Description
A forgiving, beginner-proof one-pot dinner featuring creamy garlic parmesan sauce with wilted baby spinach. Ready in just 20 minutes with simple ingredients and minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 3–4 cups baby spinach, packed
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter and melt until foamy. Add minced garlic and stir constantly for 1 minute until fragrant and slightly golden, but not brown.
- Add orzo to the skillet and stir to coat in the garlic butter. Pour in chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan to release any stuck bits.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered, stirring every 2-3 minutes to prevent sticking, for 8-10 minutes until orzo is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
- Reduce heat to low and pour in heavy cream. Simmer for 1 minute to heat through.
- Remove the pan from the heat entirely. Gradually stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If too thick, add a splash of milk or broth.
- Add baby spinach and stir until just barely wilted and bright green, using residual heat.
- Season with black pepper and salt to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese; pre-grated cheese contains cornstarch which can make the sauce grainy. Always remove the pan from the heat before adding cheese to prevent seizing. Stir the orzo frequently while simmering to prevent sticking. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce parmesan. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 14
Keywords: orzo, creamy garlic parmesan, one pot dinner, vegetarian, quick dinner, easy pasta, weeknight meals, comfort food