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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Garlic Parmesan Orzo

pizza & pasta· Valentine's Day
March 24, 2023

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Garlic Parmesan Orzo – Orzo pasta is cooked in chicken broth and sauteed garlic and then finished with heavy cream and finely shaved Parmesan cheese

garlic parmesan orzo served in the center of a blue plate with olive oil and shaved parmesan

Orzo is becoming my new favorite pasta. It’s so versatile – I love using it for pasta salads or creamy pasta dishes. I even love using in place of rice for risotto dishes.

My newest favorite orzo dish is made with classic pasta flavors – garlic and Parmesan. The orzo is cooked in chicken broth to really deepen the flavor, along with sauteed garlic. Once the orzo is cooked through, heavy cream and Parmesan cheese are added, along with some fresh parsley to finish it off. That’s all there is to it!

Say hello to this easy Garlic Parmesan Orzo!

close up of garlic parmesan orzo on a blue plate
a forkful of garlic parmesan orzo
garlic parmesan orzo on a blue plate with a few bites removed

Tips & Tricks

  1. Add cheese slowly. To ensure the cheese melts evenly into the orzo, add it slowly to the pasta. The heat will slowly melt the cheese so it get’s nice and smooth instead of clumpy.
  2. Taste for seasoning needs. After the Parmesan is added, give the orzo a taste to see if it needs more salt or pepper. You may or may not, depending on the salt content in the chicken broth.
  3. Reheating. Once the orzo cools down, the texture of the sauce thickens up. To loosen it up, add a little milk and then heat, either in the stovetop or microwave.
Print Recipe

Garlic Parmesan Orzo

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2½ cups chicken broth
  • 1½ cups dry orzo pasta
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • ⅓ cup cream
  • ¼ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese or 2 ounces
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Set medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and minced garlic. Cook until the garlic becomes fragrant and slightly golden. Add chicken stock, orzo, salt, and pepper. Stir together and let it come to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover until most of the broth is absorbed, about 8 minutes.
  • Remove lid and add cream. Stir together. Add Parmesan cheese a tablespoon at a time and let the pasta absorb it before adding more. Remove from heat and add chopped parsley. Season more, if needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

Recipe adapted from the Recipe Rebel

Pin for later:

pin of garlic parmesan orzo

More recipes you’ll love:

Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto
a plate of cacio e pepe pasta sprinkled with Parmesan, shot from overhead
Creamy Tomato Macaroni Beef
Lemon Pecorino Pasta

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9 Comments

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Comments

  1. GeoGuessr Free says

    October 19, 2025 at 9:54 pm

    so delicious i loke this post

    Reply
  2. Nadalie says

    March 29, 2023 at 3:48 pm

    Would love to make this garlic parmesan orzo for the family! Never had this before and I’m sure something new will excite the entire family!

    Reply
  3. Angela says

    March 28, 2023 at 9:37 pm

    This looks amazing! I love making orzo and I can’t wait to make this recipe for my family!

    Reply
  4. Amber Myers says

    March 28, 2023 at 5:52 pm

    Ooo yes please. I tend to love all things with garlic. This looks amazing!

    Reply
  5. Quynh says

    March 25, 2023 at 10:29 am

    This came out really creamy and delicious! YUM!

    Reply
  6. Cara says

    March 25, 2023 at 9:43 am

    Such a quick and easy recipe and just the right amount of garlic. I’m going to be making this all the time!

    Reply
  7. Dana says

    March 25, 2023 at 8:26 am

    This is such a nice and flavorful orzo! Love the garlic and parm. Can’t go wrong with that!

    Reply
  8. Anjali says

    March 25, 2023 at 4:27 am

    This made a delicious simple dinner for our family tonight! Served it with some roasted vegetables, and it was filling and satisfying!

    Reply
  9. Nikki says

    March 24, 2023 at 5:53 pm

    This garlic parmesan orzo looks fantastic. I love how easy it is to make and that I can eat it as a side dish or my meal.

    Reply

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Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

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Okay, story time! Over the holidays, we finally go Okay, story time! Over the holidays, we finally got to visit Gideon's Bakehouse in Orlando, you know, the legendary bakery with the nearly HALF-POUND cookies that everyone raves about? The ones with 2+ hour wait times?

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I used to love cooking, but during busy weeks it f I used to love cooking, but during busy weeks it felt like a chore. I was too exhausted after work to make anything fun. But with all that time at home, I was able to rethink our favorite foods and make them more achievable for weeknights.

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Here's what makes this recipe a weeknight winner:
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