Looking for a quick and tasty dinner idea? Look no further than this One Pan Pesto Caprese Orzo recipe! With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious and satisfying meal on the table in no time.
Recipe Details
This dish is not only delicious, but it’s also easy to make. You can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes, making it perfect for those busy weeknights when you don’t have a lot of time to cook.
But what makes this recipe really special is its versatility. You can easily customize it to your own tastes and preferences. For example, you can add some grilled chicken or shrimp for some extra protein. You can also add some spinach or other vegetables to make it even more nutritious.
This recipe is also great for meal prep. You can easily make a big batch and divide it into individual portions for easy grab-and-go lunches or dinners throughout the week. Just reheat and enjoy!
One Pan Pesto Caprese Orzo Ingredients
- 2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1.5 cups Orzo – add your orzo uncooked – super easy! The orzo will toast and then cook in the chicken broth, similar to risotto.
- 3 cups Chicken Broth – I often use water and some Low-Sodium Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base. I use chicken broth in many of my recipes and a jar still lasts for months. I have found it’s much more convenient to keep a jar of it on hand rather than buying cans or cartons of chicken broth all of the time.
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 10 oz Cherry Tomatoes – you can also use grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup Fresh Basil
- 3/4 cup Basil Pesto – I used 1 jar of Creamy Genovese Barilla Pesto but I love the Costco jarred pesto or making my own homemade pesto as well
- 4 oz Fresh Mozzarella – I used mozzarella balls and sliced in half, but you could also cut up a bigger ball of fresh mozzarella
One Pan Pesto Caprese Orzo Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large high-rimmed pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Pour in the uncooked orzo, stir, and toast for another minute.
Pour in the broth, season with black pepper and any additional seasonings as desired. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to simmer. Stir occasionally and cook for about 10-15 minutes until the orzo is cooked. Add additional broth as needed if it absorbs before the orzo is finished cooking.
Once the orzo is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed, add the sliced cherry tomatoes and chiffonade fresh basil. Stir to combine.
Mix in the basil pesto until well combined. Add the sliced fresh mozzarella balls. Stir to combine.
Serve immediately with additional basil as desired.
Leave a review!
This One Pan Pesto Caprese Orzo recipe is a delicious, easy, and healthy dinner option that’s perfect for busy weeknights. With its versatile ingredients, it can be customized to your own tastes and preferences. Plus, it’s great for meal prep, making it a perfect option for those who are looking to save time and eat healthy. Give it a try and see for yourself how delicious and satisfying it can be!
If you try this One Pan Pesto Caprese Orzo recipe a try, feel free to rate/leave a review. You can also tag me on Instagram or TikTok!
If you enjoyed this recipe, check out these recipes as well:
One Pan Pesto Caprese Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 1.5 cups Orzo uncooked
- 3 cups Chicken Broth chicken or vegetable; more as needed
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 10 oz Cherry Tomatoes sliced in half
- 1/2 cup Fresh Basil chiffonade; more to serve
- 3/4 cup Basil Pesto I used 1 jar of Creamy Genovese Barilla Pesto; substitute with homemade or the pesto of choice
- 4 oz Fresh Mozzarella I used balls and sliced in half
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large high-rimmed pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Pour in the uncooked orzo, stir, and toast for another minute.
- Pour in the broth, season with black pepper and any additional seasonings as desired. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to simmer. Stir occasionally and cook for about 10-15 minutes until the orzo is cooked. Add additional broth as needed if it absorbs before the orzo is finished cooking.
- Once the orzo is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed, add the sliced cherry tomatoes and chiffonade fresh basil. Stir to combine. Mix in the basil pesto until well combined. Add the sliced fresh mozzarella balls. Stir to combine.
- Serve immediately with additional basil as desired.
Video
@carolbeecooks #ad A super easy and flavorful One Pan Pesto Caprese Orzo using Barilla’s Creamy Genovese Pesto Sauce @barilla #pestorecipeideas #barillaUS #pesto
♬ Lo-fi hip hop – NAO-K