This baked orzo is the best way to prepare these tiny noodles. It’s perfectly cheesy and so rich – everyone will love it!
Want an unbeatable family dinner? Serve my baked orzo with breaded chicken skewers.
This recipe was originally posted May 27, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
This pasta dish is a keeper. It’s a quick and delicious dinner that can be made in less than 30 minutes. I love pasta, so this recipe has become a true favorite for me and my 19-month-old daughter as well.
Thank you Fred Meyer for sponsoring this recipe in celebration of national cheese day!
How to make cheesy baked orzo
To make these cheesy side dish, you just need to follow a few very easy steps. My complete baked orzo recipe is at the bottom in the printable card.
All you do is create a creamy, cheese sauce, then add it to the cooked orzo and bake it all together. It’s so simple and it comes out tasting rich and delicious!
Ingredients for Cheesy Baked Orzo
- Heavy whipping cream
- Garlic Cloves
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
- Orzo uncooked
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan. Add in the grated garlic and the shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Cook and drain the orzo.
- Add the hot cheesy cream into the pot of pasta and stir to combine.
- Place the cheesy pasta mixture in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and parmesan over the orzo.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese becomes golden brown.
What is Orzo?
Orzo is basically pasta that is shaped like grains of rice. If you enjoy the texture of pasta, you’ll be a fan of how this turns out.
Orzo is just a fun new way to serve a pasta side dish. You can swap orzo for bow tie pasta or even angel hair pasta if you want, they all turn out tasting scrumptious.
More Orzo Recipes
Here are some more creative and flavorful ways to serve orzo:
Cheesy Baked Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 1-2 garlic cloves grated
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 lb orzo uncooked
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add in the grated garlic.
- Once the cream is hot, mix in the shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Cook the orzo according to the package, making sure to salt the pasta water. Once cooked, drain the water out.
- Add the hot cheesy cream into the pot of pasta and stir to combine.
- Place the pasta in a buttered 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
- Shred the mozzarella and sprinkle 1 cup over the orzo along with 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until the cheese becomes golden brown.
Nutrition
Love Cheese? Try These Cheesy Baked Dishes
Here are some more cheesy dishes you should make next.
simplyhomecooked
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Sonia Kuczynski says
this baked cheesy orzo dish was fancy enough to serve to company with Chicken Cutlets and a Salad and Wow they loved it
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Sonia, I am very happy to hear that you and your company enjoyed this cheesy baked orzo recipe! Thank you so much for your feedback! 🙂
Caroline says
Just made it I will post a picture when done