Creamy Shrimp Lemon Orzo
Creamy Shrimp Lemon Orzo
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons butter garlic seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed for searing
For the Orzo
- 1 small onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Calabrian chilis
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
- 2 cups orzo
- 1 lemon, zested
- 2 teaspoons garlic herb seasoning
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
For Finishing
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh basil, torn, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
⏱️ 2 min
- 2
In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, black pepper, smoked paprika, and butter garlic seasoning until evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Sear the seasoned shrimp in the hot skillet for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 4 min
- 4
In the same pan, add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes.
⏱️ 4 min
- 5
Add the minced garlic, Calabrian chilis, and finely chopped basil to the pan. Cook for 30 to 45 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Stir in the orzo and toast for 1 to 2 minutes. While toasting, add the lemon zest and garlic herb seasoning to release their oils.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Deglaze the pan with the dry white wine and let it reduce by half, or until the liquid is mostly absorbed into the orzo.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Pour in the chicken broth and add the fresh thyme sprigs. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
⏱️ 8 min
- 9
Remove the fresh thyme sprigs from the pan.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Stir in the heavy cream, butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice until well combined and creamy.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Add half of the cooked shrimp back into the pan and stir gently to heat through.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Serve immediately, topping with the remaining shrimp and torn fresh basil.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Shrimp Lemon Orzo
For the Shrimp
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons butter garlic seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed for searing
For the Orzo
- 1 small onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Calabrian chilis
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
- 2 cups orzo
- 1 lemon, zested
- 2 teaspoons garlic herb seasoning
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
For Finishing
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh basil, torn, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
⏱️ 2 min - 2
In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, black pepper, smoked paprika, and butter garlic seasoning until evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Sear the seasoned shrimp in the hot skillet for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 4 min - 4
In the same pan, add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes.
⏱️ 4 min - 5
Add the minced garlic, Calabrian chilis, and finely chopped basil to the pan. Cook for 30 to 45 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Stir in the orzo and toast for 1 to 2 minutes. While toasting, add the lemon zest and garlic herb seasoning to release their oils.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Deglaze the pan with the dry white wine and let it reduce by half, or until the liquid is mostly absorbed into the orzo.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Pour in the chicken broth and add the fresh thyme sprigs. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
⏱️ 8 min - 9
Remove the fresh thyme sprigs from the pan.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Stir in the heavy cream, butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice until well combined and creamy.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Add half of the cooked shrimp back into the pan and stir gently to heat through.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Serve immediately, topping with the remaining shrimp and torn fresh basil.
⏱️ 1 min