One Pot Lemon Shrimp Orzo with Tomatoes (Easy Recipe)

Name: One Pot Lemon Shrimp Orzo
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
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

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One Pot Lemon Shrimp Orzo is an easy weeknight meal that comes together in 20 minutes! Full of flavor and easy to make, this is one 5-star rated recipe you don’t want to miss!

Shrimp Orzo with cherry tomatoes and parsley in a large pan.

There is nothing better than a one-pot meal that is quick and delicious! This Lemon Shrimp Orzo comes together fast and is great for simple weeknight dinners but elegant enough 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 that’s full of so much flavor.

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.

Table of Contents

You’ll Love Lemon Shrimp Orzo!

Everyone who tries this recipe agrees that it’s a keeper! One Pot Lemon Shrimp Orzo uses simple ingredients and comes together fast.

The combination of succulent shrimp and quick-cooking orzo, make this a great orzo pasta recipe for any occasion.

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.

Shrimp Orzo in a pot with parsley and cherry tomatoes on top.

To increase the veggies in this dish, diced bell pepper, zucchini, or broccoli would be a great addition. Add in the bell pepper and zucchini while the tomatoes cook. For the broccoli, add small florets at the end of the cooking so they don’t get too soft.

Give this easy one-pot Lemon Shrimp Orzo a try and it’s sure to become one of your favorites. Read on for my helpful guide on how to make this recipe it as well as expert tips.

Ingredients and Variations

overhead photo of ingredients needed such as pasta, parsley, cherry tomatoes, and parmesan.

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.

Salt: use a bit of kosher salt to flavor the one pot lemon shrimp orzo.
Parmesan: grated parmesan is a great way to finish off the pasta. Feta cheese crumbles would also work great here.
Lemon: here, I use lemon zest and juice. Use organic fresh lemons if possible.
Parsley: fresh parsley is a great way to finish off the dish and add fresh flavor.
Veggies (optional): 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. A cup of baby spinach would be great stirred in at the end.

How to Make Lemon 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.

process shots showing how to make recipe including cooking the tomatoes, bringing broth to a boil, and adding in the pasta and seafood.

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, for 3-4 minutes 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 2-3 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. You will need to cook the orzo for about 10-12 minutes to ready al dente.

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 cook and are no longer pink and the orzo is al dente.

Shrimp Orzo in a pan with parsley and lemon next to it.

Off the heat, stir in the parsley and top with parmesan. And that’s it! Dinner is done in less than 20 minutes. Serve with crusty bread and side salad.

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

What is orzo?

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.

What type of shrimp to use?

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.

overhead photo of shrimp orzo in a large pot with parsley next to it.

More Shrimp Recipes!

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