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This marry me orzo is made with garlic, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese! I love serving it with scallops or baked salmon for a complete dinner meal.
For more orzo recipes, check out this lemon orzo pasta salad and cheesy garlic orzo.
Table of Contents
Why do they call this recipe “marry me orzo”? It’s called “marry me orzo” because it’s so creamy and tasty that people joke it’s good enough to get a marriage proposal. The name is just for fun, like the well-known “marry me chicken” made with a creamy sauce and herbs.
I’ve gotta admit that the “marry me orzo” is way better than the “marry me chicken”!
Ingredient Notes
See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and complete instructions.
- Orzo – Do not rinse!
- Sun Dried Tomatoes – Make sure to use the ones in olive oil, not the dried sun dried tomatoes.
- Spinach – Use fresh spinach for best results. Avoid frozen spinach for this recipe.
- Heavy Cream – A splash of heavy cream goes along way, you don’t have to use the full amount I suggest. Also feel free to use unsweetened coconut milk instead.
- Chicken Broth – Don’t have chicken broth on hand? Use water instead.
Top Tips
- Not a fan of seafood? Serve this with crispy chicken cutlets instead or add boneless chicken pieces to cook with the orzo. If using chicken, add it after the onions, sear for a couple of minutes, then continue with the recipe as written.
- Make sure to stir the orzo every 3-4 minutes as it cooks so it doesn’t dry up completely or stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Season with salt and pepper at the end, not during the cooking process, I recommend seasoning after the parmesan cheese is added and right before serving.
Storage
Have any leftovers? Place them in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Before serving, add a little chicken broth and cream to loosen it, then microwave until hot. Add salt if needed and enjoy.
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback and would greatly appreciate it ❤️
Marry Me Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- ½ small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
- ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes in olive oil , finely sliced
- 1 cup spinach , fresh
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes , optional
- 3 tablespoons olive oil , or more if needed
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the oil and onions to a skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the onions become translucent.
- Stir in the garlic, sun dried tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 20 seconds.
- Add the orzo, chicken broth, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat for 15-17 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Once the orzo is tender (should take about 15 minutes) stir in the spinach and heavy cream. Give it a good stir and then add the parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
