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This creamy garlic spinach orzo is a comforting and easy to make side dish that comes together fast and will have everyone asking for seconds! It’s ready in 30 minutes.
Try my Creamy Spinach Bacon Orzo or this Chicken Marsala Orzo next.
Why you’ll love it
This creamy orzo is my new favorite side dish or meatless main. It’s loaded with garlic and fresh spinach, and it’s creamy like a risotto. The best part? It’s actually so much quicker and easier than making a risotto! One pot, no fuss, done and done in just half an hour.
I added some parmesan cheese to this orzo with spinach since pretty much any creamy recipe can be enhanced by parmesan cheese, amirite? Straight out of the Salt & Lavender playbook! One kind reader said that it’s the creamiest, most delicious orzo they’ve ever had.
What you’ll need
- Olive oil and butter – for sautéing
- Onions and garlic – tasty aromatics. I like sweet (Vidalia) onions.
- Italian seasoning – this tasty dried herb blend is a pantry staple!
- Orzo – this tiny rice-shaped pasta is one of my favorites
- Chicken broth – for savory depth of flavor. Use vegetable broth if desired.
- Heavy cream – it’s what makes the sauce silky and rich
- Parmesan – an extra cheesy quality to tie it all together
- Spinach – for a burst of freshness
Pro tip
- Since stovetops and cookware vary, adjust as needed when making any one pot orzo recipe!
- If you find there’s too much liquid, keep in mind that the orzo will absorb it as it releases starch. Cover it and wait. Conversely, if there’s not enough liquid and the pasta isn’t cooked yet, simply add in some more broth as needed.
How to make creamy garlic spinach orzo
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
In a soup pot, sauté the onion and garlic in the butter and oil until softened. Add the garlic, orzo, and Italian seasoning, and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, to lightly toast the orzo.
Stir in the broth and cream, and let it bubble gently, stirring every so often. Once reduced and the pasta is cooked, remove from the heat. Stir in the parmesan and spinach, cover, and let it wilt. Season with salt & pepper.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I use a Dutch oven for my one pot orzo recipes.
- Freshly grated parmesan is always best for taste, texture, and ease of melting into the sauce. I use a Microplane zester.
- Mince garlic with one squeeze of a garlic press. No peeling the cloves is necessary!
Substitutions and variations
- I think a bit of lemon zest would be delicious in here for a pop of citrus flavor.
- If you don’t have any heavy cream, you could try half-and-half instead, but keep in mind the results won’t be as creamy.
- Stir in cooked chicken or shrimp at the end for some added protein.
- You can use frozen spinach if you thaw it and squeeze the water out really well, but fresh spinach is probably your best bet.
Can I use rice?
Since orzo is pasta, you’d have to do some testing because rice typically takes longer to cook. The liquid measurements will vary, and our kitchen hasn’t tried this one with rice.
What to serve with creamy garlic orzo
- If you’re serving it as a side dish, pair it with my Easy Baked Chicken Thighs or a roast like my Easy Roast Chicken (Lemon & Herb), steak, or this Easy Baked Salmon. It’s such a versatile side dish!
- You can also serve it as a hearty meatless main. Serve alongside another veggie like my Easy Roasted Asparagus or Easy Roasted Cauliflower, or try a salad like this Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad to round out the meal.
Leftovers and storage
- Store leftover orzo for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Reheat slowly over a low heat, and you may want to add another splash of broth or cream since orzo will soak it up over time.
- I don’t recommend freezing this one.
If you made this creamy spinach orzo recipe, please leave a star rating and review below! Ask me any questions. You can also tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram.
Creamy Garlic Spinach Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the oil, butter, and onion to a pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and orzo. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often (this infuses the orzo with more flavor and toasts it a bit).
- Stir in the chicken broth and cream. Once it starts to bubble, continue cooking for 10 minutes, uncovered, stirring fairly often. You will likely need to turn the heat down a bit (to medium or even medium-low). You want it to gently bubble vs. furiously boil, and you don't want the liquid to reduce too much before the pasta has cooked.
