Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Inspired Orzo
Updated Nov 02, 2025
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Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Orzo
This orzo is inspired by grilled cheese & tomato soup. The orzo simmers in tomato sauce and is topped with seasoned brown butter bread crumbs and crumbled crispy cheddar crisps.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon Unsalted Butter, divided
- 1/4 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Yellow Onion, chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 cup Orzo Pasta, dry
- 14 oz Tomato Sauce, 1 can
- 1 cup Chicken Broth, add more if needed
- 1/4 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 3/4 cup Cheddar Cheese, freshly grated
- 1/4 cup Heavy Cream, optional for creamier orzo
- Fresh Basil, optional to serve
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan heat 1 tbsp butter over medium low heat. Swirl continuously for several minutes until butter browns and has a nutty aroma. Add panko and combine with the butter. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often, until golden. Pour into a bowl and stir in garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside to serve.
- Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel. Heat the same pan over medium heat and add the remaining 2 tbsp of butter. Add yellow onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute. Add uncooked orzo and combine with the other ingredients. Toast for another minute.
- Pour in tomato sauce and chicken broth and stir to combine. Add salt, pepper, sugar, and dried basil and combine. Bring to a boil then turn heat do medium low and simmer. Stir occasionally so the orzo doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan until most of the broth is absorbed and the orzo is cooked through. About 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make piles of cheddar cheese on a parchment linked/silicone mat baking sheet an inch or two apart. Bake at 400 degrees in an traditional oven or 375 degrees in a convection oven/air fryer for about 5-10 minutes until crispy. Remove and set aside for a few minutes.
- Once the orzo is cooked through, turn off heat. Optionally stir in heavy cream.
- Serve orzo with brown butter breadcrumbs spooned on top. Crumble on some of the cheddar crisps. Top with fresh basil.
Video
@carolbeecooks February Orzo Series: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Orzo 🍅 #orzo #orzotok #orzotiktok #grilledcheese #tomatosoup
♬ Borrowed Love – Metro Boomin
Nutrition
Calories: 548kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 972mg, Potassium: 680mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 1501IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 277mg, Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!
Such a great idea and well executed recipe. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is such a nostalgic flavor for me and this hit it! Will be making again!
Made this last night and really enjoyed it! My partner and I said it should go in the recipe rotation from now on. I omitted the sugar because I didn’t think it was necessary, and I also had to use quite a bit more chicken broth than the recipe called for, but it turned out great!
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe! So happy you have a new recipe for your rotation!