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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Pin RecipeThis Shrimp and Orzo one pan meal cooks up quickly in a broth based sauce. Add any or all of your favorite veggies to make it different every time!
- 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
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Heat large skillet to medium high heat.
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Add butter and olive oil. Heat until butter is melted.
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Add onion, garlic and orzo.
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Cook for 3-4 minutes until onion is translucent and orzo is slightly toasted.
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Add chicken broth, salt and pepper.
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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.
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Toss in the shrimp, lemon juice, peas and basil. Stir and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until shrimp is cooked through and peas are warm.
Add 1/2 cup grated parmesan, stir until combined.
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Garnish with lemon slices and additional grated parmesan.
See the video for an easy tutorial.
NOTES To Make Shrimp and Orzo Skillet: Use raw shrimp. Medium. 21-25 count. 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.
I made a few changes. I subbed out some of the chicken stock with cream, instead of basil, I used dill, and instead of Parmesan, I used feta. This was outstanding! I’m so tickled! Yummy thanks for the recipes
Hi Jodi, thanks for the nice review! We love how you changed it up! We make this 100 different ways!
Made this tonight and it’s definitely going into my meal rotation – liked by all! My only change was adding diced red pepper as my teen doesn’t like peas (now that’s a Food Weirdo) 🤣
This recipe has become a go to favorite for our family. Since we aren’t “pea” eaters I usually substitute fresh asparagus pieces or broccoli florets. Love how the lemon just adds that bit of zing!
Can the recipe be doubled? Or would that be too muchborxo?
Hi Zaiga – it would be lot of orzo but if your feeding a crowd it would double easily. You can also hover over the serving size in the recipe card and adjust to any serving you would like.
My family and I love this recipe! Its so quick and delicious!! I omit the cheese and used spinach instead of peas. So yummy!!! I’m going to try it with chicken next time. Also love it with just the orzo and spinach and adding some more veggies.
I loved this and it was so easy and quick. Usually I make things as written the first time, but I used feta and fresh dill instead of parmesan and basil because I had it and it is a favorite combination of mine. I also added cream based on your suggestion. YUM!
It’s such a forgiving recipe. I loved the way you switched it up! You can use chicken as well! Thanks for the 5 star…yay!
I’m so glad I came across this recipient! Super easy to make and tasted delicious. We added a poblano pepper which added a nice heat to it. We followed the suggestion of feta since we had that on had and delicious. A little lemon zest also helped it pop. Saved this and can’t wait to make again.
Looks amazing! Gonna give it a go tonight! I’ll let you know how the hubby likes it! Btw I love orzo! Thanks for sharing this!
My family enjoyed this dish very much, though I did make a few changes. I omitted the lemon and parmesan cheese, replaced about a 1/4 cup of the chicken broth with white wine, and used a tomato-basil feta. I also threw in some leftover asparagus I had in the fridge. Delicious!
Thats what I love about this dish Janine! You can make it a hundred different ways…love your additions!
Made this for dinner tonight for my husband and I. The only change I made was I used one cup chicken broth and one cup white wine..
Delicious. Will definitely make this again.
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
We made this last night and used the frozen peas and carrots mix. Also added saffron. It was so delicious- I’m obsessed!