Easy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Orzo
A simple, flavorful one-pot shrimp orzo pasta dish featuring bright lemon and savory garlic, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add shrimp, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Add minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let it brown.
- Add orzo pasta to the skillet and toast for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cook for 1 minute until heated through.
- Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Stir gently to combine and heat the shrimp through, about 1 minute.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- To keep your orzo from becoming mushy, use the specified amount of liquid and stir only occasionally while simmering.
- You can substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth for a lighter flavor.
- For a richer flavor, add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese along with the heavy cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 34
- Cholesterol: 210