Description
A luxurious one-pan weeknight dinner featuring creamy garlic parmesan sauce, tender orzo, and vibrant wilted spinach, ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz orzo pasta
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 5 oz fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and just starting to turn golden.
- Add dry orzo to the skillet and toast for 2 minutes, stirring to coat in butter and release a nutty aroma.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook uncovered for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is al dente and liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Remove skillet from heat. Add baby spinach and stir until completely wilted using residual heat.
- Sprinkle in grated Parmesan cheese while off heat. Stir continuously until melted and smooth. Adjust consistency with a splash of water or broth if needed.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan and pepper.
Notes
The key trick is to remove the pan from the heat before adding the spinach to keep it vibrant green and prevent it from becoming slimy. Always grate your own Parmesan cheese to avoid anti-caking agents that cause graininess. If boiling orzo separately, save starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
Keywords: orzo recipe, creamy pasta, one pan dinner, garlic parmesan, wilted spinach, weeknight dinner, comfort food, Italian pasta