Best 6 Saucy Italian Orzo Recipes

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In the realm of culinary delights, saucy Italian orzo stands as a symphony of flavors, a harmonious blend of textures, and a testament to the versatility of this unassuming grain. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice cook, embarking on a journey to discover the best saucy Italian orzo recipe is an adventure worth taking. With its captivating combination of tender orzo pasta, vibrant vegetables, savory Italian spices, and a luscious, flavorful sauce, this dish is sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. So let's embark on this culinary exploration, discovering the perfect balance of ingredients and techniques that will elevate your saucy Italian orzo to a culinary masterpiece.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

SAUCY ITALIAN ORZO



Saucy Italian Orzo image

Orzo is a fun twist in this hearty, saucy Italian dish. Spinach not only provides color and flavor, but also gives this meal a healthy kick. Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 30m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
3/4 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cups fresh baby spinach

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven, cook the beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain., Stir in the tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, orzo and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until orzo is tender. Add spinach; cook and stir until spinach is wilted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 340 calories, Fat 12g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 57mg cholesterol, Sodium 1054mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (13g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 24g protein.

CREAMY ORZO



Creamy Orzo image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     side-dish

Time 25m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, juices drained
1 1/4 cups whipping cream
1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Steps:

  • Bring a heavy large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic, and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until they are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cream and peas. Add the orzo and toss to coat. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the Parmesan to the pasta mixture and toss to coat. Stir the pasta mixture until the sauce coats the pasta thickly, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to maintain a creamy consistency. Season the orzo with salt and pepper, and serve.

CREAMY ITALIAN ORZO



Creamy Italian Orzo image

Orzo is a small Italian pasta that looks very much like rice. This dish is a fabulous blend of creaminess which gently balances the punch of the onion and garlic. Peas and cremini mushrooms are an added surprise in this dish that can be eaten as a side or a main course.

Provided by Adopted Parisian

Categories     Onions

Time 25m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb orzo pasta (rice-shaped pasta)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup cremini mushroom
1 1/4 cups half-and-half
1 cup canned peas
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
salt, to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and cook until tender but still al dente (slightly firm), stirring often, about 8 minutes. Drain, saving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, mushrooms and garlic, and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the half and half and peas. Add the orzo and toss to coat. Remove pan from heat. Add parmesan to pasta mixture.
  • Stir pasta mixture until the sauce coats the pasta thickly, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to maintain a creamy consistency. Season the orzo with desired amount of salt, and serve hot.
  • Chunks of chicken or shrimp could be added if you choose to serve this as a main dish.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 370.3, Fat 12.3, SaturatedFat 5.5, Cholesterol 25, Sodium 213.1, Carbohydrate 50, Fiber 3.1, Sugar 3, Protein 14.6

PARMESAN GARLIC ORZO



Parmesan Garlic Orzo image

This is something my son even enjoys making.

Provided by Colleen Volcjak

Categories     Side Dish

Time 25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup orzo pasta
¼ cup butter
2 teaspoons minced garlic
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
½ teaspoon salt and ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
  • Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir garlic in melted butter until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir orzo into garlic mixture and mix in Parmesan cheese, milk, parsley, salt, and black pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 327 calories, Carbohydrate 39.7 g, Cholesterol 35.5 mg, Fat 14.3 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 9.7 g, SaturatedFat 8.5 g, Sodium 454 mg, Sugar 1.1 g

ORZO WITH TOMATO SAUCE



Orzo With Tomato Sauce image

Provided by Pierre Franey

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, pastas, side dish

Time 15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 cups water
Salt to taste if desired
3/4 cup orzo, rice-shaped pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1/2 pound ripe tomato, peeled
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
2 tablespoons loosely packed fresh basil, finely shredded

Steps:

  • Bring water to boil in a saucepan and add salt to taste. Add orzo and cook, stirring briefly, about 10 minutes or until tender. Do not overcook. Drain.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a saucepan and add garlic. Cook briefly, stirring. Cut tomato into 1/2-inch cubes and add to saucepan. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and pepper flakes. Stir and bring to boil.
  • Add orzo and basil. Stir to blend, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 147, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 752 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams

ITALIAN SAUSAGE ORZO



Italian Sausage Orzo image

This light dish is perfect for any night of the week, and it looks as good as it tastes! If you have leftover sauteed mushrooms or other vegetables, toss them in as well. -Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 40m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

8 cups water
3 teaspoons reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules
1-1/2 cups uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta (about 8 ounces)
1 package (19-1/2 ounces) Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 plum tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped roasted sweet red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, bring water and bouillon to a boil. Stir in orzo; return to a boil. Cook until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain orzo, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid., In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, cook and crumble sausage with onion and garlic over medium heat until no longer pink, 6-8 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, roasted pepper, salt, pepper, pepper flakes and orzo. Heat through over medium-low heat; stir in reserved cooking liquid to moisten if desired. Remove from heat; stir in basil and cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 265 calories, Fat 7g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 37mg cholesterol, Sodium 623mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 16g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

Tips:

  • To save time, use store-bought pesto instead of making your own. Just be sure to choose a high-quality brand.
  • If you don't have orzo, you can use another small pasta shape, such as ditalini or orecchiette.
  • If you like your pasta saucier, add more pesto or olive oil.
  • This dish is also delicious served cold, so it's perfect for a picnic or potluck.
  • Add a squeeze of lemon juice for a brighter flavor.
  • Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.

Conclusion:

This saucy Italian orzo is a quick and easy weeknight meal that's sure to please the whole family. It's packed with flavor from the pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese. Plus, it's a one-pot dish, so cleanup is a breeze. So next time you're looking for a simple and satisfying pasta dish, give this recipe a try.

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