The easiest orzo recipe made with tender orzo pasta, bright lemon, flavorful broth, vibrant garlic, rich olive oil, and bold parmesan. And you can have it ready in under 20 minutes!
Prep time: PT5M
Cook time: PT15M
Total time: PT20M
Rating
4.93 stars (13 reviews)
Keywords
lemon orzo, Orzo Recipe
Ingredients
2 Tbsp olive oil, (divided)
2 tsp minced fresh garlic ((2 cloves))
2 2/3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, (then more as needed)
Salt, (to taste)
1 1/2 tsp lemon zest, (divided)
8 oz (1 1/3 cups) dry orzo pasta
1/3 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 Tbsp minced fresh parsley ((optional for garnish))
Categories
Side Dish
Cuisine
Italian
Steps
Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a medium saucepan set over medium-low heat. Add garlic and saute 20 seconds or until fragrant and just barely deepening in color (not browning).
Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo, 3/4 tsp lemon zest and salt to taste then reduce heat to medium-low.
Let simmer until orzo is tender, stirring once halfway through, about 10 minutes total. If needed add a little more chicken broth if it's becoming dry.
Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil, remaining 3/4 tsp lemon zest, parmesan, and pepper. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 310 kcal
Carbohydrates: 45 g
Protein: 11 g
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 411 mg
Sugar: 2 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Reviews
Isabelle on 2025-06-14 (5 stars): Love this recipe the lemon flavour is amazing
Monica on 2025-04-21 (5 stars): Amazing!
Emily on 2024-11-11 (4 stars): Delicious but the proportions seemed a bit off to me. I followed the recipe exactly, but there was so much liquid, I had to simmer the orzo for close to 15 minutes, and the final result was still fairly wet and stewy, not fluffy. Flavor was very good, and I used it with a Greek chicken dish on top, so the stewiness wasn't a problem. If I make again, I'll start with just 2 cups of chicken broth.
Sherry Boothe on 2024-10-13 (5 stars): This was quick and delicious. I grilled some chicken breast and made a bowl meal with this it was great!
deborah on 2024-09-10 (5 stars): Very good recipe. My suggestion is to add a little more of the ingredients than the recipe calls for like more lemon juice, zest, garlic, cheese and definitely add the parsley. YUM.
G Gianga on 2024-07-29 (5 stars): Great recipe! I switched out standard broth for chicken bone broth and added sautéed zucchini.
Carissa on 2024-06-05 (5 stars): This turned out lovely. The only modification was substituting nutritional yeast for the parmesan, due to dietary restrictions. Paired with broccoli.
Louise Angers on 2024-05-07 (5 stars): Really enjoyed this! Only change was adding a minced shallot with the garlic. So fresh and lemony and delicious! 😋
Pam on 2024-03-23 (5 stars): Perfect match to a Mediterranean Scallop Dish. Will definitely make again.
Jennie on 2023-12-03 (5 stars): Best orzo recipe I've tried. Refreshing and delicious, pairs well with grilled chicken.
Shannon on 2023-10-11 (5 stars): Made this tonight and it was easy and delicious!
Sallie on 2023-05-09 (5 stars): Can this be made in advance? Do you think it would go well with chicken piccata?
