One Pot Creamy Tuscan Orzo

Creamy Tuscan orzo is a one-pot recipe that can be served as a side dish or a meatless main course. Tender orzo, veggies, and savory seasonings combine with cream and cheese, creating a vibrant dish that’s salty, savory, and easy to make! 

Reasons You’ll Crave This Creamy Tuscan Orzo Recipe

If you know us, you know we love a good one-pot recipe, and who can ever say no to a warm bowl of pasta? So, combining the two is a no-brainer, and this Tuscan orzo does not disappoint. 

Made with minimal prep time and a total time of under 30 minutes, it’s a dream on busy weeknights! Plus, it stores well, meaning you can make a big batch ahead of time and enjoy it for days. 

Even better, it’s loaded with veggies but is so creamy and cheesy that your picky eaters won’t even realize they’re eating their spinach. Enjoy it on its own, or pair this orzo with your favorite main course for a fabulous, comfort food meal. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this creamy orzo pasta recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details including total time, prep time, nutrition information, etc.! 

• Olive Oil and Butter – These combine to sauté the aromatics and add rich, buttery flavor to the dish. 
• Aromatics – Garlic and onions create a base of savory, slightly sweet flavor. 
• Seasonings – Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper create the savory, slightly herbaceous Tuscan-style flavor we want with this recipe. 
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes – These add a tangy, salty taste we love. If you can’t find sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes will also work. 
• Orzo – Tiny, rice-shaped pasta. If preferred, rice can be substituted.
• Broth – Use chicken broth or vegetable broth. Opt for low-sodium varieties to avoid an overly salty orzo recipe. 
• Heavy Cream (Whipping Cream) – This adds a rich taste and creates the silky texture that’s key to this creamy Tuscan orzo recipe. 
• Parmesan – For the best results, use a block of parmesan and grate it yourself. 
• Spinach – We recommend using baby spinach because it’s more tender and has a slightly sweeter taste 

Perfect the Art of Creating Tusan Orzo in One Pot

1. Sauté. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Then, add the onion, and sauté until it becomes translucent. 
2. Add the orzo and seasonings. Add the garlic, Italian seasonings, sun-dried tomatoes, and orzo to the pot. Cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently to infuse the orzo with flavor. 
3. Cook. Pour in the chicken broth and cream, and allow the liquid to bubble. Then, cook uncovered, stirring frequently. 

Note: You want the liquid to maintain a low, steady bubble but not a fast boil! Otherwise, the liquid will cook off too quickly, and you’ll be left with crunchy orzo. 

4. Add the remaining ingredients. Remove the pot from the heat, and stir in the parmesan and spinach. Then, cover the pot, and allow the orzo to rest and thicken. 
5. Serve. Adjust the seasonings to taste, and enjoy warm!

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Serving Suggestions

Feel free to serve this creamy Tuscan orzo recipe as a side dish with main courses like Middle Eastern Chicken, Mediterranean Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Meatballs, or Mediterranean Tilapia. 

Or, transform it into a complete meal by mixing in protein like chicken, beef, or turkey. 

How to Store and Reheat

This recipe is best served right away. The orzo will continue to absorb moisture and become puffy as it sits, but leftovers will still be tasty. 

• Store leftover one-pot Tuscan orzo in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days. We don’t recommend freezing this recipe! 
• Reheat your orzo in a saucepan over medium heat or warm it in the microwave. Add a splash of water or broth as needed to freshen it back up. 

More Delicious Orzo Recipes

• Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Boursin Orzo Bake
• Caprese Baked Orzo Pasta
• Creamy Parmesan Spinach Orzo Pasta
• Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

One Pot Creamy Tuscan Orzo

5 from 13 votes

Author: Food Dolls

Servings: 4 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

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Make this creamy Tuscan orzo pasta recipe in one pot in less than 30 minutes for a savory, cheesy side dish or meatless main course! 

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons butter
• ▢ 1/2 medium onion chopped
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• ▢ 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
• ▢ Fresh basil for garnish
• ▢ Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions 

• In a pot, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped onion for 3-4 minutes until it becomes translucent.
  1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 Tablespoons butter, 1/2 medium onion
• Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, sun-dried tomatoes, and orzo to the pot. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring often to infuse the orzo with the flavors.
  4 cloves garlic, 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• Pour in the chicken broth and cream. Once it starts to bubble, continue cooking for 10 minutes, leaving the pot uncovered. Stir fairly often during this time. Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low as needed, ensuring that it steadily bubbles without a furious boil. Be careful not to let the liquid cook off too much before the pasta is done!
  2 cups chicken or vegetable broth, 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
• Remove the pot from the heat, and stir in the grated parmesan cheese, fresh baby spinach. Cover the pot for a few minutes to allow it to thicken as desired. The orzo will absorb the liquid quickly, so if it still seems too runny, wait a bit longer.
  1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach
• Season the dish with salt and pepper to taste, and it’s ready to serve.
  Fresh basil for garnish, Salt & pepper to taste
• Enjoy the creamy sun-dried tomato and spinach orzo!

Equipment

1 Large Pot

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 683mg | Potassium: 536mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2456IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 242mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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