16 Orzo Recipes To Fill Your Table

When it comes to pasta, everyone has their own favorite shape. However, there’s one shape that cooks quicker than the rest and is usually easier to mix into salads, soups or casseroles: orzo! Much like rice, orzo is a quick-cooking and versatile pasta that makes for an easy and adaptable side dish for a wide variety of mains. Whether you serve it with hearty, braised short ribs or simple baked fish, this easy pasta is always welcome at the table. It tastes great when hot or room temperature, but it can even be served cold as a pasta salad with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, or fresh basil.

If you’re looking for a hearty side dish or healthy lunch you can prepare in advance, read on for our favorite orzo recipes.

If you have picky eaters at home, this cheesy, easy-to-scoop dish might be just the thing to pull you out of a cooking rut. Kids of all ages will love how easy it is to chew the little pastas and a few sprinkles of cheese make everything just a bit more tasty. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a kid-friendly dish that parents will love too.

This fresh and bright salad is so easy, it takes just 20 minutes to come together. Pasta cooks until al dente in boiling water, then gets tossed in a pot with melted butter and creamy feta until perfectly coated. Finally, tomatoes and parsley gets added to the mix before serving with a few cracks of fresh pepper.

Creamy casseroles are a great way to cut down on dirty dishes. This one-pot side dish is super creamy thanks to the addition of Havarti, which (when added to sour cream and milk) makes a fantastic base for the flavorful orzo casserole. Be sure to add panko on top for extra crunch.

Orzo pasta salad is a fantastic side dish, but this recipe turns it into a complete meal by adding some lemony grilled chicken. Mixed with grape tomatoes, cucumbers, flat leaf parsley and crumbled feta cheese, the flavorful orzo salad gets topped off with toasted breadcrumbs for extra crunch.

This roasted shrimp and orzo dish is so versatile, you could easily serve it for lunch, dinner, or as a tasty starter. Fresh lemon juice, scallions, fresh dill, fresh parsley and red onion mean it’s packed with bright, earthy flavor, and chopped cucumbers adds just the right amount of crunch. The whole dish gets rounded out with big hunks of creamy, tangy feta cheese.

This easy orzo salad relies on lemon juice, fresh mint and fresh parsley to give it bold, bright flavor. Chopped walnuts add chewy crunch, while bell peppers add sweet, fresh flavor. Crumbled feta and Kalamata olives add just the right amount of salty flavor.

Fresh tilapia is light, fluffy and tender, so orzo is a fantastically easy side dish to pair with it. We love this recipe that combines lemon butter and capers for a bright and acidic dressing. It’s a perfect accompaniment to the simple fish dish that can be served any time of year.

This one-pot dish comes together in less than an hour and is perfect for feeding a busy family. It’s warming and packed with protein from the chicken. Our favorite part? Instead of of serving a salad on the side, simply stir the arugula into the pot when it comes out of the oven so it wilts and becomes tender.

This irresistible entrée is so warm and cozy, it’s perfect for savoring on a chilly night. First, lamb shanks get braised to tender, pull-apart perfection in a combination of beef broth and canned tomatoes, then orzo cooks in the braising liquid to soak up all the savory, meaty flavor. A splash of white wine helps add bright, vibrant flavor to the rich, hearty dish.

Ready in just 15 minutes, this simple side dish truly couldn’t get any easier. Fresh mint, paprika and lemon zest add vibrant flavor, while chopped scallions make for the perfect garnish. Serve it alongside fish, grilled chicken, or a plate of roasted vegetables.

This quick, 20-minute side dish is so versatile, you can serve it with a huge range of different entrees. All you need is some lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh dill and diced feta to dress up the super simple orzo. Drizzle with some good olive oil and black pepper before serving.

One-pot meals can save a lot of time and effort, and we love this Greek-inspired chicken dish that features creamy, lemony orzo. Ready in just under an hour, it’s a fantastic dish to prepare if you have company coming over and don’t want to spend the whole night in the kitchen prepping food or doing dishes.

When it comes to pasta salad, there are a ton of noodle shapes to choose from. But if you’re looking for something that cooks quickly, mixes well and easily absorbs the flavors it’s tossed in, then orzo is your best bet. This quick and easy orzo salad is filled with add-ins like chickpeas, feta cheese, olives and red onion. It’s great for a backyard barbecue and it makes an easy option for a fast weekday lunch.

Orzo is a great substitute for rice in this buttery and delicious pilaf. The simple technique of toasting your orzo, then cooking it in a flavorful mix of chicken broth and saffron, makes for a full flavored, simple side dish.

This chicken lemon orzo soup is a rainy day classic. It’s packed with bright, acidic flavor from the lemons, and thyme and tarragon add even more depth. This is a super easy spin on classic chicken noodle soup, and the small bits of orzo make it easier to sip straight from the bowl.