Description
A rich, fast, and comforting one-pot pasta dish featuring tender shrimp and al dente orzo in a garlicky parmesan cream sauce, ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225g) Orzo Pasta
- 1 pound (450g) Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons Butter, unsalted
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil, extra virgin
- 4–5 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240ml) Chicken Broth, low-sodium
- ½ cup (120ml) Heavy Cream
- ½ cup (50g) Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
- 1 large Lemon (juice and zest)
- ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
- Fresh Parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook orzo until just shy of al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp in a single layer for 1-2 minutes per side until pink. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Stir in heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer for another minute.
- Add cooked orzo to the skillet and toss to coat. If too thick, add reserved pasta water. Stir in parmesan cheese until melted.
- Return shrimp to the pan and toss gently to warm through.
- Remove from heat. Squeeze in lemon juice and add zest. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure shrimp are completely dry before cooking to promote browning. Do not overcook the orzo as it will finish cooking in the sauce. Add lemon juice off the heat to preserve brightness. The sauce may thicken upon storage; add a splash of water or broth when reheating. Freezing is not recommended due to texture changes in the cream sauce and shrimp.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: shrimp orzo, creamy pasta, 20 minute dinner, one pot meal, easy weeknight dinner, garlic shrimp, comfort food