Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (2024)

Cheesy Broccoli Orzo is a crowd-pleasing, quick and easy side dish recipe for dinner. Serve with chicken, pork, or a big salad!

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Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (1)

Want to know what I find difficult?Besides finding a hair length I like, painting my own toes, and sleeping on airplanes?

Finding a good side dish recipe.

I’m the kind of person who can sit down with a big bowl of soup or piece of lasagna and be just fine, but Ben likes himself some options at dinnertime. Most nights though, after a long day of work (ie functioning brain cells are at their daily minimum,) all I can think of is tossing together a side salad. Easy but slightly boring.

Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (2)

The recipe for Cheesy Broccoli Orzo though? Easy and totally UN-boring! This creamy, cheesy, broccoli-studded pasta side dish cooks up in one pan in minutes. Serve with chicken, pork, or a huge salad. Honestly it doesn’t really matter – Cheesy Broccoli Orzo will steal the show.

Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (3)

How to Make this Recipe

Start by boiling a cup of orzo for a three minutes. Orzo is pasta that looks like grains of rice. Use gluten free if you need it!

After three minutes, addbroccoli floretsthat have been chopped small, then continue to cook until the pasta is al dente.

Drain the mixture very well — broccoli florets are notorious for holding onto water — then return the broccoli and orzo to the pot.

Here’s where the magic happens. To the pot addshredded cheddar cheese, grated parmesan cheese, plusa pat of butter.

Now, I am NOT the cheese nor butter police, so if you want to add more cheese or butter? GO FOR IT!

Drizzle in milk,any kind, then stir until smooth and creamy.

Season with salt to taste (may not need it) then dish up and dine. I hope you love this incredibly simple yet super tasty side dish – enjoy!

Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (9)

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Cheesy Broccoli Orzo

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gluten free

5/5 (7 REVIEWS)

Description

Cheesy Broccoli Orzo is a crowd-pleasing, quick and easy side dish recipe for dinner. Serve with chicken, pork, or a big salad!

Ingredients

serves 3-4

  • 1 cup gluten free or regular orzo (dish will not be GF if using regular orzo)
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped broccoli florets
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • salt, to taste

Directions

  1. Add orzo to a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook for 3 minutes then add chopped broccoli and cook for 2 more minutes, or until orzo is tender. Drain well (broccoli florets are notorious for holding onto water) then return to the pot. Add cheeses, butter, and 1/4 cup milk then stir well and add more milk if needed. Season with salt to taste.

Notes

  • Feel free to add more shredded cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, and/or butter to your liking. You may need a touch more milk to get the pasta smooth and creamy.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (10)

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118 Comments

  1. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (11) Mary Koehler 11.13.2022

    Can I use frozen broccoli?

    Reply

  2. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (13) Maggie 05.25.2022

    This is so good! This has quickly become a household favorite and I’ve made it numerous times. Both of my toddlers can’t get enough. When I made it yesterday I added some leftover diced ham for the last minute on the stove and it turned out great!

    5

    Reply

    • Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (14) Kristin 05.27.2022

      That sounds awesome, Maggie – I’m SO glad your kids liked it! Have you seen this recipe? It sounds like what you turned yours into, except it’s made with rice! https://iowagirleats.com/cheesy-ham-and-broccoli-rice-skillet/

      Reply

  3. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (15) Keisha 05.03.2022

    This dish is so quick and taste amazing. My son girlfriend made them ribs and baked beans once she finished what she cooked she turned and what cooked for dinner this with baked chicken.

    5

    Reply

    • Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (16) Kristin 05.09.2022

      Fabulous! So glad you all loved it, Keisha. :)

      Reply

  4. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (17) Leona 02.19.2022

    Great

    Reply

  5. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (18) Jenny 01.29.2022

    The best SIPMPY HEALTHY, high fiber, fast orzo I have ever had. Where are these recipes other than with you! Thank you so much! So easy I know now what to do with the broccoli I should be eatting. I used reduced fat cheese and a little – 2 tbs of parm – and it is wonderful. How many people can eat this whole recipe in one sitting? Thank you so much.

    Reply

  6. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (19) Tammy 01.25.2022

    Very easy and good. I microwaved after combining 3mins covered to cook orzo, since was still al dente. Used a combination of sharp and mild cheddar cheese, and Konriko Jalapeño seasoning for extra flavor.

    5

    Reply

  7. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (21) Jeannie Markech 09.02.2021

    This was absolutely excellent! And easy! Thank you for an outstanding recipe.

    5

    Reply

    • Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (22) Kristin 09.07.2021

      So glad you enjoyed, Jeannie! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!

      Reply

  8. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (23) Jami Hoelscher 08.29.2021

    My entire family loved it, not to mention it was very fast and easy to make!

    5

    Reply

    • Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (24) Kristin 08.31.2021

      Success! So glad to hear it, Jami. Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!

      Reply

  9. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (25) Bri 01.03.2021

    Great recipe! It came out good! I used broccoli and asparagus with mine along with white sharp cheddar cheese and Parmesan. But, nutrition facts? I could not find them. When you are cooking for your spouse who has Type 1 diabetes the nutrition facts in the serving amounts, and amount per serving, etc. are very important. I notice that a lot of recipes online, even a family size recipe, say 1 serving, which is okay, we can do the math, I found nothing on this recipe! But…still okay because i can add up the carbs with each ingredient! Another BUT…please consider people who are cooking for diabetics, special diets, etc., that may really need that info! Still give it 5 stars though! Delicious! Thank you! (And if the nutritional facts were on here and i did not see…sorry!)

    5

    Reply

  10. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (26) Judy 07.17.2018

    Quick easy and tastes great!

