Shrimp Orzo is an easy one-pot meal that comes together in 20 minutes! Elegant enough for a dinner party, but simple enough for a weeknight dinner. This is one recipe you don’t want to miss!
There is nothing better than a one-pot meal that is quick and delicious! This Shrimp Orzo comes together fast and is great for a simple weeknight dinner or for entertaining.
If you love easy one-pot meals, then you have to try this Chicken Risotto, Orzo with Sun Dried Tomatoes, or this easy Turkey Taco Pasta recipe! And, for another delicious pasta dish, check out this Sausage Kale Pasta. And, if you love comforting one-pot meals, be sure to check out this classic Italian Sausage and Lentils recipe.
Why You Need to Make this Shrimp Orzo
Everyone who tries this recipe agrees that it’s a keeper! Shrimp Orzo is great for a quick weeknight dinner but also works for entertaining.
This is a surprisingly budget-friendly meal to serve as well. Stretch the cost of the shrimp by only using a pound of it and having delicious orzo pasta do the rest.
Plus this meal is super kid-friendly too. If you’ve never used orzo pasta, it’s great! Easy to eat, even little ones will love scooping up this rice-shaped pasta.
Shrimp Orzo makes for delicious leftovers as well. I love to eat it for lunch the next day, and it’s a great recipe for healthy meal prep coming in under 400 calories.
To increase the veggies in this dish, diced bell pepper, zucchini, or broccoli would be a great addition. Add it while the bell pepper and zucchini will the tomatoes cook. For the broccoli, add small florets at the end of the cooking so they don’t get too soft.
Give this recipe a try and it’s sure to become one of your favorites. Read on for my helpful guide on how to make it as well as expert tips.
I love easy weeknight pastas! Be sure to check out my other favorites like Easy Cheese and Beef Stuffed Shells or Baked Spaghetti with Ground Turkey.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Shrimp: here I use large shrimp that are approximately 20-30 shrimp per pound. However, you can use whatever shrimp you have on hand. Also, feel free to remove the tail and dice the shrimp ahead of time.
- Orzo: orzo is a small rice-shaped pasta. If you can’t find it, you can substitute any small pasta or even broken spaghetti noodles.
- Cherry Tomatoes: cherry tomatoes add a nice pop to this dish. But, if you can’t find them, you can substitute fresh diced tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes.
- Chicken Broth: chicken broth adds flavor to the orzo while it’s cooking. In a pinch you can substitute equal amounts of water.
- Parmesan: grated parmesan is a great way to finish off the pasta. Feta crumbles would also work great here.
- Lemon: here, I use lemon zest and juice. Use an organic lemon if you have it.
- Parsley: fresh parsley is a great way to finish off the dish and add fresh flavor.
How to Make Shrimp Orzo
This recipe for shrimp orzo can be made in very large skillet or a dutch oven. The dish comes together fast so be sure to have your ingredients prepped before starting.
Step 1: cook the tomatoes
Heat oil in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add in the onions, garlic, and cherry tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes burst and onions soften.
Step 2: cook the orzo
To the pan, add in a box of orzo pasta. Stir the pasta so that it browns slightly and absorbs the flavors of the tomatoes; about 2 minutes.
Step 3: add the broth and bring to a boil
Next, add in 4 cups of chicken broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Be sure to stir frequently so that the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Step 4: add in the shrimp
When there is about 5 minutes left on the orzo (according to package instructions), add in the raw shrimp. Continue cooking until the shrimp are no longer pink and the orzo is al dente.
Off the heat, stir in the parsley and top with parmesan. And that’s it! Dinner is done in less than 20 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Have your ingredients ready to go, this dish comes together very fast.
- Use a large skillet or pot for this dish because the orzo will expand.
- Fresh or frozen shrimp work great here. You can stretch the servings by dicing the shrimp ahead of time.
- Add frozen peas, or other veggies to amp up the fiber in this dish.
- Change up the flavor by finishing off the dish with feta instead of parmesan.
- Got chicken instead of shrimp? Add cooked cubed chicken in place of the shrimp.
Frequently Asked Questions
While it may look like rice, orzo is actually a pasta. It is made just like pasta with flour (so it’s not gluten-free) and can be a rice substitute in dishes. It cooks small so it’s great to include in one-pot dinners as well as soups and stews.
You can use either medium or large shrimp for the recipe. The medium will run about 30-40 shrimp per pound.I like to buy the frozen shrimp and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. You can buy either raw or cooked shrimp. If you are using raw, follow the directions on the recipe card to make sure the shrimp is cooked through. For cooked shrimp, you really just want to heat it through, so you can add it near the end of the cooking time.
More Shrimp Recipes!
Shrimp Orzo
Equipment
- large skillet or dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound box orzo
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined (tail removed, optional)
- ¼ cup parsley, minced
- ½ cup parmesan, shredded
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add in onion, garlic, cherry tomatoes, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until tomatoes begin to burst, about five minutes.
- Add in the orzo and stir until lightly browned, about two minutes. Pour in the broth, lemon juice and zest, and bring to a boil then reduce to simmer. Cook according to package directions, about 10 minutes. During last 5 minutes of cooking, add in the shrimp and cook until orzo is al dente and shrimp is pink and cooked through.
- Off the heat, stir in the parsley. Sprinkle on shredded parmesan.
Video
Notes
- Have your ingredients ready to go, this dish comes together very fast.
- Use a large skillet or pot for this dish because the orzo will expand.
- Fresh or frozen shrimp work great here. You can stretch the servings by dicing the shrimp ahead of time.
- Add frozen peas, or other veggies to amp up the fiber in this dish.
- Change up the flavor by finishing off the dish with feta instead of parmesan.
- Got chicken instead of shrimp? Add cooked cubed chicken in place of the shrimp.
Patty K-P
Can’t go wrong with a one pot pasta dinner 🙂
Noelle
Love great, can’t wait to try!
Natalie
Now that looks fantastic. I love the flavors and spices you used here. Must taste heavenly delicious. Saving this recipe to give it a try.
Jessica Formicola
One pot meals are my favorite! I can’t wait to try this one!
Jillian
This look delicious and only one pot makes this quick clean up too! Perfect for busy weekdays or weekends!!