healthier version. My kids won’t touch peas on their own, but if I throw a handful into this garlicky orzo, they suddenly love peas!
I haven’t tried it myself, but I suspect this recipe would work well with any small pasta. You could probably even make it with my usual go-to side dish–rice!
My family honestly couldn’t stop raving about this recipe. My youngest requests it on a regular basis. He even takes it in a thermos for dinner when he goes on Scout camps. That’s how much he likes it!
All I know is when something is this easy to make, from ingredients you have on hand, and everyone loves it, you know you’ve got a keeper!
Be sure to save this Garlic Parmesan Orzo recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Garlic Parmesan Orzo
- Orzo
- Butter
- Produce: garlic, fresh parsley
- Parmesan cheese
- Milk
- Salt and pepper
Garlic Parmesan Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook orzo according to package directions until just tender, about 10 minutes; drain.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 3-5 minutes. Stir cooked orzo into butter.
- Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese. Gradually add milk, if needed, to reach desired consistency. Stir in parsley and salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.
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If you love this recipe, you might also like:
Homemade Rice-a-Roni
Rice Cooker Mushroom Risotto
Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from All Recipes
Joan Scofield
When do you add the milk? Do you cook it with the butter, or stir in with the parmesan? Or is it only added to taste/texture, at the end, if you need to thin it out?
Danelle
At the end, to get the dish to the consistency you want. You may end up using less or more.