Shrimp orzo is sort of like risotto however a lot simpler and faster to make! This Italian-style dinner takes solely half-hour and is made in a single pan. Seared garlic shrimp and creamy orzo are an ideal combo for a easy weeknight meal.
30-minute one-pan shrimp orzo
The one-pot dinners are merely the most effective, similar to fast and scrumptious сhicken orzo or the reader-favorite sausage gnocchi. One-pan shrimp orzo is just not solely comforting however can be filled with fiber (veggies) and protein (shrimp). The shrimp is seasoned with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Then it is seared with minced garlic. The orzo is cooked in the identical pan after you cooked the shrimp – which suggests the cleanup is a breeze! The recipe options tons of colourful and vibrant veggies: spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichokes. This creamy shrimp orzo is a formidable weeknight dinner that may be on the desk in simply half-hour!
Why you may like it
- Simplicity. Shrimp orzo is a straightforward meal which makes it an ideal option to make on a busy weeknight. This recipe would not use sophisticated components, and all the pieces is cooked in a single pan! The cleanup is a breeze!
- Fancy but straightforward. One other factor I really like about this one-pan meal is that with such a small quantity of effort, you get an exquisite dish that tastes and appears like an entree from a fine-dining restaurant! For the fraction of the associated fee!
What’s orzo?
Orzo is a short-cut pasta resembling long-grain rice in form. It’s comprised of flour, like normal pasta. Usually, orzo is made with semolina (durum wheat used for making pasta). I desire the type of orzo that’s bigger in dimension. For this recipe, I used orzo by Delallo model, Quantity 65 minimize. Cook dinner orzo in a 1:2 ratio (1 cup of orzo with 2 cups of rooster inventory or water) for about 10 minutes on a low boil (simmer) – medium-low warmth.
Predominant components
- Shrimp. I used giant uncooked shrimp (peeled and deveined). 1 pound of such giant shrimp equates to about 16 or 20 shrimp depend.
- Orzo. Orzo is an Italian pasta that appears like long-grain rice. I used orzo by Delallo model, Quantity 65 minimize.
- Solar-dried tomatoes. I used sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil which I drained after which used a few of the oil for searing the shrimp.
- Contemporary spinach. Or, use frozen spinach – thaw and drain it very well. You need to use different veggies, similar to arugula, kale, or asparagus.
- Olive oil is used for searing the shrimp.
- Artichokes hearts – I used canned artichokes in olive oil and water.
- The heavy cream is added to the orzo and cooked veggies (sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and artichokes) to create a luscious and scrumptious cream sauce. Use heavy cream or half-and-half.
- Rooster broth is added to prepare dinner the orzo. You can too use vegetable or beef broth (or inventory). Or, merely use water.
- Garlic provides pungency and a lot taste to shrimp orzo.
- Seasonings embrace smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, purple pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
make shrimp orzo
- Put together the shrimp by seasoning it with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. This recipe makes use of 1 lb uncooked shrimp (peeled and deveined) which often equates to 16 or 20 depend.
- Sear the shrimp with olive oil and minced garlic on medium-high warmth for two minutes per facet. Be certain the shrimp should not overcrowded to keep away from steaming. You might need to work in batches. When the shrimp is completed, take away it to a plate.
- Cook dinner orzo in the identical, now empty, skillet: add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 cup of raw orzo, and 1 tablespoon olive oil and prepare dinner for two minutes. Add 2 cups of rooster broth and prepare dinner the orzo on a simmer (medium-low warmth) till the orzo is cooked.
- Add veggies by including spinach, artichokes, and heavy cream to the skillet with orzo. Stir on medium warmth till the spinach wilts.
- Assemble the dish by including cooked shrimp again to the skillet with creamy orzo, and reheating all the pieces till the shrimp is cooked by way of and the sauce is reheated.
Cooking ideas
- Use a high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet similar to a cast-iron skillet or a good-quality chrome steel pan. This can assist keep away from the burn spots and can guarantee even cooking with out shrimp orzo getting caught to the underside of the pan.
- Use uncooked, peeled, and deveined shrimp. Pre-cooked shrimp is perhaps overcooked and style too rubbery, particularly if you reheat it.
- Take the tails off. It is simpler and fewer messy to eat the shrimp with a fork and knife as an alternative of choosing up the shrimp out of the creamy sauce by the tail. So, I like to recommend eradicating the tails.
- Don’t overcook shrimp. Cook dinner it for under about 2 minutes per facet, simply till it turns pink in colour. Overcooking the shrimp will lead to a rubbery texture that no person likes.
- The sauce will thicken as this dish cools. On this case, add a splash of heavy cream, half-and-half, milk, or rooster broth to the shrimp orzo to skinny out the sauce earlier than serving.
- Make this recipe gluten-free through the use of orzo clearly labeled as “gluten-free”. Or, merely use long-grain rice.
