One Pot Broccoli Cheddar Orzo
Updated Dec 04, 2025
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Calling all fans of broccoli cheddar soup! This one pot orzo dish is a cross between broccoli cheddar soup and risotto. It can easily be made vegetarian by substituting the chicken broth for vegetable broth. I chose to immersion blend my vegetables before adding the orzo so the pieces were a little smaller, but this is totally up to you! Alternatively, cut the vegetables much smaller before adding them to the pot or transfer the whole mixture over to a blender before adding the orzo.
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One Pot Broccoli Cheddar Orzo
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon Unsalted Butter
- 1 container Mirepoix (Onion, Celery, Carrot), I used 1 container of Trader Joe's Mirepoix – or finely dice 1/2 yellow onion, 3 carrots, and 3 stalks of celery
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 12 oz Broccoli , chopped
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper, to taste
- 2.5 cups Chicken Broth, divided
- 1 cup Orzo Pasta, dry
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne, add less based on spice preference
- 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1/2 cup Half and Half , can substitute milk or heavy cream
- 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, freshly grated, more to serve
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large wide sauté pan or Dutch oven. Add onion, carrots, and celery and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute. Add broccoli, season to taste with salt & pepper, and cook for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened.
- Pour in 2 cups of chicken broth. You can immersion blend in the pan or transfer to a blender at this point for a smoother consistency. Add orzo and mix well to combine. Add cayenne, smoked paprika, dry mustard, nutmeg, and salt & pepper to taste.
- Bring to a boil then turn heat down to medium low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed and orzo is cooked through. I had to add another .5 cups of chicken broth throughout the process.
- Once the orzo is cooked through, turn heat to low. Pour in half and half and mix to combine. Stir in freshly grated cheddar cheese until melted and well combined. Serve immediately with additional cheese.
Video
@carolbeecooks February Orzo Series: One Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup Inspired Orzo 🥦 #orzo #orzotiktok #orzotok #broccolicheddar #onepotmeals
♬ Drugs N Hella Melodies (feat. Kali Uchis) – Don Toliver
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Classic flavor meets orzo. Can’t miss there! Great recipe