One Pot Cheesy Orzo With Garlic

a white bowl with cheesy orzo topped with shredded Parmesan and black pepper.

No ratings yet

One Pot Cheesy Orzo With Garlic

This creamy, one-pot, cheesy orzo is a simple and easy dinner that you can throw together in 20 minutes or less. Quick orzo with cheese is a guaranteed hit when it’s folded into rich, creamy cheese sauce—and it all comes together in one pot, without a roux, right on the stovetop!

Prep Time5

Cook Time18

Total Time23

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: orzo mac and cheese, orzo with cheese

Servings:

Author: Sarah Cook

Equipment

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic {minced}
2 cups orzo {uncooked}
4 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup butter {cut into cubes}
1/2 tsp sea salt
12 oz evaporated milk
3 cups extra sharp cheddar
2/3 cup shredded Parmesan

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Add olive oil to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
1 tbsp olive oil
Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic has softened (1-2 minutes)
3 cloves garlic
Add orzo, water, salt, butter, and salt to the saucepan. Stir to combine and bring to a boil for 1 minute.
2 cups orzo, 4 1/4 cups water, 1/3 cup butter, 1/2 tsp sea salt
Reduce the stove temp to medium, and cook uncovered, occasionally stirring the mixture, until almost all of the water has been absorbed by the pasta (~8-10 minutes).
Pro tip: If the orzo seems to be cooking "too hot", you can reduce the temperature to medium-low, and/or add additional water 1 tbsp at a time.
Remove the pot from the heat and add the evaporated milk and cheeses, and stir gently until all the cheese has melted.
12 oz evaporated milk, 3 cups extra sharp cheddar, 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan

Notes

Evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk are NOT the same thing. Only evaporated milk will work in this recipe.
If you don’t have evaporated milk, you can sub in regular milk, half-and-half, or cream. Just make sure you heat it before adding it to the hot pasta. This prevents the milk from curdling, resulting in a grainy cheese sauce.

Nutrition