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 on May 27, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then.
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.
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:
Love Cheese? Try These Cheesy Baked Dishes
Here are some more cheesy dishes you should make next.
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 1 cup of 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
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Rachel says
Thank you for sharing this recipe!! My whole family loved this and is asking for it again! Super yummy and quick to make!! 👍🏻👍🏻
Dina says
Yay! That is so awesome to hear Rachel! It’s always a win when the family loved it! Happy to hear that this baked orzo recipe will be on repeat in your home! Thank you for your feedback and support! 🙂
Karyn says
I made this last night for the first time, for guests (risky!). It was fantastic and it received rave reviews. I left the orzo in the pot that I cooked it in for a while, and it was like a brick when I went to add the cheese sauce. I had to break it up with my fingers it was so solid. However, you could not tell with the final dish, it really came out well. I added panko on top of the cheeses layer, which I would do again.
Dina says
Wow, Karyn, that’s awesome! I am so glad that the recipe turned out delicious and that your guests loved it too. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave your awesome feedback!
vivian says
Delicious dish that is so simple to make. I am vegetarian, and so used vegan Parmesan, which doesn’t melt as well, but doesn’t contain rennet. I can think of so many variations of this dish with the addition of cooked mushrooms, broccoli, peas or asparagus, that I’m sure it will appear on our table again. Thanks for a great recipe!
Dina says
Hi Vivian 🙂 Glad to hear you made this baked orzo work for you! Yes, this recipe is very versatile and will work great with those additions! Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try and thank you for your support! I hope you find many more recipes to enjoy from my food blog! 🙂
Traci says
Will minced garlic work in place of grated garlic?
Dina says
Yes, that will work 🙂
Cassie Barnard says
Not sure if my question went through because I don’t see it posted… Is it possible to assemble this dish right up until the end of step 6 a few hours before baking? I would like to make earlier in the day and then just pop it into the oven along with a chicken dish I will be serving alongside of it. Thanks.
Dina says
Hi Cassie, yes you can definitely have it prepped in advance a few hours before baking. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Maria says
Hi Dina,
Can you use milk if you don’t have cream in hand? Thanks. Maria
Dina says
Hi Maria, I don’t think milk will work unless you create a roux by adding flour to the butter. I hope that helps 🙂
Joe Parkmoor says
This dish is excellent and so easy to make. I’ve made it multiple times and my whole family enjoys it. I love that it works as a wonderful side dish with meat entrees. It also makes a great meatless main course on its own, served with some crusty bread and a green salad.
Dina says
Hi Joe 🙂 Very happy to hear you and your family love this orzo recipe! Awesome that you are using this recipe to fit your family’s needs! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your awesome feedback and I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog 🙂
Carol says
Is the 1/2 cup parm. that is sprinkled on top from the 1 1/2 c. In the ingred.or in addition to?
Dina says
Hi Carol 🙂 The total for this orzo recipe is 1 1/2 cups. So a 1/2 cup is reserved for the top. Hope that helps clarify 🙂
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