Creamy Shrimp Orzo
Creamy Shrimp Orzo
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Orzo
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, drained and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
Instructions
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with paprika, black pepper, and salt.
⏱️ 1 min
- 2
Add the seasoned shrimp to the hot skillet in a single layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, or until pink and cooked through. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Remove the cooked shrimp from the pan and set aside in a bowl.
⏱️ 4 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet, allowing it to melt. Add the diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent.
⏱️ 4 min
- 4
Stir in the halved cherry tomatoes and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cherry tomatoes begin to soften slightly.
⏱️ 4 min
- 5
Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Pour the orzo pasta into the skillet and stir to coat it with the pan drippings and vegetables.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Add the heavy cream and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
⏱️ 12 min
- 9
Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Add the fresh spinach to the pan and stir until it wilts into the orzo mixture.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet with the creamy orzo. Stir gently to combine and heat the shrimp through for about 1 minute.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Shrimp Orzo
For the Shrimp
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Orzo
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, drained and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
Instructions
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with paprika, black pepper, and salt.
⏱️ 1 min - 2
Add the seasoned shrimp to the hot skillet in a single layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, or until pink and cooked through. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Remove the cooked shrimp from the pan and set aside in a bowl.
⏱️ 4 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet, allowing it to melt. Add the diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent.
⏱️ 4 min - 4
Stir in the halved cherry tomatoes and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cherry tomatoes begin to soften slightly.
⏱️ 4 min - 5
Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Pour the orzo pasta into the skillet and stir to coat it with the pan drippings and vegetables.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Add the heavy cream and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
⏱️ 12 min - 9
Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Add the fresh spinach to the pan and stir until it wilts into the orzo mixture.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet with the creamy orzo. Stir gently to combine and heat the shrimp through for about 1 minute.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.