One-Pot Garlic Butter Shrimp and Orzo
A quick, easy, and flavorful one-pot meal featuring shrimp, orzo, garlic butter, and cherry tomatoes, perfect for busy weeknights.
Equipment
- Large skillet or pot With a lid.
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 0.5 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1 lemon juice of
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Melt the butter in your skillet or pot over medium heat. Once it’s melted and shimmery, add your minced garlic. Stir it around for about a minute until it smells absolutely divine. Be careful not to burn it!1 pound large shrimp
- Now, toss in the orzo pasta. Give it a good stir to coat every single grain in that glorious garlic butter. This step really helps the orzo absorb all the wonderful flavors to come.1 pound large shrimp
- Pour in your chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir in those lovely halved cherry tomatoes and the red pepper flakes if you're using them for a bit of a kick.1 pound large shrimp
- Season generously with salt and pepper. Cover the pot and let it cook for about 10-12 minutes. You're looking for the orzo to be tender (that's "al dente") and for most of the liquid to be absorbed. Give it a stir now and then to make sure nothing sticks.1 pound large shrimp
- Time for the shrimp! Nestle the peeled and deveined shrimp into the orzo mixture. Cover the pot again and cook for just 3-5 minutes, or until the shrimp turn pink and are perfectly cooked through. They cook super fast, so keep an eye on them!1 pound large shrimp
- Gently stir in your freshly chopped parsley and the bright lemon juice. This is what really wakes up the dish!1 pound large shrimp
- Ladle the One-Pot Garlic Butter Shrimp and Orzo into bowls immediately. Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese. Voilà! Dinner is served!1 pound large shrimp
Notes
This recipe is great as is, but feel free to add spinach, kale, asparagus tips, or peas during the last few minutes of cooking the orzo. You can also substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth or water with a bouillon cube. Fresh dill or chives can be used instead of or in addition to parsley. For more spice, add more red pepper flakes or diced jalapeño with the garlic. Cooked chicken or white fish can be substituted for shrimp. Don't overcook the shrimp as they can become tough. Use a wide skillet for even cooking and prep ingredients before starting. Always taste and adjust seasoning.