How To Cook Orzo: Your New Favorite Pantry Staple
Learn how to cook orzo perfectly every time with this fail-proof method. This pasta shape is great for meal prep and served as a versatile side, or in salads, soups, and more.
Suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets.
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I really, really love orzo. This fun little pasta shape is my new favorite eat. Bonus is that this easy-to-make pantry staple is sooooooooo versatile. And like my easy quinoa, I love using it as a base for soups, tossed in salads, baked in casseroles, and a side dish to grilled meats, veggies or fish.
Table of Contents
What is Orzo?
Because it looks like rice, most people think Orzo is a grain. But, it is actually a small pasta shape typically made from durum wheat. You’ll typically find it in the pasta aisle of your grocery store. It’s awesome texture means that it can absorb all the flavors thrown at it.
Why Make This Recipe?
Cooking orzo is a fantastic skill to have for several reasons:
- Quick and easy – 2 minutes prep, 3 essential ingredients, 8-10 minutes of cook time, one pot. Perfect for weeknight dinners or last-minute meals.
- Fail proof – This recipe works perfectly every single time.
- Great for meal prep – Cook once, refrigerate and eat all week long.
- Pantry Staple: It comes with a long shelf life aka, a perfect go-to ingredient.
- Versatile: Cook once and serve all the ways or flavor all the ways.
Ingredient Notes
- Orzo: This recipe starts with uncooked orzo. Grab your favorite brand from the grocery store. Feel free to use some whole grain orzo for extra nutrients and goodness.
- Liquid: Use water for a neutral flavor or your favorite broth for added flavor.
- Salt: This is optional but adds flavor. Do check salt levels though, if cooking in broth.
- Optional: I recommend adding a little olive oil to the boiling water to help reduce the pasta from sticking to the pan.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
How To Cook Orzo
Ready to cook orzo? Follow these simple steps to make perfect orzo every time!
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Step 1. Measure out the uncooked orzo, and in a medium-sized saucepan, bring salted water or broth to a boil.
Step 2. Then add the orzo to the boiling water, cover the pan, and bring it back to a boil.
Step 3. Uncover the pan and reduce the heat to let it simmer. Cook for 8-12 minutes, stirring occasionally and checking regularly for doneness. The cooked orzo is best when al dente.
Step 4. When done to your liking, transfer the orzo to a colander and drain any excess water. Serve warm, or add to other recipes (like a delicious salad).
Recipe Tips and Variations
Now that you know how to cook orzo, let’s explore some fun ways to customize it!
- Toast it – Toast the grains with some butter or oil in a skillet before cooking for some extra flavor.
- Don’t overcook: Orzo usually takes about 8-12 minutes. So do check it a few minutes before the suggested time to get the texture you prefer.
- Stir occasionally: Make sure to gently stir a couple of times while cooking to prevent it from clumping together.
- Reuse the pasta water: Set aside some pasta water to flavor or thin out sauce or soups.
- Rinse to stop cooking or don’t: If you’re going to use this cold in a salad, then rinse it under cold running water to stop the cooking process. However, if you are going to serve it warm with sauce, then don’t rinse as the starch helps sauces coat the pasta.
- Oil it – To avoid the orzo sticking together before serving, toss the warm pasta with some olive oil (or dressing if using).
How To Serve Orzo
Basically you can serve and use this fun little pasta shape like any other pasta and sometimes like rice. Just remember that your orzo may not be gluten free (whilst rice is).
- As a side dish: Simply cook the orzo, potentially add in flavors like olive oil, butter, fresh herbs, lemon juice, lemon zest, etc., and serve it as a side dish like you would rice or pasta. It goes well with grilled veggies, shrimp, chicken, fish and more.
- In salads: Swap it out for other pasta in pasta salads (I love using it in this Hawaiian pasta salad). Start with a simple base of diced vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives), add in cheeses or meats, greens, fresh herbs, the cooled orzo, and a vinaigrette and presto! You’ve got an easy pasta salad.
- In soups: Feel free to bulk out your favorite soups, especially broth based or vegetable based soups with some cooked orzo (try it in this crockpot tomato soup). You can also cook the pasta directly in the soup.
- With all your sauces: I love serving up this fun pasta shape with easy sauces for a quick weeknight dinner. It goes well with a 5 minute basil pesto and easy crockpot spaghetti sauce.
- Baked treats: Feel free to add the cooked pasta into your casseroles along with any other proteins like chicken or shrimp, and bake away till golden and bubbly.
Storage
- Refrigerate: Store the cooled cooked orzo in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. It makes a great base for quick lunches!
- Freeze: Spread it on a baking sheet to cool, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat when needed. Reheat in the micorwave or stove top with a little splash of water.
FAQs
Since it is usually made from wheat, generally orzo is not gluten free. I have seen a few gluten free options but have never tried any myself. Please do read the label carefully if you are unsure.
You should aim for a ⅓ cup (75g) of uncooked orzo per person. Keep in mind that it expands as it cooks. A typical serving size of cooked orzo is 1 cup (140g).
This depends on your preference. Try anything between 7-12 minutes, with 7- 8 minutes giving you al dente pasta. You will need it to be al dente for making into salads.
More Cooking Basics
- How to Cook Quinoa.
- How To Cook Quinoa In Rice Cooker.
- How To Cook Couscous.
- Instant Pot Brown Rice.
- How To Make Gravy.
- How To Make Buttermilk.
- How To Scald Milk.
- How To Cook Pinto Beans.
- How To Bread Chicken.
- How To Make Pizza Dough.
- How To Cook Artichokes.
- How To Make Instant Pot Coffee Concentrate.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
Recommended Tools
- A large saucepan or Dutch oven for cooking your orzo.
- A silicon spoon for stirring.
- This sea salt perfectly seasons your orzo.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Thank you for reading my how to cook orzo recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable air fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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How To Cook Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 cups (454g) orzo uncooked
- 4 cups (946mL) water
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the salted water or broth to a boil.
- Then add in the orzo, cover the pan and bring it back to a boil.
- Uncover the pan and reduce the heat to let it simmer. Cook for 8-12 minutes, stirring occasionally and checking regularly for doneness. The cooked orzo is best when al dente.
- When done to your liking, transfer the orzo to a colander and drain any excess water.
- Serve the orzo warm, or add it to other recipes (like a delicious salad).
Video
Notes
- Toast it – Toast the grains with some butter or oil in a skillet before cooking for some extra flavor.
- Don’t overcook: Orzo usually takes about 8-12 minutes. So do check it a few minutes before the suggested time to get the texture you prefer.
- Stir occasionally: Make sure to gently stir a couple of times while cooking to prevent it from clumping together.
- Reuse the pasta water: Set aside some pasta water to flavor or thin out sauce or soups.
- Rinse to stop cooking or don’t: If you’re going to use this cold in a salad, then rinse it under cold running water to stop the cooking process. However, if you are going to serve it warm with sauce, then don’t rinse as the starch helps sauces coat the pasta.
- Oil it – To avoid the orzo sticking together before serving, toss the warm pasta with some olive oil (or dressing if using).
- Storage – keep leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for 3-5 days.
- There are 5 WW BluePlan SmartPoints in one serving.
