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 adore 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 ideal addition to a few of our weeknight meals. A few years in the past I perfected this more healthy pasta carbonara, and who might overlook about my unbelievable bacon wrapped dates? Drooling simply eager about them.
A few summers in the past I shared an incredible bacon parmesan brussels sprouts spaghetti, which was loosely impressed by this unbelievable, creamy garlic parmesan orzo pasta with spinach, crispy bacon and all of the veggies you would dream of.
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This scrumptious, wholesome 30 minute dinner is one you can 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 ideal excuse to make use of up all of the veggies in your fridge (together with a whole package deal of spinach!)
I like to recommend serving this recipe with a facet of my greatest ever garlic bread, as a result of the hell why not?
What’s orzo?
Though orzo seems like a type of rice, it’s really a rice-shaped pasta. I like utilizing orzo for fast and straightforward lunches and dinners as a result of you’ll be able to really cook dinner it such as you do conventional pasta, or you’ll be able to cook dinner it the identical approach you’ll rice. Recipes like this parmesan orzo pasta are scrumptious eaten sizzling or chilly, and orzo is even wonderful in veggie-packed salads.
Two methods to cook dinner orzo
There are literally two tremendous straightforward methods to cook dinner orzo!
- The pasta methodology: I usually cook dinner orzo utilizing this conventional methodology. You’ll boil a large pot 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 finished cooking, drain pasta and put aside within the colander.
- The rice methodology: You too can cook dinner it the identical approach 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 all the liquid is absorbed.
Every part you’ll must make this parmesan orzo pasta
This straightforward garlic parmesan orzo is stuffed with colourful veggies, tender orzo pasta and a few savory bacon. What extra might you ask for?! Right here’s what you’ll must make it:
- Orzo: the bottom is, after all, scrumptious orzo!
- Bacon: we’re including a beautiful savory, salty ingredient with bacon.
- Produce: you’ll additionally want garlic, spinach, shredded carrots, pink bell pepper and corn. Beautiful!
- Butter: I prefer to cook dinner down the veggies in butter, however be at liberty to make use of olive oil or avocado oil.
- Seasonings: don’t overlook garlic powder, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (in case you like somewhat warmth).
- Parmesan: gotta have that melty cheese in each chew! 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 suggest for substituting on this orzo recipe:
- Swap the bacon. Be at liberty to make use of sliced, sauteed hen sausage as a substitute, and even some cooked, shredded hen!
- Make it vegetarian. A can of rinsed, drained white beans and even roasted, crunchy chickpeas could be the proper swap for the bacon to maintain the recipe vegetarian.
- Select your pasta. I like the creaminess of orzo, however you’ll be able to actually use any pasta form you’d like! Orecchiette or angel hair could be fabulous. You too can use your favourite gluten free or complete grain pasta.
- Up the veggies. Be at liberty to swap or add in any veggies you’d like as properly. Broccoli could be scrumptious.
Suggestions for one of the best garlic parmesan orzo
- Use freshly grated parmesan as a substitute of the parmesan that comes out of the inexperienced jar, which regularly has caking brokers in it. We wish the actual deal parmesan for taste and easy elements! You’ll be able to normally purchase recent, already grated parmesan on the retailer.
- Be sure 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 at liberty to cook dinner it for kind of time relying on how crispy you prefer it, and blot the surplus grease from the bacon when it’s completed.
The right way to retailer leftovers
Add any leftover orzo to an airtight container 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’re keen on this straightforward, scrumptious garlic parmesan orzo recipe! Should you make it remember to depart a remark and a ranking so I understand how you preferred it. Take pleasure in, xo!
Spinach Garlic Parmesan Orzo with Crispy Bacon
Simple, flavorful spinach garlic parmesan orzo pasta with crispy bacon and lovely veggies like pink bell pepper, corn, carrots, and spinach. This creamy garlic parmesan orzo recipe comes collectively in 30-minutes, is the proper meal prep dinner, and is scrumptious sizzling or chilly!
Elements
-
8
slices
bacon -
10
ounces
raw orzo pasta (about 1 2/3 cup raw orzo) -
1/2
cup
reserved pasta water, after pasta is finished boiling -
1
tablespoon
butter -
3
cloves
garlic, finely minced -
½
cup
shredded carrots (or carrots reduce into matchsticks) -
2/3
cup
frozen or recent candy corn -
1
pink bell pepper, reduce into chunks -
1
(5 ounce) package deal natural spinach -
1/2
cup
freshly grated parmesan cheese -
1/2
teaspoon
garlic powder -
1/2
teaspoon
pink chili pepper flakes, plus extra if desired - Freshly floor salt and pepper
- To garnish: Recent flat-leaf parsley + further parmesan cheese, corn and bacon on high
Directions
-
Add bacon to a big skillet or pan and place over medium warmth, cook dinner bacon on each side till crispy and golden brown. If the pan begins to smoke at any level, merely decrease the warmth. I at all times cook dinner my bacon on medium low warmth. As soon as bacon is finished, blot with a paper towel to soak up extra grease, then chop into chew sized items and put aside.
-
Whereas the bacon is cooking, place a big pot of water over excessive warmth and add in a beneficiant quantity of salt. As soon as water boils, stir within the orzo and cook dinner till al dente about 7-9 minutes. As soon as orzo is finished cooking, drain pasta and put aside within the colander. Be sure to order ½ cup of the pasta water.
-
Subsequent add 1 tablespoon butter to the identical pot you cooked the pasta in and place over medium warmth. As soon as butter is melted, add in minced garlic, carrot, corn, pink bell pepper and saute for two minutes.
-
Subsequent add in spinach; cooking till the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Add the cooked orzo again into the pot and switch the warmth to low. Stir within the reserved pasta water, parmesan, garlic powder and pink chili pepper flakes.
-
Lastly, stir in bacon crumbles. Add salt and pepper to style. I like so as to add A LOT of black pepper into this dish — it simply offers it a very nice taste! Should you suppose it wants somewhat further parmesan cheese, be at liberty to stir in 1/4 cup extra. Take pleasure in. Serves 4.
Recipe Notes
To swap the bacon: you’ll be able to simply use 4 hen sausages as a substitute; simply slice into rounds, saute in pan, then stir into pasta such as you would the bacon.
To make vegetarian: I feel a can of rinsed and drained white beans and even roasted, crunchy chickpeas could be a very nice possibility.
Be at liberty to make use of a distinct pasta, resembling orecchiette or angel hair pasta. I want orzo as a result of it retains the pasta good and creamy. Be at liberty so as to add in additional veggies.
Vitamin
Servings: 4 servings
Serving measurement: 1 serving
Energy: 436kcal
Fats: 13.3g
Saturated fats: 6.2g
Carbohydrates: 62.7g
Fiber: 4.5g
Sugar: 2.6g
Protein: 20.2g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats
This submit was initially revealed on March 26, 2019, republished on September 1st, 2021, and republished on April twelfth, 2023.
