I’ve had an actual factor with bacon the previous few of years, which considerably amuses me as a result of most of my life I didn’t actually like it. But there’s one thing about its crispy, salty taste that lends an unbelievable savoriness to absolutely anything you pair it with.

Often, I like to purchase turkey bacon as a result of it’s leaner and we aren’t that into pork, however I’ve been selecting up the actual deal bacon and it’s been an awesome addition to a few of our weeknight meals. A few years in the past I perfected this , and who may neglect about my unbelievable ? Drooling simply interested by them.

A few summers in the past I shared a tremendous , which was loosely impressed by this unbelievable, creamy garlic parmesan orzo pasta with spinach, crispy bacon and all of the veggies you can dream of.

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This scrumptious, wholesome 30 minute dinner is one that you could throw collectively any day of the week. Everybody loves it because of that flavorful, crispy bacon. Personally, I’m an enormous fan as a result of it’s an awesome excuse to make use of up all of the veggies in your fridge (together with a complete package deal of spinach!)

I like to recommend serving this recipe with a facet of my , as a result of the hell why not?

What’s orzo?

Though orzo seems to be like a type of rice, it’s really a rice-shaped pasta. I like utilizing orzo for fast and simple lunches and dinners as a result of you possibly can really cook dinner it such as you do conventional pasta, or you possibly can cook dinner it the identical manner you’d rice. Recipes like this parmesan orzo pasta are scrumptious eaten scorching or chilly, and orzo is even superb in veggie-packed salads.

Two methods to cook dinner orzo

There are literally two tremendous straightforward methods to cook dinner orzo!

1. The pasta technique: I usually cook dinner orzo utilizing this conventional technique. You’ll boil a of water, add a pinch of salt, stir in orzo, and cook dinner till al dente about 6-8 minutes. As soon as orzo is completed cooking, drain pasta and put aside within the colander.
2. The rice technique: It’s also possible to cook dinner it the identical manner you cook dinner rice. In a pot convey orzo and double the quantity of water to a boil, decrease the warmth, cowl your pot, and let the orzo simmer till the entire liquid is absorbed.

Every thing you’ll have to make this parmesan orzo pasta

This straightforward garlic parmesan orzo is crammed with colourful veggies, tender orzo pasta and a few savory bacon. What extra may you ask for?! Right here’s what you’ll have to make it:

• Orzo: the bottom is, in fact, scrumptious !
• Bacon: we’re including a beautiful savory, salty aspect with bacon.
• Produce: you’ll additionally want garlic, spinach, shredded carrots, crimson bell pepper and corn. Attractive!
• Butter: I wish to cook dinner down the veggies in butter, however be happy to make use of olive oil or avocado oil.
• Seasonings: don’t neglect , salt, pepper and (for those who like slightly warmth).
• Parmesan: gotta have that melty cheese in each chunk! Plus, garlic and parmesan collectively is simply *chef’s kiss*.

Our fav ingredient swaps

Seeking to customise a bit? Right here’s what we are able to advocate for substituting on this orzo recipe:

• Swap the bacon. Be happy to make use of sliced, sauteed hen sausage as an alternative, and even some cooked, !
• Make it vegetarian. A can of rinsed, drained and even roasted, crunchy chickpeas can be the proper swap for the bacon to maintain the recipe vegetarian.
• Select your pasta. I like the creaminess of orzo, however you possibly can actually use any pasta form you’d like! Orecchiette or angel hair can be fabulous. It’s also possible to use your favourite or complete grain pasta.
• Up the veggies. Be happy to swap or add in any veggies you’d like as properly. Broccoli can be scrumptious.

Suggestions for the perfect garlic parmesan orzo

• Use freshly grated parmesan as an alternative of the parmesan that comes out of the inexperienced jar, which frequently has caking brokers in it. We wish the actual deal parmesan for taste and easy components! You possibly can normally purchase contemporary, already grated parmesan on the retailer.
• Make certain to order some pasta water after you boil the pasta and earlier than you drain it. The pasta water is starchy and can assist to create a pleasant creamy sauce when combined with the pasta and parmesan cheese.
• Use good-quality bacon and cook dinner it over medium warmth, then swap it to medium low to forestall burning. Be happy to cook dinner it for roughly time relying on how crispy you prefer it, and blot the surplus grease from the bacon when it’s executed.

The best way to retailer leftovers

Add any leftover orzo to an and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days. Merely reheat in a microwave protected dish.

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I hope you like this straightforward, scrumptious garlic parmesan orzo recipe! In the event you make it make sure to depart a remark and a ranking so I understand how you favored it. Get pleasure from, xo!

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Pictures by: 

This put up was initially printed on March 26, 2019, republished on September 1st, 2021, and republished on April twelfth, 2023.