Creamy Parmesan Spinach Orzo Pasta
What’s better than a delicious, creamy pasta dish? One that’s super simple, low on ingredients but rich in flavor, and made with orzo pasta!
We are stoked to be sharing this parmesan spinach orzo with you today! It’s absolutely heavenly, so creamy and delicious, and with just a handful of ingredients, it’s easy to make as well! And it’s so good, it just may have you dipping back for seconds.
What is orzo?
Not to be confused with the popular Italian substitute for coffee, also named orzo, this ingredient is a rice-shaped pasta. It’s tiny and the name “orzo” means “barley” in Italian — it does look a bit like barley, after all!
But orzo is often made from “semolina,” a flour made from durum wheat. Because it’s so small, it usually cooks pretty fast; 7-9 minutes will get you to a nice al dente (another Italian word, this one meaning that you’ll get a nice firm bite out of it).
What can I add to parmesan spinach orzo?
Now, what we love about this meal is how simple it is, but if you’re looking to spice things up in the kitchen and add a little more to the dish, there are a few options.
You could keep it vegetarian by adding more vegetables to the meal. Sauteed zucchini or yellow squash would be an excellent addition, especially during summer months when they’re in season. Now, if you’re looking to add some meat, ground beef works wonderful with orzo and could make for a nice, hearty meal.
How to make parmesan spinach orzo
- In a deep pot, bring 6 cups water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon kosher salt.
- Add orzo pasta and and cook for 7-9 minutes, until al-dente.
- Drain orzo, reserving one cup of the pasta water.
- Add drained orzo to a pan on medium heat.
- Add cream cheese, garlic, spinach, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
- Stir until the cheeses are melty and the orzo is all covered in creamy sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to store leftovers of parmesan spinach orzo
Store the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for about three days.
Other recipes to try
One Pot Spinach and Artichoke Pasta
One Pot Lemon Garlic Parmesan Pasta
What to serve this with
Roasted Chicken with Vegetables
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Veggies
Creamy Parmesan Spinach Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 lb orzo pasta
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves grated garlic
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 tsp salt (to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- In a deep pot, bring 6 cups water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon kosher salt.
- Add orzo pasta and and cook for 7-9 minutes, until al-dente.
- Drain orzo, reserving one cup of the pasta water.
- Add drained orzo to a pan on medium heat.
- Add cream cheese, garlic, spinach, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
- Stir until the cheeses are melty and the orzo is all covered in creamy sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!