Broccoli Cheddar Orzo
This one-pot Broccoli Cheddar Orzo is a quick, kid-friendly meal you can pull together in under 30 minutes. The broccoli is sauteed with garlic until tender, before the onions, orzo, and broth are cooked in the same pan. Finally, sharp cheddar is stirred in to make a velvety, gooey cheese sauce filled with flavor.
Orzo is a great pasta to have in your pantry for last-minute, comforting meals like this! It cooks so quickly right in the sauce, thickening it into a creamy texture that the cheddar melts right into. The result is a dish with a similar texture to risotto (but much faster) and tastes like a cross between stove-top mac & cheese and broccoli cheddar soup. The broccoli adds some texture and color, plus helps you get in some veggies!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1/2 head broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 1/4 cup filtered water
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes, or to taste
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock or broth
- 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- freshly ground black pepper and freshly chopped parsley, optional, for garnish