Lemon Orzo Recipe

This Lemon Orzo Recipe is an easy side dish that is light, zesty and pairs nicely with grilled meats, seafood or can pair with roasted vegetables. Orzo pasta is mixed with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic and fresh basil and fresh parsley to create a simple but flavorful side!

LEMON ORZO RECIPE

I am all about adding simple side dishes to our meals throughout the week.

This Lemon Orzo Recipe is a great side dish for almost any meal.

I am a lover of lemon and orzo so the pairing is perfect in my opinion. I also love it in this Lemon Pearl Couscous recipe.

Many of my family and friends know that I am obsessed with lemon and use it all of the time in my kitchen. I use it in almost all of my salad dressings that I make throughout the week.

I also love to use fresh lemons when I am cooking, they add great zest and flavor and work well in a variety of different dishes. You can use lemon in everything from pasta dishes, to seafood, your favorite chicken recipe, soups, or in simple dips and salads.

Here are some of my favorite ways to use lemon in recipes, my Lemon Lentil Soup, Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta, Lemon Ricotta Pasta, Baked Cod with Lemon, Lemon Garlic Halibut, Lemon Garlic Chicken, Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, or my Lemon Hummus.

I also love orzo and use it in a lot of recipes like my popular Summer Orzo Salad, Caprese Orzo Salad, Greek Orzo Pasta Salad, Arugula Orzo Salad and this Tomato Feta Orzo Salad.

Why You Will Love this Lemon Orzo Pasta

Easy to Prepare: Preparation is minimal and the whole dish can be cooked and ready to enjoy in just 20 minutes, making this an ideal side for your main course. I love serving it as a side dish alongside grilled seafood, chicken or steak. It is great for meal prep and makes it the perfect side dish for a weeknight meal.

Packed with Flavor: This vibrant lemon orzo recipe is just bursting with fresh and zesty citrus flavor. It is the perfect warm weather side dish but also can brighten up those cold winter days. The lemon with the fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese creates the perfect combination of flavors.

Enjoy Hot or Cold: Enjoy this pasta dish warm from the pot, and save any leftovers for a cold pasta salad the following day. I sometimes will use the leftovers along with roasted vegetables and salmon for lunch or even stir in fresh tomatoes and basil.

Recipe Ingredients

• Pasta: I make this recipe using orzo pasta which is quick to cook. I love the small pasta in side dishes like this. If you want to try a healthier version you can use whole wheat orzo. You also could use gluten-free orzo if you are gluten-free.
• Broth: I flavor the sauce with a little chicken broth, or you could substitute vegetable broth. Of course water works fine, but the broth really flavors the orzo.
• Lemon: I use fresh lemon juice and lemon zest to add the best flavor to the orzo. If you don’t have fresh lemon juice you can use store-bought lemon juice but if possible use fresh lemon for the best flavor.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil helps add flavor to this orzo dish along with the lemon juice. It also helps keep the orzo from sticking together.
• Garlic: I added minced garlic and stirred it into the dish but you can skip it if you want. You also could try garlic powder.
• Seasoning: I season the orzo with salt and black pepper.
• Chili: You can add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if you want a little chili heat, but this is optional. I like the touch of heat and color!
• Fresh Herbs: I garnish the dish with fresh basil and parsley. The fresh herbs really finish this dish off nicely.

How to Cook Lemon Orzo

1. Cook the Orzo: In a medium pot being the broth to a boil over medium heat.

Add the orzo and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the orzo is tender.

2. Drain the Pasta: Remove from the heat and drain any broth from the hot orzo if there is excess liquid.

3. Add the Lemon Juice: Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest.

4. Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh Parmesan, chopped fresh parsley and basil.

Ways to Modify this Recipe

• Pasta: I’ve used orzo pasta in recipe, but you could use any shape small pasta noodle.
• Lemon: I use a whole lemon juiced plus the zest, but if you prefer a milder lemon flavor only use 1/2 lemon and skip the zest. I personally love the bright lemon flavor it adds.
• Cheese: I think that cheese would be a great addition to this lemon orzo. Try stirring in goat cheese or salty feta cheese.
• Creamy: If you want a creamy lemon orzo stir in half and half or cream to create a thicker, creamier sauce. Start with 1-2 tablespoons butter and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. You also could add 1/4 cup cream for a creamier orzo.
• Fresh Herbs: Lemon works well with fresh herbs, so I’ve garnished with fresh basil and parsley. However, you could also use fresh tarragon, coriander, fresh mint, dill, thyme or lemon thyme.
• Vegetables: This orzo is great with fresh produce. You could stir in vegetables like green onions, red onion, red bell pepper, zucchini or cherry tomatoes.
• Heat: I like to add a pinch of red pepper flakes, but you could also use some finely chopped jalapeños to the dish.
• Nuts: Add some crunch and texture by scattering over some toasted slivered almonds, or toasted pine nuts, before serving.

Storage Instructions

• Leftovers: You can store leftover orzo in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It makes a great cold salad, just add a dash of extra virgin olive oil if the pasta looks like it is sticking together and needs to be loosened. You can also serve this side at room temperature.
• Freeze: Once cooked and cooled, store the orzo in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator when ready to enjoy.
• Reheat: Just reheat in a small pot, or place into the microwave before eating. You might need to add a little extra water or broth to loosen the sauce.

What Goes with Lemon Orzo Pasta

I love salads with all of my meals, try some of my favorites, like this Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts, Cucumber Onion Salad, Shirazi Salad, Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing or this Easy Lebanese Salad.

Vegetable side dishes are always a nice addition to pasta dishes, try these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, Garlic Broccoli or Turmeric Cauliflower. 

Other Orzo Recipes to Try:

LEMON CHICKEN ORZO

TOMATO FETA ORZO SOUP

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO PASTA RECIPE

4 INGREDIENT CHEESY ORZO RECIPE

MIXED BERRY CAPRESE ORZO SALAD

ONE POT CREAMY TOMATO HERB ORZO

CHEESY BUTTERNUT SQUASH ORZO

CHICKPEA SALAD RECIPE