One-Pan Creamy Orzo
One-Pan Creamy Orzo is a rich, silky side made by toasting orzo, simmering it in broth like a quick risotto, and finishing with heavy cream and Parmesan. The result is tender pasta with nutty depth and a luxurious, cheesy finish—perfect alongside roasted chicken or seared salmon, or as a comforting bowl on its own.
- Prep5 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves3
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in One-Pan Creamy Orzo, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 56 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 7
- Heart Health
- 59
- Metabolic
- 18
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 28
- Performance
- 32
- General Wellness
- 1
Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the orzo and toast it, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and lower the heat to medium-low.
- 2
Add the chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Simmer, stirring often, until the broth is absorbed, about 8 minutes.
- 3
After the broth is absorbed, stir in the cream. Add the cheese and stir until it melts into the creamy sauce.
- Calories 458.33 kcal High 23%
- Protein 17.1 g Good Source 34%
- Carbohydrate 51.63 g 19%
- Total Fat 18.34 g High 24%
- Saturated Fat 10.12 g High 51%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 54.83 mg Moderate 18%
- Sodium 704.11 mg High 31%
- Dietary Fiber 1.7 g Low Source 6%
- Total Sugars 1.16 g --
- Added Sugars 0.03 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 347.09 mg Good Source 27%
- Iron 1.98 mg Moderate 11%
- Potassium 190.15 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 12.8 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 13.98 mg Moderate 16%
- Vitamin D 0.1 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
One Pan Creamy Orzo is an Italian side dish recipe made with 6 ingredients. It takes about 20 mins, serves 3, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Butter, Chicken Broth, Garlic, and Heavy Cream. Each serving provides about 458.33 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is One-Pan Creamy Orzo?
- It is an Italian recipe made with 6 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch.
- What is One-Pan Creamy Orzo made of?
- The main ingredients are Butter, Chicken Broth, Garlic, Heavy Cream, Orzo. The full list of 6 is above.
- How long does it take to make One-Pan Creamy Orzo?
- About 20 mins in total: 5 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 458.33 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is One-Pan Creamy Orzo easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 6 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is One-Pan Creamy Orzo healthy?
- One-Pan Creamy Orzo has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 458.33 calories and 17.1 g of protein, or 34% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 704.11 mg (31% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 10.12 g (51% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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