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 unimaginable 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 choosing up the true deal bacon and it’s been an important addition to a few of our weeknight meals. A few years in the past I perfected this more healthy pasta carbonara, and who may overlook about my unimaginable bacon wrapped dates? Drooling simply fascinated with them.
A few summers in the past I shared a tremendous bacon parmesan brussels sprouts spaghetti, which was loosely impressed by this unimaginable, 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 which 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 important excuse to make use of up all of the veggies in your fridge (together with a complete bundle of spinach!)
I like to recommend serving this recipe with a aspect of my finest ever garlic bread, as a result of the hell why not?
What’s orzo?
Though orzo appears like a type of rice, it’s truly a rice-shaped pasta. I like utilizing orzo for fast and straightforward lunches and dinners as a result of you may truly prepare dinner it such as you do conventional pasta, or you may prepare dinner it the identical method you’ll rice. Recipes like this parmesan orzo pasta are scrumptious eaten sizzling or chilly, and orzo is even superb in veggie-packed salads.
Two methods to prepare dinner orzo
There are literally two tremendous simple methods to prepare dinner orzo!
- The pasta technique: I usually prepare dinner orzo utilizing this conventional technique. You’ll boil a giant pot of water, add a pinch of salt, stir in orzo, and prepare 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 technique: It’s also possible to prepare dinner it the identical method you prepare 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 little thing you’ll have to make this parmesan orzo pasta
This simple 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 orzo!
- Bacon: we’re including an exquisite savory, salty ingredient with bacon.
- Produce: you’ll additionally want garlic, spinach, shredded carrots, pink bell pepper and corn. Attractive!
- Butter: I wish to prepare 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 pink pepper flakes (should you like a bit 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 will advocate for substituting on this orzo recipe:
- Swap the bacon. Be at liberty to make use of sliced, sauteed rooster sausage as an alternative, and even some cooked, shredded rooster!
- Make it vegetarian. A can of rinsed, drained white beans and even roasted, crunchy chickpeas can be the right swap for the bacon to maintain the recipe vegetarian.
- Select your pasta. I like the creaminess of orzo, however you may actually use any pasta form you’d like! Orecchiette or angel hair can be fabulous. It’s also possible to 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 effectively. Broccoli can be scrumptious.
Ideas for the very best garlic parmesan orzo
- Use freshly grated parmesan as an alternative of the parmesan that comes out of the inexperienced jar, which regularly has caking brokers in it. We would like the true deal parmesan for taste and easy substances! You may often purchase recent, already grated parmesan on the retailer.
- Ensure that 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 prepare dinner it over medium warmth, then swap it to medium low to forestall burning. Be at liberty to prepare dinner it for roughly time relying on how crispy you prefer it, and blot the surplus grease from the bacon when it’s accomplished.
Easy methods to retailer leftovers
Add any leftover orzo to an hermetic container and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days. Merely reheat in a microwave secure dish.
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I hope you like this simple, scrumptious garlic parmesan orzo recipe! When you make it make sure you depart a remark and a ranking so I understand how you favored it. Get pleasure from, 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 right 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) bundle 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: Contemporary 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, prepare 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 prepare 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 chunk 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 prepare dinner till al dente about 7-9 minutes. As soon as orzo is finished cooking, drain pasta and put aside within the colander. Ensure that 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! When you assume it wants a bit further parmesan cheese, be at liberty to stir in 1/4 cup extra. Get pleasure from. Serves 4.
Recipe Notes
To swap the bacon: you may simply use 4 rooster sausages as an alternative; simply slice into rounds, saute in pan, then stir into pasta such as you would the bacon.
To make vegetarian: I believe a can of rinsed and drained white beans and even roasted, crunchy chickpeas can be a very nice choice.
Be at liberty to make use of a distinct pasta, similar to 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 // Bold Kitchen | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats
This submit was initially printed on March 26, 2019, republished on September 1st, 2021, and republished on April twelfth, 2023.
