15 Favorite Orzo Recipes

Orzo with Chicken, Red Pepper, and Shiitakes — Photo:
© Todd Porter & Diane Cu

Orzo, also called risoni, is a tiny pasta shaped like large grains of rice and usually made from semolina. Like rice, it's an incredibly versatile ingredient, making tasty, texturally pleasing contributions to soups and salads alike. It's also great as the main attraction. cooked until creamy risotto-style or in a cheesy baked pasta. Here are 15 recipes that highlight all that orzo has to offer.

01 of 15

Chicken-Orzo Soup with 10 Vegetables

Any combination of vegetables will work in this hearty soup from chef Hugh Acheson. If including 10 vegetables isn't a priority, you can also cut some and double up on others.

Get the Recipe

02 of 15

Orzo Risotto with Buttery Shrimp

When chef Ryan Poli and his kitchen staff tried finishing orzo risotto-style (stirring the cooked orzo with stock until creamy), they got fantastic results with impressive speed. It's served with a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan for extra umami.

Get the Recipe

03 of 15

Swordfish with Orzo, Pistachios, and Olives

This impressive dish comes together in less than half an hour. It's a bright and sophisticated medley of texture, color, and flavor.

Get the Recipe

04 of 15

Chicken Meatball and Orzo Soup

This recipe is a clever use of chicken sausage. The meat is removed from the casings, shaped into balls, browned, then simmered in chicken broth. The chicken soup and cooked orzo can be refrigerated separately overnight; add the orzo and baby spinach just before heating and serving.

Get the Recipe

05 of 15

Duck Breasts and Orzo Salad with Herb-Infused Olive Oil

"Infusing olive oil is a great way to add more herbs to your life," says Urban Moonshine founder Jovial King. In this main-course salad, the oil is rubbed on the duck breasts and shallots before grilling, then it's used in a vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe

06 of 15

Creamy Baked Orzo with Goat Cheese

This decadent baked pasta derives its creamy flavor from a combination of three cheeses: fresh goat cheese, tangy cream cheese, and a dusting of grated pecorino.

Get the Recipe

07 of 15

Custardy Baked Orzo with Spinach, Bacon, and Feta

Few Americans eat pasta for breakfast, but this Greek-inspired recipe with orzo, leeks, and bacon aims to make a few converts. It's a satisfying meal any time of day; if you're so inclined, enjoy it with a vibrant, fresh white wine from the Greek Peloponnese region.

Get the Recipe

08 of 15

Italian Wedding Soup

For this minestra maritata (Italian wedding soup), former F&W senior test kitchen editor Grace Parisi makes tiny pork meatballs and simmers them with orzo, chickpeas, spinach, and Parmesan. She occasionally substitutes green beans for the spinach, depending on who is at the table.

Get the Recipe

09 of 15

Scallops with Orzo, Tomatoes, and Ginger

This seafood recipe from chef Eric Ripert is bursting with flavor. Ginger and lemongrass combine with tomatoes, lemon juice, and basil and accompany seared scallops on top of chewy orzo.

Get the Recipe

10 of 15

Orzo with Chicken, Red Pepper, and Shiitakes

With its rice-shaped orzo and creamy texture, this pasta may remind you of risotto — but it's easier to make, since you don't have to endlessly stir. No wonder it has a resounding five-star rating from our readers.

Get the Recipe

11 of 15

Orzo and Chickpeas with Turmeric-Ginger Broth

Coconut milk and fresh lime juice are natural flavor partners to ginger and turmeric; here they come together to form a restorative tea-based broth that’s delicious studded with chickpeas and orzo pasta.

Get the Recipe

12 of 15

Ragout of Clams with Spinach, Sausage, and Orzo

This one-dish meal from celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern has it all: rich Italian sausage (meat), briny clams (seafood), leafy greens (vegetable), and rice-like pasta (starch) to soak up the delicious juices.

Get the Recipe

13 of 15

Chicken in a Pot with Lemon Orzo

Chicken in a pot with orzo and lemon — Jonathan Lovekin

"This is a very forgiving dish," writess television cook Nigella Lawson. "It doesn't rely on precision timing: The chicken, leeks, and carrots are meant to be soft, and I even like it when the orzo is cooked far beyond the timing speciﬁed on the package. It's also open to variation, owing to what's in your kitchen."

Get the Recipe

14 of 15

Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese

Former F&W editor Kay Chun takes pasta salad to a new level with sweet grilled corn, zucchini, and a creamy lime dressing spiked with chile powder. She uses fresh cilantro to add brightness and then tops the whole salad with tangy slivers of fresh goat cheese.

Get the Recipe

15 of 15

Orzo Risotto with Sausage and Artichokes

This risotto-style orzo showcases tender, tangy marinated artichokes and sweet Italian sausage. Baby peas add a pop of color, and Parmesan contributes to the dish's silky texture. Be sure to serve it with extra cheese at the table.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!