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–+ servings
Large skillet filled with creamy lemony orzo with shrimp.
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One Pot Lemony Orzo with Shrimp

A creamy, risotto-style orzo with lemon, garlic, parmesan, and shrimp all made in one pot for an easy meal any night of the week.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Keyword: one pot
Servings: 4
Calories: 560kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 3-4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/3 cups orzo
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine optional
  • 2 3/4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 lemon zested + juice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 2/3 cup parmesan + more for serving
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley + more for serving

Instructions

Prep ingredients

  • Dice the onion, mince the garlic, chop parsley, grate parmesan, and zest and juice one lemon.

Sauté aromatics

  • Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.

Toast the orzo

  • Add the orzo and toast for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently. Toasting the orzo enhances its flavor and helps create a creamier final texture.

 Deglaze

  • If using, pour in white wine and let it simmer for about 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits. Allow it to reduce slightly.

Simmer

  • Add chicken broth, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is nearly tender and most liquid is absorbed.

Add shrimp

  • Nestle the shrimp into the orzo, making sure they’re mostly submerged. Cover and cook for 4–6 minutes until shrimp are pink and cooked through. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, they should be just pink and tender.

Remove from heat

  • Remove from heat. Stir in parmesan and heavy cream until smooth. Then add lemon juice and parsley.

Taste and serve

  • Adjust seasoning as needed and serve warm with extra parmesan and parsley.

Notes

  • Toast the orzo for deeper flavor
  • Don’t overcook the shrimp
  • Stir occasionally to prevent sticking
  • Use freshly grated parmesan
  • Add lemon juice at the end for brightness

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 560kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 27g