Description
This One-Pot Shrimp & Orzo Pasta is a quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring tender shrimp, perfectly cooked orzo, and a flavorful lemon garlic cream sauce topped with a crunchy herb panko crumble. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 300g (10.5oz) Raw Shrimp, Peeled and Deveined
- 250g (9oz) Orzo Pasta
- 2 Tbsp (30ml) Olive Oil
- 1 Small Onion, Finely Diced (≈80g / ½ cup)
- 3 Cloves Garlic, Minced
- 1 Lemon, Zest and Juice
- 240ml (1 cup) Vegetable Broth
- 120ml (½ cup) Heavy Cream
- 30g (2 Tbsp) Unsalted Butter
- 30g (¼ cup) Panko Breadcrumbs
- 2 Tbsp (30g) Toasted Pine Nuts, Finely Chopped
- 2 Tbsp (8g) Fresh Parsley, Chopped
- 1 tsp (5g) Smoked Paprika
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
- Pinch of Red-Pepper Flakes (Optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Sauté onion in olive oil until translucent.
- Bloom Garlic & Spice: Add garlic and smoked paprika; cook until fragrant.
- Sear Shrimp: Sear shrimp until pink and opaque; set aside.
- Toast Orzo: Toast orzo in the pot for 2 minutes.
- Simmer Orzo: Add broth and lemon juice; simmer until orzo is al dente.
- Create Sauce: Stir in cream and butter until glossy.
- Combine & Heat: Return shrimp to pot; heat through.
- Prepare Crumble: Toast panko, pine nuts, and parsley in butter.
- Fold & Finish: Fold half of the crumble into the pasta.
- Plate & Garnish: Plate, drizzle with sauce, and sprinkle with remaining crumble.
Notes
For a lighter sauce, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Toasting the orzo enhances its flavor and prevents mushiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg
Keywords: pasta, shrimp, orzo, one-pot, lemon, garlic, easy, weeknight, creamy