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Mini Cheeseball Bites

How to Make A quick Mini Cheeseball Bites – Easy & Delicious

This Garlic Butter Shrimp Orzo is a quick, flavorful, and satisfying one-pan meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights! 🍤✨ Juicy shrimp are sautéed in a garlic butter sauce and tossed with tender orzo, fresh herbs, and parmesan for a restaurant-quality dish in under 30 minutes. Serve with a side of salad or garlic bread for a complete meal!

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the Shrimp:

  • 1 lb large shrimp (peeled & deveined)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the Orzo:

  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
  • ½ cup baby spinach (chopped)
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
  • ½ tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest

 

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Orzo

  1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add orzo and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly golden.
  3. Pour in chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.

Step 2: Cook the Shrimp

  1. In another pan (or in the same skillet after removing orzo), melt butter over medium-high heat.
  2. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add shrimp, season with salt, pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes, and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
  4. Stir in lemon juice and remove from heat.

Step 3: Combine & Serve

  1. Add cooked shrimp to the orzo. Stir in cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, Parmesan, lemon zest, and Italian seasoning.
  2. Toss everything together until well combined and spinach is wilted.
  3. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

 

Notes

  • Substitute orzo with quinoa or rice for a gluten-free version.
  • Swap chicken broth for seafood broth to enhance the shrimp flavor.
  • Add extra veggies like zucchini or bell peppers for more texture.
  • For a creamier texture, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of ricotta.

 

  • Author: Khadija
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: One-Pan, Sauté
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean, Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 plate (¼ of recipe)
  • Calories: 430 kcal
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 750mg
  • Fat: 15g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 32g
  • Cholesterol: 190mg