This ultra creamy goat cheese and sun dried tomato orzo is made in one pot in under 30 minutes. It’s inspired by the Tuscan inspired Italian pasta dishes from the 90s that I grew up loving.
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What is Sun Dried Tomato Orzo?
Sun Dried Tomato Orzo is a deliciously easy dish that's made in one pot in under 30 minutes.
This recipe takes orzo, a rice-shaped pasta, and infuses it with the intenseness of sun-dried tomatoes and creaminess of goat cheese.
For more flavor and texture, fresh spinach, vibrant lemon juice, sweet balsamic glaze and parmigiano cheese come together to amplify the flavor of this dish.
The result is a mouthwatering combination will have you begging for more!
To be honest, this Sun Dried Tomato Orzo is a dish that will transport your tastebuds to the sun-drenched shores of Italy and leave you craving for more.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Olive Oil - You could use avocado oil or butter if you had to but olive oil is number one for this recipe.
- Garlic Cloves - Fresh is best but jarred garlic or garlic paste works, too.
- Red Pepper Flakes - Even if you don't like heat, just add a little bit. It adds more depth to the dish than spiciness.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes in olive oil - These are the star of the show so there is no real substitution for them.
- Orzo - For this recipe to be a one pot dish, it's important that the water to pasta ratio is right on. If you change the pasta shape, you will need to adjust the amount of liqid.
- Vegetable Broth or Chicken Stock - Any sort of stock (besides beef) works beautifully for this recipe.
- Goat Cheese - If you don't like goat cheese, you could try feta, tons of parmigiano, or even boursin.
- Fresh Spinach - Fresh kale, or arugula would also work.
- Parmigiano - Any other aged hard italian cheese like pecorino or asiago would also work.
- Lemon - Fresh lemon juice is best. You could use a splash of red wine vinegar if you need more acid and don't have lemon.
- Balsamic Glaze - This adds the perfect pop of sweetness to balance out all of the savory flavors. If you don't have it, you could add a pinch of sugar or simply make some yourself by reducing balsamic vinegar in a pan with a little bit of apple juice.
How to make it
Making this sun dried tomato orzo is ridiculously easy! And since it's one pot, clean up is too!
Begin by adding olive oil to a heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat.
Once hot, add garlic, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt. Cook down for 3 minutes or until garlic is soft and fragrant.
Next, add the sun dried tomatoes along with the oil that they were sitting in because it adds a ton of flavor Cook this down for 1 minute.
Add orzo and another pinch of salt and cook, stirring often, until orzo is just slightly toasted; about 3 minutes.
Add stock and bring to a simmer. Place the lid on for 8-10 minutes or until the pasta is starting to get al dente.
Remove the lid and stir.
Add spinach, goat cheese, and another pinch of salt and stir.
Continue cooking with the lid off until most of the liquid has reduced. Then add in the parmigiano.
Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice, fresh cracked pepper and balsamic glaze.
Stir and taste.
Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
What goes with Sun Dried Tomato Orzo
For an appetizer, I suggest making my Florida Cobb Salad this Easy Grinder Salad Recipe, a burrata caprese salad, or even these little ciabatta caprese sandwiches cut into fourths.
For dessert, I suggest my easy 4 ingredient nutella fudge or my easy no bake key lime pie or my viral tiktok cinnamon rolls .
And if you'd like more tasty pasta recipes, try this Spicy Vodka Pasta With Bacon, Garlic confit baked feta pasta, Creamy Pesto Pasta or One Pot Cheesy Orzo with Broccoli.
Frequently asked questions
How much does orzo expand when cooked?
When cooked, orzo basically doubles. 1 cup raw orzo (about 6 oz) will give you about 2 cups cooked. If you want a slightly creamier result, orzo can be cooked as you would rice.
Are sun-dried tomatoes healthy?
Incorporating sun dried tomatoes into any meal is a smart way to stay healthy! These little gems are packed with nutrients and anti-oxidants (including lycopene) that are event believed to decrease the risk of certain cancers, neutralize free radicals and decrease inflammation.
Are sun dried tomatoes gluten free?
Sun dried Tomatoes are gluten free. Sun dried Tomato should be safe for patients with celiac and other gluten-related disorders. If you're unsure about eating them, please consult your practitioner.
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Recipe
Sun Dried Tomato Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 10 cloves Garlic
- 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes
- 4 oz Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil
- 1 lb Orzo
- 5 cups Vegetable Broth or Chicken Stock
- 8 oz Goat Cheese
- 4 cups Fresh Spinach
- ⅓ cup Parmigiano
- 1 whole Lemon juiced
- Fresh Cracked Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Balsamic Glaze
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat.
- Once hot, add garlic, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt. Cook down for 3 minutes or until garlic is soft and fragrant.
- Next, add the sun dried tomatoes along with the oil that they were sitting in. Cook this down for 1 minute.
- Add orzo and another pinch of salt and cook, stirring often, until orzo is just slightly toasted; about 3 minutes.
- Add stock and bring to a simmer. Place the lid on for 8-10 minutes or until the pasta is super al dente.
- Remove the lid and stir. Add spinach, goat cheese, and another pinch of salt and stir. Continue cooking with the lid off until most of the liquid has reduced before adding in parmigiano.
- Finish with lemon juice, fresh cracked pepper and balsamic glaze. Stir and taste. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
