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–+ servings
A ceramic plate full of creamy lemon garlic orzo garnished with parmesan cheese.

Lemon Garlic Orzo (Small Batch)

Sara
A simple, super flavorful lemon garlic orzo side dish for two people that comes together in about 20 minutes!
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 314 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 tbsp. Unsalted Butter divided
  • 1/2 cup dry Orzo Pasta
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp. Lemon Zest (zest from about 1/2 of a large lemon)
  • 1 1/2 cups Chicken Broth (low-sodium if you’re sensitive to salt)
  • 1 tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan Cheese
  • chopped Parsley, Dill, or Chives optional, for serving
  • cracked Black Pepper optional, for serving

Instructions
 

  • Toast the Orzo + Garlic. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add orzo, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt and stir to coat the orzo in melted butter. Let the orzo toast in the pan for about two minutes.
    A pot of dry orzo being stirred with a wooden spoon.
  • Add Lemony Flavor. Stir in the lemon zest, and cook for about a minute, until the garlic and lemon are really fragrant.
    A microplane with lemon zest held over a pot of toasted orzo.
  • Cook the Orzo. Pour one cup of chicken broth into the pot. Turn the heat beneath the pot to medium-high, and let the broth come to a high simmer. Simmer the orzo in the broth, stirring frequently so the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan, for about 7-8 minutes until the orzo is cooked through. (Note: If your orzo is cooking at a higher temperature, the broth may evaporate faster. Keep the extra 1/2 cup of broth on hand to add to the pan to continue cooking the orzo if needed! Alternatively, you can use water instead of extra broth.)
    Creamy orzo being stirred with a wooden spoon in a pot.
  • Final Touches. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. Add salt to taste, and feel free to toss in some freshly cracked black pepper or fresh herbs if you’re feeling it!
    A chunk of parmesan cheese being grated on a microplane over a pot of orzo.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 11gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 859mgPotassium: 162mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 475IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 182mgIron: 1mg
Keyword lemon garlic orzo, lemon parmesan orzo, orzo for two, parmesan garlic orzo, side dishes for two
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