- Take the pot off the heat, stir in the parmesan and spinach, and cover the pot for 3-5 minutes or until it has thickened up to your liking. The orzo will absorb the liquid quickly, so if it still seems like there's too much liquid, just wait a little bit longer. Season with salt & pepper as needed.
Notes
- Orzo is pasta. If you want to make this with rice, you may have to adjust liquid measurements and cooking time (it would be a different recipe).
- Feel free to leave the spinach out if it’s not your thing or you don’t have any. I just add it for a bit of color and texture and to make it a bit more nutritious.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was so good! Even my husband who doesn’t like creamy meals loved it! I love all your creamy recipes so I knew I was going to like it lol thanks for al your recipes!
That makes me so happy!! 🙂 You’re very welcome, Lily!
Never have heavy cream in the fridge… substitute milk ???
Hi Mary! Sub at your own discretion. It may curdle and/or end up too watery. It won’t be as rich/creamy, but it could work out (I have not tested it with milk). Let me know if you do end up trying! 🙂
Can I use a substitute for the cream?
You could try half-and-half.
Can this be made with oats or quinoa? 🤔
Hi! I honestly have no idea. The liquid measurements would be different, and so would cooking time. You’d have to do some experimenting. Let me know if you try!
I saw this on your Instagram and I knew I had most of the ingredients on hand. It was a perfect comfort-y side dish for a chilly night. I omitted the butter and reduced the oil to made it a tad lighter. Also used whole wheat orzo and whole milk as it’s what I had on hand. I also got to use some leftover veggie broth from Thanksgiving. It turned out delicious and was a perfect side dish to lemon garlic salmon. I’ll definitely make this again!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Ok so I never leave reviews
Don’t really know why but I’m here to
Tell you all that this is truly yummy!!
I loved it and it was simple to make
I will say I tried it exactly as is and loved it. I then tried it exactly but added a little lemon zest and juice
Kinda digging that as well.
Excellent recipe that I will add protein to and some toasted pine nuts for a main dish next time
Super excited to have a new go to.
I’m so happy to hear that!! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to write me a review!
loved this! so easy to cook and the flavors are great. I added roasted tomatoes and shrimp to it. Might do portabella mushrooms next time. thanks!!!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Really want to try making this! It looks delicious. What other pasta could you use as a substitute if you don’t have orzo?
Macaroni or ditalini maybe? But then the liquid ratios might be a little off since this recipe is designed for orzo. Let me know if you do try experimenting! 🙂
Absolutely delicious. Super easy to make and what a great return! Smelled and tasted heavenly. I don’t normally leave comments but this was excellent. Hubby super happy. Too adult a taste for my kiddos sadly ( or maybe the wilted spinach was the turnoff) but I kept going back till leftovers were gone. I used half and half and a nice parmesan and we had with marinades ribeyes on the grill…yum!
Thank you for this new favorite!
I am so happy that you enjoyed it! And I really appreciate you taking the time to leave me a comment… it really helps us recipe bloggers out! 🙂
My pleasure! Keep up the good work! Wishes for a safe and wonderful holiday to you and yours! Thank you again😁
XOXO
I cannot believe no one else has commented already on this so delicious recipe! So good!!!
My favorite dish at our Italian local place is the Chicken/Spinach/Tomato Risotto. So I was immediately intrigued with your version, which uses orzo instead of the rice. I tried to duplicate the dish, so added 2 cups of cooked chicken and fresh diced tomatoes. (I do not like sun dried tomatoes). I was going for a one pot meal. And we loved the results!
I also would add more garlic and the Italian seasoning, just my preference.
Thank you so much Natasha for your easy and quick recipes. They are definitely helping me get through this pandemic with providing great tasting and easy to prepare meals. Something I can control.
I’m so happy you liked it, Angela! 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and you’re very welcome.