Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
One Pot Lemon Orzo Pasta
Soft orzo with a little cream and lemon makes an inviting dish to spoon into bowls. The lemon flavor is yours to decide as you finish, from a gentle brightness to something sharper. Enjoy it warm, with parsley and Parmesan stirred through the sauce.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 10 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- One pot · One pot & sheet pan
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
- Dish type
- Pasta
A few quick notes
1. Toast the orzo
Stir the orzo and garlic in melted butter for their brief toast before pouring the broth into the skillet.
2. Stir often while covered
During the covered simmer, stir often and check the pasta's tenderness as most of the broth is absorbed.
3. Add broth if needed
If the liquid disappears before the orzo is cooked how you like it, add a splash more broth and continue cooking.
Get to know the ingredients
Cream choice
Any kind of cream is allowed. Heavy cream gives a richer, thicker sauce, while light cream leaves it thinner.
Fresh lemon
Add the lemon juice gradually at the end, tasting between additions so you can choose the strength you prefer.
Parmesan
Grated Parmesan goes in with the cream and parsley after the orzo cooks, before you adjust the lemon flavor.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 4 steps completeMake room for One Pot Lemon Orzo Pasta
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Taste the lemon last
Stir in the creamy finishing ingredients, then add lemon juice to taste and serve while the pasta is warm.
A little more help as you go
Broth options
Vegetable or chicken broth are both listed. Either joins the toasted orzo with salt and pepper before the covered simmer.
Reheat with a splash
Leftovers keep refrigerated up to four days. Add broth, cream or water when reheating to restore a saucy texture.
A few questions you might have
Can I use another pasta shape?
You can use very small shapes, such as alphabet pasta or ditalini, instead of orzo.
Can I leave out the cream?
You can omit it, but will likely need extra broth in the finished pasta to compensate.
Could the lemon flavor be stronger?
Add more lemon juice to taste at the finish. You can also add lemon zest for extra lemon flavor.
Can this pasta be frozen?
You can freeze it, though the pasta becomes softer after thawing and that texture may not suit everyone.
How cooked should the orzo be?
Cook it to your preference, with most liquid absorbed. The directions give about ten minutes and allow more broth if needed.
Any more cooking tips?
Ingredients and Substitutions: Orzo: you could use another pasta here, but stick to the very small varieties for best results: alphabet, ditalini, etc. Cream: any kind of cream will work here. The heavier the cream, the richer and thicker the sauce. You can also omit the cream for a non-creamy version of this lemon pasta, but you will likely need to add additional broth to compensate. Lemon: If you are looking for more lemony flavor, feel free to add some lemon zest to this recipe as well! Storage : Fridge : you can store this recipe in the fridge up to 4 days. To reheat, add a splash of broth, cream or water to keep it saucy. Freezer : this recipe can be frozen. but keep in mind that pasta will have a softer texture after thawing that may not appeal to everyone.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: thereciperebel.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
