20 Minute One Pan Shrimp and Orzo Dinner

Name: 20 Minute One Pan Shrimp and Orzo Dinner
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound medium shrimp . Thawed if frozen. (31-40 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 stock; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper; 1/2 cup frozen peas; 1 fresh lemon - half for juice, other half for garnish; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

By Kathi & Rachel

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In just a few minutes you can serve up this comforting delicious Shrimp and Orzo Dinner and better yet, do it all in one pan!

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!

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?

What is Orzo?

Orzo is simply pasta that’s shaped like rice! It tastes like pasta with a nice chewy texture. It’s small and cooks up quick so it’s perfect for one pot dinners!

Check out the video below and see how easy this dish is to make!

Start with a little chopped onion, fresh garlic and a bit of olive oil along with your orzo. While your onion and garlic are cooking your orzo is toasting!

Next, add your chicken stock.

Can I add a bit of cream?

You bet! Simply sub 1/3 of the chicken stock with cream or half and half and you have Creamy 20 Minute Shrimp and Orzo Dinner!

What kind of Shrimp should I use?

We used medium 31-40 per pound. 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.

Once your shrimp is pink and the peas are cooked through, add a big squeeze of lemon, a handful of parmesan cheese and TASTE FOR SALT AND PEPPER…this is the step even good cooks forget. I am a notorious under salter!

My family doesn’t like peas…well at least one of them :). Got any substitute ideas?

This recipe works great with just about any fresh vegetable. Broccoli, corn, asparagus just to name a few. Simply stir them in in place of the peas and cook until crisp tender.

Can I substitute chicken for the shrimp?

Yes, yes and yes! Before beginning your onion orzo mixture, cube boneless chicken into 1-2 inch pieces. Sear for a couple minutes in a little olive oil until almost cooked through. Set aside. Then add back to the skillet in place of the shrimp. Take a look at our Chicken with Orzo skillet recipe.

Tips to make this Shrimp and Orzo Skillet:

Use raw shrimp. Medium. 31-40 per pound. Tail or no tail…depends on if you don’t mind removing them while dining. I kinda like it. Food weirdo.
Don’t like peas? Substitute broccoli or asparagus for the frozen peas (or use both and veggie it way up!).
Substitute feta for the parmesan for a Greek spin.
Great for lunch the next day, cold or warm, and stays fresh in the fridge for a couple days.

We have about a dozen orzo recipes…it’s our fave pasta! You can see them all HERE!Check out our one pan Chicken and Orzo Skillet – another super fast and fresh one pot meal and our Lemon Orzo Soup recipe, so fresh tasting, perfect for spring or winter!

To fast, fresh and flavorful dinners that go boom!

Clink!

Kathi

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