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Overhead view of creamy broccoli cheddar orzo in a skillet.
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4.91 from 11 votes

Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Recipe

Creamy, cheesy, and packed with broccoli, this one pot Broccoli Cheddar Orzo is a quick and cozy weeknight favorite that comes together in under 30 minutes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time28 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Total Cost: $7.48 recipe / $1.49 serving
Servings: 5 servings (1 cup each)
Calories: 384kcal
Author: Marsha McDougal

Equipment

  • Large Deep Skillet

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chopped broccoli florets* $2.74
  • 1 small onion, diced $0.47
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced $0.08
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil $0.22
  • 1 Tbsp butter $0.12
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta $1.49
  • 2 cups chicken broth** $0.26
  • ½ cup heavy cream, room temperature $0.59
  • ½ tsp salt $0.02
  • ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper $0.04
  • ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper $0.03
  • 1 ¼ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese $1.42

Instructions

  • Chop the broccoli florets into small pieces, dice the onion, and mince the garlic cloves.
  • Heat a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and butter. Once the skillet is hot and the butter is melted, add the diced onion. Sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes until it is translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté an additional 30 seconds.
  • Add in the orzo pasta. Stir and cook the orzo with the onion for 1 minute.
  • Now pour in the chicken broth and room temperature heavy cream, along with the seasoning (salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper). Stir everything together well. Bring the skillet up to a light boil. As soon as it starts to boil reduce the heat to medium low and let the orzo simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • After 5 minutes add the chopped broccoli to the skillet and stir to combine with the orzo. Let the broccoli and orzo continue to cook for another 5-6 minutes until the orzo is tender.
  • Once the orzo is tender, stir in the shredded cheese. Turn off the heat. The cheese will continue to melt with the residual heat from the broccoli and orzo. Serve hot and enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*I prefer the texture of fresh broccoli in this recipe. Frozen and thawed broccoli can work in a pinch, but fresh gives the best bite and flavor.
**We almost exclusively use Better Than Bouillon to make broth here at Budget Bytes! It adds great flavor and is super convenient to keep on hand.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 24g | Sodium: 811mg | Fiber: 3g