Recipes Ingredients Pasta and Grains Quick & Easy Pasta Recipes 11 Orzo Recipes Starring Your New Favorite Pasta—From Sides and Soups to Mains This rice-shaped pasta is such a breeze to cook, we bet you'll want to serve it every night of the week. By Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years. Editorial Guidelines Published on June 26, 2024 Close Photo: Pernille Loof Is there anything orzo can't do? This collection of orzo recipes is our love note to the diminutive rice-like pasta, a reminder that this tasty staple cooks quickly, boasts a comforting texture, and plays well with a wide range of flavors and sauces. There's no reason to sideline it as a side dish—orzo can also play an integral role in easy entrees and even get gussied up for dinner parties. And just because it's a type of pasta doesn’t mean you should serve it like spaghetti; we'd argue orzo is much more versatile—and you should give it a whirl. These delicious recipes are the perfect place to start. Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners 01 of 11 Late-Summer Vegetable Soup Packed with corn, green beans, and zucchini and cooked in tomatoes and chicken broth, this soup really tastes like the end of the season. Quick-cooking orzo adds substance; we prefer it over rice in this late-summer meal. View Recipe 02 of 11 One-Pot Seafood Orzo Risotto Marcus Nilsson Orzo gets fancy in this festive seafood risotto. Though we call it a risotto, it's more of a paella-like pasta dish that cooks on the stovetop. Add seafood, then pop it under the broiler until it's cooked through. View Recipe 03 of 11 Herbed Orzo This herbed orzo side is so simple and so good that you may find it hard to go back to white rice after you try it. It’s fat-free to boot; lemon juice, salt and pepper, and a handful of chopped fresh herbs are all you need to heighten its flavor. View Recipe 04 of 11 Brothy Orzo and Pork Meatballs Ryan Liebe Meatballs meet their match in this enticing one-pot dinner. Made with ground pork, fennel seed, and Parmesan, these fragrant bites are cooked in a light, bright broth with orzo then drizzled with lemon juice, fresh dill, and more cheese. View Recipe 05 of 11 Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad John Kernick This might be the ultimate pasta salad; it’s like summer in a bowl. The recipe makes enough for a crowd—you can halve it or make the full batch and use half as the filling for a delightful frittata. View Recipe 06 of 11 Lemony Pesto Chicken Soup Pernille Loof Cooking the orzo is the main task for making this bright, lively soup that tastes like the essence of spring. We use shredded chicken from leftovers or a rotisserie bird, store-bought broth, and pesto, so your meal is ready in no time. View Recipe 07 of 11 Baked Salmon With Creamy Orzo Julia Gartland This delicious one-pot dinner comes together in 45 minutes and tastes like restaurant fare. The orzo cooks with bacon and celery; we think it’s the former and not the latter that gives the pasta a creamy texture. The salmon fillets are dusted with coriander and lemon zest and nestled into the orzo to cook. View Recipe 08 of 11 Skillet Shrimp and Orzo Hector Sanchez A trip to Spain by way of orzo, this paella-inspired skillet seafood dinner is simple enough for a family-night meal and festive enough to wow guests. Cooking it in one pot allows the orzo to soak up all the zesty flavors. View Recipe 09 of 11 Braised Chicken With Artichokes, Olives, and Lemon GEORGE BARBERIS This homey, braised chicken dish ties the flavors of the Mediterranean together beautifully. The bed of orzo offers a welcome change from rice. View Recipe 10 of 11 Chicken Puttanesca With Orzo Romulo Yanes A quick dinner that’s sure to satisfy, this puttanesca gets its punchy flavor from a tomato-based sauce made with olives and capers. The chicken cutlets team up with orzo instead of penne or other more common pasta shapes. View Recipe 11 of 11 Spinach With Orzo and Feta An easy side, spinach and feta are a classic pairing; orzo is the unexpected element and gives heft to the dish. Seconds, anyone? View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit