15 Orzo Recipes to Make This Spring

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

Orzo is a versatile grain that we transform in these recipes with lean proteins and fresh, seasonal ingredients like broccoli, spinach and fresh herbs. From creamy one-pot dinners like our High-Protein Balsamic Chicken Orzo to simple potluck-friendly dishes like our Lemony Orzo & Tuna Salad with Broccoli, these recipes are perfect spring meals that everyone at your table will enjoy.

01 of 15

High-Protein Dill Chicken Orzo

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spolle.
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spolle.

This one-pan dinner delivers on protein and flavor with tender chicken cutlets, whole-wheat orzo and wilted kale in a creamy, lemony herb sauce. Dill and scallions add fresh brightness, while a bold homemade spice blend brings the flavor.

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02 of 15

One-Pot Chicken, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Ruth Skipworth.
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Ruth Skipworth.

This vibrant sun-dried tomato chicken-and-orzo recipe delivers a satisfying balance of protein, whole-grain pasta and vegetables in one skillet. Juicy chicken cutlets are seared until golden, then nestled into orzo simmered with savory sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach and crumbled feta. It’s an easy complete dinner with minimal cleanup.

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03 of 15

High-Protein Lemon Chicken Orzo with Cabbage

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

This High-Protein Lemon Chicken Orzo with Cabbage is comfort food with a twist. Tender, golden chicken cutlets rest on a bed of creamy orzo swirled with sweet, melting cabbage, shallots and garlic, all brought to life with fresh lemon zest and juice. Pecorino and a touch of half-and-half give the dish a risotto-like texture, while chives add a final pop of freshness. It’s a complete one-pan meal that’s perfect for nights when you want something cozy and satisfying.

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04 of 15

High-Protein Balsamic Chicken Orzo

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.

This High-Protein Balsamic Chicken Orzo is a creamy, flavor-packed one-skillet meal that balances protein with tender veggies and pasta. A finishing drizzle of balsamic and a sprinkle of chives add brightness, making each bite delicious. With minimal cleanup, this dish is ideal for weeknight dinners.

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05 of 15

Lemony Orzo & Tuna Salad with Broccoli

Credit: Leigh Beisch
Credit: Leigh Beisch

This pasta-salad and tuna-salad mashup gets a boost of color and texture from broccoli. Plenty of Kalamata olives add a briny bite. Be sure to monitor the pasta-cooking carefully, as orzo can go from al dente to mush in a minute. If in doubt, drain it a little early—it’ll soften further in the lemon dressing.

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06 of 15

Cheesy One-Pot Chicken-Broccoli Orzo

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

This cheesy chicken-broccoli orzo is the ultimate weeknight game-changer. This dish brings crowd-pleasing flavors together in one pan for easy cleanup. It’s perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying, comforting and delicious. Sharp Cheddar cheese adds savory flavor, but another easy-melting cheese like Gruyère or Swiss would work well too.

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07 of 15

Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea Pesto

Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

This delightful one-pan dinner combines salmon fillets with fresh green pea pesto and orzo pasta. Green pea pesto adds a unique twist to the traditional pesto, bringing a hint of sweetness, body and a vibrant green color to your plate. If you like a more traditional pesto flavor, swap out the dill for chopped fresh basil, or use store-bought basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto in its place.

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08 of 15

Creamy Lemon Orzo with Spinach & Snap Peas

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Think of this one-pot creamy lemon orzo with spinach and snap peas like a quick risotto that swaps orzo for rice. The orzo is cooked until just al dente, giving some texture to the dish. Snap peas are a great addition, but asparagus or another green veggie would work well too.

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09 of 15

Broccolini, Chicken Sausage & Orzo Skillet

We love this quick skillet meal for busy evenings. The sausage and orzo simmer together in chicken broth, resulting in a creamy, risotto-like dish in under 30 minutes.

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10 of 15

One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This creamy orzo with white beans and sun-dried tomatoes is the ultimate weeknight winner, ready in just 30 minutes! This comforting dish combines tender orzo, protein-packed white beans and tangy sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy garlic-and-herb cheese sauce. This one-pot meal is both quick and satisfying, perfect for those busy evenings when you want something hearty without the hassle.

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11 of 15

Meatballs with Lemon-Garlic Orzo

Here, a little of the lemon-garlic vinaigrette used to season the orzo also gets stirred into yogurt for a flavorful and creamy topping.

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12 of 15

Lemon Shrimp & Orzo Salad

Consider making a double batch of this easy pasta salad—it’s delicious the next day. The orzo will absorb the dressing as it sits, so add a little more olive oil and lemon juice if you’d like.

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13 of 15

Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

A light and creamy green-salsa dressing highlights this easy pasta salad with Southwestern flavors.

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14 of 15

Creamy Mushroom & Orzo Soup with Lemon & Parmesan

Credit: Diana Chistruga
Credit: Diana Chistruga

This creamy mushroom soup is filled with hearty orzo and plenty of veggies. The sherry, thyme and lemon boost and brighten the flavor, while sour cream thickens the broth and gives it extra tanginess.

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15 of 15

Chicken Marsala Casserole

Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.

The flavors of classic chicken Marsala come together in this easy, hearty dinner casserole. Tender, chopped chicken, nutty whole-wheat orzo and deeply browned mushrooms are all baked together in a silky Marsala sauce. Stirring halfway through baking ensures that everything cooks evenly.

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