20 Minute One Pan Shrimp and Orzo Dinner! – Tired of chicken and looking for a quick and healthy dinner? We love this easy to make dinner! Switch out the ingredients 100 different ways and still get a fabulous one pan meal!
Well hello fast and fresh dinner! This beautiful one pan meal is ready in…wait for it… 20 MINUTES! Ready, set, go and dinner is done!
This is one of those recipes that I wish I had more of. Fast and Fresh…oh wait, I do have more! You can find them on my Fast and Fresh Recipe Category! (see how I worked that in. Brilliant writing skills :).
Besides being easy and quick, this recipe is also healthy. Shrimp is very low calorie and orzo is like baby pasta, so it must have only half the calories of regular pasta right? mmmmmm…
Switch out the peas for broccoli or asparagus if you prefer. Just toss the veggies in, uncooked, in place of the peas and let them cook along with the shrimp.
How to make 20 Minute Shrimp and Orzo Skillet Dinner!
First, toast your orzo, onion and garlic in a little olive oil and butter. Just a smidge. Enough to toast the orzo and add some flavor, but not enough to make you feel guilty. (aka: have to skip dessert).
Next, add broth, toss in your veggies and shrimp. Mixy mixy and 5 minutes later it’s show time!
I bought ‘tail-on’ shrimp because I think it looks pretty…but rumor has it it can be annoying to pluck the tails off while eating. I like to think of it as a ‘dinner activity’. You can buy ‘no tail’ shrimp as well. These are medium size 21-25 per pound.
NOTES To Make Shrimp and Orzo Skillet:
- Use raw shrimp. Medium. 21-25 count. (Costco). Tail or no tail…depends on if you don’t mind removing them while dining. I kinda like it. Food weirdo.
- Substitute broccoli or asparagus for the frozen peas or use both and veggie it way up!
- Substitute feta for the parmesan.
- Great for lunch the next day, cold or warm, and stays fresh in the fridge for a couple days.
Have a wonderful food filled day!
Clink!
Kathi
Check out this Greek Baked Shrimp with Feta too! Only a few ingredients and done in a flash! Serve over cauli-rice for a super low cal and healthy dinner!
And the most popular Fast and Fresh recipe on the blog. Easy Roasted Lemon Chicken with Potatoes.
A fast and flavorful dinner that will get you out of the chicken rut!
- 1 pound medium shrimp . Thawed if frozen. 30-35 count
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 3 cloves large garlic chopped
- 1 cup Orzo pasta - uncooked
- 2 cups chicken broth . or just water in a pinch
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1 slice fresh lemon - juice half other half for garnish
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- Heat large skillet to medium high heat.
- Add butter and olive oil. Heat until butter is melted.
- Add onion, garlic and orzo.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes until onion is translucent and orzo is slightly toasted.
- Add chicken broth and stir.
- Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is soft and just a small amount of liquid remains in the pan.
- Toss in the shrimp, lemon juice and peas. Stir.
Cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until shrimp is cooked through and peas are warm. Stir in dried basil and cook another 2-3 minutes.
- Garnish with lemon slices and grated parmesan.
Ms Kathi I made this last week and my kids ate peas!!! “I can’t believe she (mom) snuck peas in here but it’s good,” (my 14y/o). Today is my sister in laws b-day and I’m surprising her with this meal for her family of eight. I love that you included a step to increase/decrease the meal amount. You’re awesome! Thank you. Niki
Thank you! I just made this last week and added a teaspoon of dried basil…it kicked it up another notch and I’m going to add it to the recipe card today. Toss it in just a couple minutes before serving so the full flavor of the basil doesn’t cook out. So glad you loved it, it’s a fave around here!
We made this last night and used the frozen peas and carrots mix. Also added saffron. It was so delicious- I’m obsessed!
This is an excellent recipe and when I use my cast iron skillet to brown the orzo, it adds more flavor! Thanks foe the easy and tasty recipe. It’s one of my regulars now.
I made this tonight for my whole family. It was easy to make and the only change I made was to add a bit of black pepper and garlic powder to make it a little more flavorful. I will definitely make it again. It was really delicious.
Thanks for the nice note Holly!
I love that you have the nutrition facts, but how much is the amount per serving?
5 servings. I can’t be exactly sure as I didn’t measure each serving. Somewhere around a cup. I agree it would be much easier if you had that info and will do my best to start measure it out on future recipes! I’m a calorie counter and I get it! Thank you Sheri!
Yummy! I think I could eat anything with Orzo 🙂 The shrimp, peas, and lemon were the perfect combo.
Thanks for the note Anna! We are so glad you liked it!
First time cooking orzo and it turned out well! Thumbs up
Thank you Stella! I love this dish and still make it on a regular basis!
I made this last nite and it was delicious. Very easy to make.
Made this today. Very easy and it was delicious! Thank you!
I am so glad you liked it! I just made it last week :). Family fave!
I made this for dinner tonight and it was very tasty and easy!
Hi Cindy! I am so glad you liked it, thank you so much for taking the time to comment!
I added Zucchini, asparagus and no peas.then 1/2 cup of white wine. it was excellent.
Oh this looks absolutely divine and like the perfect throw together weekday meal! I make a shrimp primavera regularly that is similar to this but the lemon just sounds like the perfect addition!
I love the idea of a primavera! More veggies!
Looks just delish! I want to add, I don’t think you’re a food weirdo leaving the tails on ads more flavor and I think it’s prettier! Ok…maybe we’re both weird, but I like the way you think! 😀
ya us food weirdo’s have to stick together! Thanks for the nice comment!
I love quick one-pot dinners for weekday nights – so easy to get a hot meal on the table at the end of a long day! Thanks for the tip to toast the orzo before cooking, I bet it adds an extra layer of awesomeness to the whole dish!
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
My daughter loves anything with shrimp and the fact that this is quick and easy to make means I can make it! LOL! Looks delicious, thanks!
Thank you for the nice comment Kristine!
I love seafood and shrimp is #1 on the list. Your pictures make me want to grab a spoon and grab some to taste! So simple and quick yet just perfect for a meal.
Thank you for the nice comment! I love your blog BTW!!! I’m a regular visitor!