Broccoli Cheese Orzo is a delicious side dish with orzo pasta, broccoli, cheddar and Parmesan cheese, cooked in a creamy garlic sauce.
Are you looking for a new (and yummy) side dish you can serve with beef, chicken, pork or fish? If you are, then I hope you’ll check out this recipe for broccoli cheese orzo!
I originally checked out 5-6 recipes online, then used some of the ingredients and added other ingredients (and cooking methods) to suit our taste.
This delicious side dish is cooked all in one pan and the orzo is lightly toasted and is wonderfully flavored with two cheeses, broccoli florets and a creamy garlic butter sauce.
It’s simple to make, tastes amazing and it’s done in about 30 minutes. I hope you’ll give it a try, so here’s how to make it.
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Prepare The Broccoli And Orzo Pasta
Cut fresh broccoli into small florets. Heat extra virgin olive oil on medium heat in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Once the oil is hot (but not smoking), add the broccoli florets and cook them, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes.
Add the uncooked orzo pasta, and lightly “toast” it by cooking it (stirring often) for about 2 minutes until it is “toasted” and slightly browned. Stir in finely chopped red (or orange) bell pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.
Note: You will also add salt and pepper later “to taste”, after the orzo has finished cooking, so no need to add it now.
Pour chicken OR vegetable broth into the pan, turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the broth to a boil. When it begins to boil, reduce the heat to a low simmer and put a lid on the pan.
Cook The Orzo
Cook the orzo (covered) on LOW for about 9-12 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Remove the lid a few times and give it a good quick stir and see how much liquid remains. Do not let the orzo burn, so keep an eye on it!
Once all the chicken (or vegetable) broth has been absorbed into the pasta, take a little bite of the orzo pasta to make sure it is tender.
If for some reason it is still a bit too firm, add 1-2 Tablespoons of water (or more broth). Stir again, re-cover the pan and let it cook 1-2 more minutes or until the orzo becomes tender.
Add The Final Ingredients
As soon as the orzo is done, remove the pan from the heat source. Immediately add butter, heavy whipping cream (can substitute half and half or milk), freshly grated Parmesan and cheddar cheeses.
Stir these ingredients into the pasta until the butter and cheeses have melted and along with the cream have been fully incorporated into the orzo. Once combined, season with (and stir in) salt and pepper to suit your taste.
Sprinkle the top of the broccoli cheese orzo with additional cheddar cheese. Put the lid back on the pan for 2-3 minutes so the cheese on top melts. The creamy orzo mixture will also thicken slightly as it rests.
Serve The Broccoli Cheese Orzo
The broccoli cheese orzo can be served immediately, right from the pan, if desired OR you can transfer it to a serving bowl. I like to serve it in a bowl, so I use a spatula to remove large portions of the broccoli cheese orzo at a time to transfer it.
Transfer the broccoli cheese orzo to a serving bowl (keeping some of the melted cheese from the top, on top!). Serve the orzo immediately while it is hot!
We enjoyed this absolutely delicious side dish served alongside a piece of pan-seared creole salmon. This was a filling and “all in one” meal for us because it consisted of meat, a vegetable and pasta!
I hope you have the opportunity to try this broccoli cheese orzo and trust you’ll enjoy it as much as we do. It’s a fairly simple, one-pan dish to make and if you have any leftovers, they’re easy to reheat in the microwave.
Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day!
Looking For More ORZO Recipes?
You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some delicious recipes featuring ORZO you might enjoy, including:
- Asian Orzo Veggie Skillet
- Lemon Parmesan Orzo
- Italian Orzo and Spinach Soup
- Toasted Orzo with Lemon and Chives
- Spinach and Orzo Salad
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↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

Broccoli Cheese Orzo is a delicious side dish with orzo pasta, broccoli, cheddar and Parmesan cheese, cooked in a creamy garlic sauce.
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets *Bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup orzo pasta Uncooked
- 2 Tablespoons finely chopped red bell pepper
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cups chicken broth Can substitute veggie broth
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1¼ cups grated cheddar cheese* *DIVIDED USE
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream* *Can substitute half n' half or milk
- salt and pepper, to taste
Heat olive oil on medium heat in a large saucepan. Once oil is hot, add broccoli. Cook, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes.
Add orzo; cook for 1-2 minutes (stirring often) until it's "toasted" and slightly browned. Stir in red bell pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.
Add chicken broth; turn heat up to medium-high, bring broth to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer; cover the pan. Cook (covered) on LOW for 9-12 minutes (or until all liquid is absorbed). Remove lid 2-3 times, give it a quick stir and see how much liquid remains. Keep an eye on it so the orzo doesn't burn! Once all broth has been absorbed, taste orzo to make sure it is tender. If it's still too firm, add 1-2 Tbsp. water (or broth). Stir again, re-cover the pan and let it cook 1-2 more minutes or until orzo is tender. Remove pan from heat source.
Immediately add butter, whipping cream, Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Stir until ingredients are combined and butter and cheeses have melted. Once combined, season with salt and pepper to suit your taste.
Sprinkle orzo with remaining ¼ cup of grated cheddar. Put the lid back on the pan for 2-3 minutes. Cheese on top will melt and orzo mixture will thicken slightly as it rests.
Transfer broccoli cheese orzo to a serving bowl (keep some of the melted cheese from the top, on top!). Serve hot and enjoy!
NOTE: The caloric calculation was made using heavy whipping cream. If you want the dish to have fewer calories, substitute half and half or milk for the cream called for.