Creamy Orzo with Blistered Tomatoes
I’m excited to share a comforting, creamy orzo dish. It’s quick, simple, and delicious—perfect for a busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend dinner.
Creamy orzo with blistered tomatoes is a dish that combines the best of both worlds—rich, creamy comfort and the fresh, bright flavor of tomatoes. This simple yet satisfying meal is perfect for weeknights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
This easy weeknight dinner is a one-pan pasta dish and on your table in 30 minutes or less.
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This is a new favorite in our home, toss in some fresh spinach and serve with my turkey meatballs and you have an entire meal on the table. Full of protein and satisfying comfort.
What is Orzo Pasta?
Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta that’s versatile and quick to cook. Despite its size, it holds up well in various dishes, from soups to salads, and, in this case, a creamy pasta dish. Its texture is tender yet firm, making it perfect for absorbing rich sauces like the creamy one used in this recipe.
What Makes This Creamy Orzo Dish Special?
I haven’t eaten a lot of orzo but after making this dish, Orzo has become a new favorite pasta. This dish is special because of all the wonderful flavors that make up this dish.
- Creamy & Indulgent: The orzo is cooked until al dente, then coated in a creamy sauce made from heavy cream, Parmesan, and garlic. The creaminess clings to the pasta, making each bite rich and velvety.
- Fresh & Flavorful: The blistered tomatoes provide a bright, tangy counterpoint to the richness of the cream. Their natural sweetness balances out the savory flavors in the dish.
- Quick & Easy: This dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for a quick dinner or a comforting lunch. Orzo cooks quickly, and blistering tomatoes takes just a few minutes, meaning you can whip up this meal in no time.
Creamy Orzo Ingredients
- Olive oil and butter – for sautéing
- Onion and garlic – I like sweet (Vidalia) onions
- Italian seasoning – you’ll find this dried Italian herb blend in a jar in the spice aisle of your grocery store
- Lemon juice – for a touch of brightness and acidity
- Dijon mustard – a secret ingredient to add a special savory punch! Not to worry, you won’t taste the mustard.
- Orzo pasta – orzo is actually pasta! It’s not rice even though it looks similar. If you want to make this with rice, you would have to adjust liquid measurements and cooking time.
- Chicken broth – to develop the rich flavor even more
- Heavy cream – for the luxurious creamy quality
- Parmesan – who doesn’t love fresh parm with Italian pasta dishes?
- Spinach – toss in at the end
- Basil – creates classic flavor for this Tuscan inspired recipe
- Blistered Cherry tomatoes – from the grocery store or your garden
Check out these other posts!
Easy Chili Recipe
Blistered Tomatoes
Easy Popover Recipe
How to Make Creamy Orzo with Blistered Tomatoes
This is an overview but full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Blister your tomatoes first in a skillet with oil and garlic.
- Add the oil, butter, and onion to a cast iron enameled pot and sauté until softened, then add in the garlic, Italian seasoning, lemon, Dijon, and orzo. Cook, stirring often, for a few minutes, then stir in the broth and cream.
- Once it starts to bubble, let it cook for 10 minutes, stirring fairly often. Turn down the heat as needed. Stir in the parmesan cheese, spinach, and basil, then cover the pot for a few minutes. Season with salt & pepper as needed.
Why Blistered Tomatoes?
Blistered tomatoes are made by quickly cooking cherry or grape tomatoes in a hot pan, causing their skins to crack and their natural sugars to caramelize. This intensifies their sweetness and creates a perfect contrast to the rich creaminess of the orzo. The blistering process adds depth to their flavor while still keeping the tomatoes juicy and fresh.
How to Blister Tomatoes
This is the quick and dirty but I have a post on exactly how to blister tomatoes.
Here is a quick rundown. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and let them cook, undisturbed, for 3-4 minutes until they start to blister and burst. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes until softened. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Creamy Orzo Customization Ideas
The great thing about this pasta is you can make it your own. Check out these ways to customize this dish to fit your taste and dietary needs.
Customize it!
- Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or crispy chickpeas for extra protein and heartiness.
- Vegetable Add-ins: Enhance the dish with spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for added nutrition.
- Dairy-Free Option: Swap out the heavy cream for coconut milk or a plant-based cream, and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for a vegan version.
Serving Suggestions
This dish is fantastic on its own, but it also pairs well with a simple green salad or crusty bread. You can serve it as a side dish for grilled meats or enjoy it as a light main course.
I served this creamy orzo with my moist turkey meatballs and blistered tomatoes and the pairing was perfect.
Storing Creamy Orzo
Well…in our home we didn’t really have any leftovers to take up refrigerator space. We enjoyed this dish for dinner and packed the rest up for our son for his school lunch.
However, this orzo will store just fine for a few days.
- You can keep this in the fridge for a few days, but definitely tastes best when first cooked.
- Reheat over a low heat in a saucepan, adding a little bit of cream or chicken stock if necessary.
- Since dairy sauces don’t generally do well in the freezer, I wouldn’t recommend freezing leftovers.
Final Thoughts on this Creamy Orzo with Tomatoes and Spinach
This creamy orzo pasta with blistered tomatoes is a simple yet elevated dish, perfect for any night of the week. The tangy, blistered tomatoes burst with flavor against the creamy, rich orzo, creating a delightful balance of freshness and indulgence. Best of all, it’s quick and easy—so you can enjoy a gourmet meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
Let me know how it turns out in the comments!
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Creamy Orzo with Blistered Tomatoes
Creamy orzo with blistered tomatoes is a dish that combines the best of both worlds—rich, creamy comfort and the fresh, bright flavor of tomatoes. This simple yet satisfying meal is perfect for weeknights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- 1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh basil torn
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Top with Blistered Tomatoes (see other recipe)
Instructions
- Add the oil, butter, and onion to a pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and orzo. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often to infuse the orzo with the flavors.
- Add the chicken broth and cream. Once it starts to bubble, continue cooking for 10 minutes (uncovered), stirring fairly often. You will likely need to turn the heat down a bit (to medium or even medium-low). It should steadily bubble as you don't want the liquid to cook off too much before the pasta is done.
- Remove from the heat, stir in the parmesan, spinach, and basil. Cover the pot for a few minutes until it has thickened and spinach is wilted and cheese has melted.
- Top with the blistered tomatoes and serve with fresh basil.
