Easy Homemade Fluffy Rice Pilaf with Orzo
This recipe gives you fluffy, flavorful rice pilaf using simple ingredients like orzo, onion, garlic, and chicken broth. It is a quick and easy side dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup orzo pasta
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the orzo pasta and cook, stirring frequently, until it turns light brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the chopped onion to the saucepan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the rinsed rice to the pan and stir to coat with the fat, cooking for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan tightly, and simmer for 18 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
- Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Rinsing the rice helps remove excess starch, which contributes to a fluffier final texture.
- You can substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth to make this dish vegetarian.
- This savory rice accompaniment pairs well with chicken, beef, or roasted vegetables.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup cooked
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 5