This Creamy Orzo and Mushrooms recipe is a delicious way to add some interest to an otherwise ordinary menu. Mushrooms, garlic, and fresh herbs combine with orzo pasta, a touch of sour cream and Parmesan to create this special side dish.
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When menu planning often-times I get stumped by side dish choices. The rest of the menu seems to come easily. But, but I have a tendency to bounce back and forth between rice and potatoes for the non-veggie side. Not that there’s anything at all wrong with rice and potatoes but it’s nice to have some options.
I have a great little recipe to share with you today that’s going to totally up your side dish game. This Creamy Orzo and Mushrooms stands in perfectly for either rice or potatoes on almost any menu. It is fabulous served with grilled, baked, or roasted meats.
Cremini mushrooms, fresh thyme, and fresh basil give this dish a rustic look and fantastic flavor.
Ingredient Notes
- Cremini mushrooms: Sometimes sold as brown button mushrooms. They’re meaty and flavorful.
- Onion and garlic
- Fresh herbs: Fresh thyme and fresh basil. I have a strong preference for using fresh herbs in this recipe but dried can be substituted, if you’d like.
- Seasoning: A little salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Orzo: The star of this show is orzo; an extremely versatile, rice-like pasta. Although it looks like rice, you’ll find it in the dry pasta section of the grocery store. See more about orzo below.
- Broth: In place of water, the orzo cooks in low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth for added flavor.
- Cheese: Grated Parmesan cheese adds a nice salty bite.
- Sour cream: You can use either light or regular sour cream.
Orzo is commonly used in soups, side dishes, and pasta salads like my Orzo Salad with Roasted Red Peppers, Spinach, and Feta. It’s also an important component to my Almond Rice Pilaf which is on our menu at least two or three times a month. My One-Pot Lemon Chicken and Orzo is an easy recipe to save for a busy day. There are all kinds of ways to prepare orzo, and this recipe transforms this fun little pasta into a delicious side dish.
How to Make Creamy Orzo and Mushrooms
- Melt a couple of tablespoons of butter and add the chopped mushrooms, onions, and garlic and season it with the salt, pepper, and fresh thyme. Transfer the cooked mushrooms and onions to a dish and set it aside.
- Melt another tablespoon of butter in the same pan and add the orzo. Cook and stir it for a couple of minutes until it is lightly toasted. Add the broth, bring it to a nice simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pan and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Add the cooked mushrooms and onions.
- Finally, stir in some Parmesan cheese, a little bit of sour cream, and the chopped fresh basil. Sprinkle the top with the remaining Parmesan and it is ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
This Orzo and Mushrooms complements any main course that you would typically serve with rice or potatoes. Any of the following recipes would be a fabulous choice.
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Creamy Orzo and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 10 small brown button, cremini mushrooms
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 ½ cups uncooked orzo pasta
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- ¼ cup sour cream, light or regular (I always use light)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook and stir until mushrooms are slightly softened, approximately 3 or 4 minutes. Transfer cooked mushrooms and onions to a plate and return pan to the heat. Add an additional tablespoon of butter to the same pan and when it has melted, add the orzo. Cook and stir for a couple of minutes until lightly browned. Stir in broth and bring to boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Return cooked mushroom mixture to the skillet and stir to combine with the cooked orzo. Mix in ½ cup Parmesan cheese, the sour cream, and basil. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over the top. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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This post was originally published on June 17, 2013. It has been updated with new text and images.
Making this as a Christmas side dish and going to add in a little pancetta. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
It’s going to be fabulous with pancetta! Have a wonderful holiday, Megan 🙂
Valerie, i had to write to let you know that i had never cooked orzo before, just bought it and surfed for a recipe. Found yours and put my blind faith in it. I cannot express how amazed i was as it came out fantastic! I did do a little (very slight) adjustments but that was to my taste. I did add spinach which visually made it extra appealing. Thanks for posting this and look forward to more blind faith recipes from you. – MD
I love to hear this! It’s wonderful to have been part of you trying something new. Spinach is an excellent addition for sure. I have another simple and delicious orzo recipe on the site that includes spinach that you might want to check out. You can find it here – Spinach Feta Orzo.
This is now a staple side in my house even though my husband and I accidentally ate it as a main dish thinking that’s what it was. This is delicious!
I could eat it as a main dish too! So glad to hear you guys are enjoying it 🙂 Thanks so much for the feedback.
I made this orzo recipe last night to go with the Greek Chicken and my family loved it. We’re definitely adding this to our list of go to recipes.
Excellent! Thanks for the feedback, Stacy. This is one of my favorite side dishes.
Can’t wait to try this one! You haven’t let me down yet 🙂
Hmmm! I love this! I bought same herbs over the weekend and I’m ready to make this. 😀 I have to get orzo tomorrow. You always make wonderful meals!
do you think it’s ok to make this ahead and serve later…i think it would be a nice dish to serve as an extra side at a large family gathering…but not sure if it’ll be ok if it sits for awhile – i know most orzos should be served right away – but maybe the sour cream makes it a little more forgiving?
Leftovers reheat beautifully. You might need to sprinkle with a little water or chicken broth to moisten it a bit just before reheating but I’ve done it and it was very good.
What a great side dish…I love orzo and mushrooms. Would be perfect with steak!!
This looks so delicious, Val! What an awesome side dish. I love your recipe!
Ooooh I love this! I’d make it sans mushrooms but either way just yummmmy