Are you able to make it dairy-free?
- Use unsweetened coconut milk with out making any modifications to this recipe.
- Cashew milk is one other nice choice because it has a thicker consistency.
- Oat milk or almond milk ought to work too – you’ll most likely have to cut back the quantity by half as these types of dairy-free milk have a thinner consistency, so regularly add them to the orzo in a lot smaller quantities than what the recipe requires.
Variations, substitutions, and add-ins
- Use different forms of seafood, similar to scallops, lobster meat, crab meat, or salmon.
- Extra protein choices embrace seared rooster, cooked rotisserie rooster, grilled steak, or pan-seared steak strips.
- Veggies. Add your favourite veggies. I really like so as to add mushrooms, kale, asparagus, or bell peppers to my shrimp orzo.
- Heavy cream or half-and-half – both works tremendous.
- Sprinkle with freshly grated cheese: Parmesan, Asiago, Gruyere, or Pecorino Romano.
- Add pine nuts as a topping. I wish to toast pine nuts briefly (and punctiliously!) within the oven for an excellent richer taste.
- Add different toppings, similar to contemporary herbs (basil, thyme, or oregano), chopped inexperienced onions, or chopped chives.
- Make it spicy. Crimson pepper flakes will add warmth. Use these sparingly, to style, in order that they do not overwhelm the dish.
Storage and reheating ideas
I personally don’t wish to refrigerate cream-based recipes like this creamy shrimp orzo, as a result of when reheating, they invariably lose their texture, turning the cream sauce into one thing greasy. My suggestion is to make simply sufficient in order that your loved ones can eat this dish straight away, with none leftovers. In case you do have some leftovers, listed below are my ideas:
- Fridge. Retailer creamy shrimp orzo in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. I don’t suggest freezing this dish as cream-based sauces do not freeze effectively.
- Reheat on the stovetop. Reheat this dish in a big, high-sided skillet on the stovetop on low-medium warmth. When utilizing this methodology, add a small quantity of heavy cream, half-and-half, or milk to skinny out the sauce when reheating.
- Reheat within the oven. Add refrigerated shrimp orzo to an oven-proof dish and reheat within the preheated oven at 350 F for about 20 or half-hour, till bubbly.
What to serve with it
As a result of shrimp orzo contains a wealthy and creamy sauce, I like to recommend serving it with a slice of crusty Italian bread to dip into the luscious creamy sauce. Additionally, serve a contemporary salad – it all the time goes effectively with creamy pasta dishes. Listed here are my favorites:
- Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Mozzarella and Basil Pesto
- Arugula Salad with Pears, Apples, and Cashews
- Vacation Spinach Salad with Cranberries, Mandarin Oranges, Pecans, and Honey Mustard Lime Dressing
- Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese and Lemon-Honey Poppy Seed Dressing
- Easy Spinach Salad with Pine Nuts, Parmesan Cheese
- Apple Spinach Salad
Different orzo recipes you would possibly like
- Rooster Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes, Spinach, and Basil Pesto
- Creamy Rooster Orzo with Butternut Squash and Spinach
- Italian Sausage Orzo Soup with Spinach and Portobello Mushrooms
- Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo with Sausage

Shrimp Orzo (30-Minute, One-Pan Meal)
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Components
Shrimp
- 1 lb uncooked shrimp giant, peeled, and deveined – 16 or 20 depend per 1 pound of shrimp
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Orzo and sauce components
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 1 cup orzo raw
- 2 cups rooster inventory
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 14 oz artichoke hearts drained and chopped (1 can or about 1 cup)
- 4 oz contemporary spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- salt and pepper
Directions
sear the shrimp
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This recipe makes use of 1 lb of huge uncooked shrimp (peeled and deveined) which often means 16 or 20 depend. Season the shrimp with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly floor black pepper.
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Warmth 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium-high warmth in a big skillet till sizzling. Add shrimp and minced garlic, and prepare dinner for about 2 minutes per facet.
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Be certain the shrimp should not overcrowded to keep away from steaming. You might need to work in batches. Take away shrimp to a plate.
prepare dinner orzo
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To the identical, now empty, skillet, add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 cup of raw orzo, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook dinner the orzo on medium warmth, stirring, for about 2 minutes till browned.
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Add 2 cups of rooster inventory and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Deliver to a boil, then scale back to a simmer (medium-low) and prepare dinner for about 5 or 10 minutes, sometimes stirring to forestall the orzo from sticking to the underside of the pan, till the orzo is cooked by way of.
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Add spinach, artichokes, and cream. Stir all the pieces on low-medium warmth till the spinach wilts.
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Add seared shrimp to the skillet with the cream sauce. Simmer for about 2 minutes (or extra), till all the pieces is warmed by way of.
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Season with salt and pepper and extra smoked paprika, if desired.
Vitamin
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