Cheesy Orzo with Broccoli
A creamy and cheesy pasta with broccoli-comfort food at its finest
Servings: 6
Calories: 313kcal
Ingredients
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded (1 heaping cup)
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- ½ pound broccoli crowns about 1 medium, cut into florets
- 1 Tablespoon yellow onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced or grated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoons dry ground mustard
- ⅓ teaspoon Cajun seasoning optional
- ½ pound dried orzo pasta
- 14.5 oz broth vegetable or chicken both taste great
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup 2% milk
Instructions
- Heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until shimmering, about 30 seconds. Add the onion and saute until tender. About 1 minute. Add florets and sauté until starting to turn vibrant green, about 3 minutes. Add seasonings and stir to combine. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add extra oil if needed. Add dried orzo pasta and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Add broth and water and stir to combine, being sure to scrape the bottom of the pot for any browned bits left. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once at a boil then reduce the heat to maintain a very gentle simmer. Continue to cook, stirring every minute or so and scraping the bottom of the pot (If liquid cooks off to fast add a tablespoon of water at a time to keep it moist). Simmer until the orzo is a minute shy of al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed (but still glossy), 6 to 8 minutes or according to package instructions. Add milk, stir to combine, and simmer until the orzo is al dente but still saucy, about 1 minute more. Remove the pot from the heat. Add 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter and the cheese. Stir until the butter and cheese are melted and the orzo is glossy and saucy. Let sit for 5 minutes for the sauce to thicken before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 572mg | Potassium: 316mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 558IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 190mg | Iron: 1mg