    5

    Reply

  11. […] Recipe source: Iowa Girl Eats […]

    Reply

  12. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (28) Cheesy Broccoli Orzo – Iowa Girl Eats – Delectable Salads 03.20.2017

    […] The Recipe can be found HERE […]

    Reply

  13. […] Cheesy Broccoli Orzo. This is a side-dish, but wemay just have it as themain dish. […]

    Reply

  14. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (30) April 02.14.2017

    I just served this with chicken apple sausage. It was so good! Definitely going in my regular rotation. My boys are 1.5 and 3.5 and love it.

    Reply

  15. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (31) Side Dish Roundup: 14 Best Orzo Recipes - The Lovebugs Blog 05.19.2016

    […] Mex Orzo Salad from Table for Two Blog Artichoke Spinach Orzo Salad from Little Broken Cheesy Broccoli Orzo from Iowa Girl Eats Creamy Curry Orzo Salad from Rock Recipes Cucumber Lemon Orzo Salad from Give Recipe Mediterranean […]

    Reply

  16. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (32) Dawn 02.29.2016

    Would be great if you listed nutritional info

    Reply

  17. […] Cheesy Broccoli Orzo from Iowa Girl Eats looks simply amazing! I love me some cheese! […]

    Reply

  18. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (34) Samantha 01.07.2016

    I made this a while aho, and it is seriously the best ever. Going to make it again tonight.

    Reply

    • Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (35) Kristin 01.10.2016

      So glad to hear it, Samantha!

      Reply

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hi, i'm kristin!

I’m a Midwestern wife and Mama, and after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2013 I began sharing delicious and approachable gluten-free recipes made with everyday, in-season ingredients. Welcome!

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Cheesy Broccoli Orzo - Easy Pasta Side Dish Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you rinse orzo before cooking? ›

Test Kitchen Tip. Rinse the orzo only if it will be baked or served cool in a salad. Otherwise, do not rinse; rinsing removes a light coating of starch that helps sauces and seasonings cling to the pasta.

How many cups of orzo per person? ›

You can measure out orzo and should plan on about 1/4 cup (or 2 ounces) dry pasta per person. Orzo will more than double in size when cooked so don't worry, there will be enough.

How much orzo for 4 people? ›

Add Orzo. Add 1 cup dried orzo (about 6 ounces) to boiling water. This yields 2 cups cooked: 4 servings of ½ cup each.

How much liquid to orzo? ›

Orzo can also be cooked like rice with a two-to-one ratio of water to dried pasta; the result will be creamier since all the starch of the pasta will be retained, not poured off with the cooking water. The best part? Your cooking time will be about half of what it takes to make a pot of white rice.

What happens if you don't rinse pasta? ›

Rinsing in cold water brings the temperature of the pasta down, which you don't want when eating it hot, but is OK in this instance since the pasta will be served cold. It also keeps the pasta loose for the salad. When left unrinsed, the starchy coating can make the pasta gummy and clump together.

How do you keep orzo from getting mushy? ›

Boil the orzo about 10 minutes or until it has a firm, chewy texture, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking together. Drain orzo in a colander. For the best flavor and texture, serve the orzo immediately after cooking.

Is orzo healthier then pasta? ›

Is orzo more healthy than pasta? Orzo is a type of pasta. So, they share similar nutritional values. But how healthy a dish is depends more on what you mix into it and how much you take.

Is orzo healthier than rice and pasta? ›

Orzo also has a higher fiber content than rice as well. Orzo does, however, have a higher carbohydrate content per serving, but not by much. Due to the higher protein and fiber content, orzo will leave you feeling fuller for longer which is helpful for those trying to lose weight.

Is orzo better for you than pasta? ›

Orzo is commonly made from white flour, but it can be made from whole-grain flour as well, making it a healthier pasta option. A two oz. serving of orzo is 200 calories. This small pasta is a good source of carbohydrates; one serving of orzo contains 42 grams of carbohydrates and two grams of fiber.

How much does 1 cup of orzo make? ›

It cooks to al dente in about 8 to 10 minutes. 1 cup raw orzo (about 6 oz) will give you about 2 cups cooked. If you want a slightly creamier result, orzo can be cooked as you would rice. Boil 1/2 cups water for each cup orzo.

How many cups of orzo do I need for 2 people? ›

Here I used 150g (~ 3/4 cup) of orzo, and it made enough to feed two people (though I'd add a bit extra if you're particularly hungry!). Bring the water to a gentle boil, and cook for around 8-10 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked to your liking. Drain the orzo in a colander, and add your choice of sauce.

How much pasta per person as a side dish? ›

Measuring Pasta

When you cook pasta, 2 ounces (56 g) of dry pasta per person is a good rule of thumb to follow. What does 2 ounces (56 g) of dry pasta look like?

What does a serving of orzo look like? ›

A serving of orzo is about ⅓ c uncooked, as long as the pasta is the “main” component. Plan on ¼ cup per person if adding to a soup or making a pasta salad with lots of mix-ins.

Do you need to drain orzo? ›

Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Drizzle some olive oil on the cooked orzo and give it a good stir, this will prevent the orzo from sticking together.

How much water do I need for 2 cups of pasta? ›

For types that aren't long like spaghetti, two cups of water should do. For longer types, four cups of water should be enough, though I've done Asian-style noodles with two cups using a frying pan (it's wide enough to let me see what I'm doing when boiling the noodles).

Should you rinse pasta before cooking? ›

Do Not Rinse. Pasta should never, ever be rinsed for a warm dish. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately.

Should you ever rinse cooked pasta? ›

Rinsing not only stops the cooking process but also helps to keep the pasta from sticking to itself, which makes it easier to layer the ingredients.

How much water for 2 cups of orzo? ›

Boil 1/2 cups water for each cup orzo. Add 1/4 tsp salt, then the orzo and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the water is absorbed, about 8 to 10 minutes.

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