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One Pot Shrimp & Grits Orzo

By Carolyn Stilwell

4.50 from 8 votes

Updated Jul 14, 2025, Published on Feb 09, 2022

This One Pot Shrimp & Grits inspired orzo is part of the February Orzo Series I'm doing on TikTok. This one was SO good. Crispy bacon, flavorful shrimp coated in old bay, and creamy orzo loaded with sharp cheddar cheese...what could be better?! And everything cooks in one pot so there are less dishes to clean up. I hope you enjoy this recipe and please feel free to rate/comment if you try it out!

Recipe Ingredients

• 4 strips Bacon I used Applegate Hickory Smoked Bacon
• 8 oz Shrimp large uncooked, I used Argentinian Red Shrimp from Trader Joe's
• 1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning divided; more or less to taste
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 1/4 cup White Wine dry
• 1 Shallot minced
• 3 cloves Garlic minced
• 1 cup Orzo uncooked
• 1 cup Chicken Broth
• 1 cup Whole Milk
• 1/2 Lemon juice
• 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese freshly grated
• Fresh Parsley chopped; to serve
• Green Onion sliced; to serve
• Hot Sauce to serve

Recipe Instructions

• Heat large wide skillet or sauté pan over over medium-low heat. Fry bacon until crispy, flipping while cooking. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and break into small pieces once cooled.
• Coat shrimp in old bay seasoning until thoroughly coated, about 1-2 tsp. Cook over medium in the same pan using the leftover bacon grease. Cook 2-3 minutes a side and remove from the pan.
• Drain bacon grease. Add butter to the same pan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook 3 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and orzo and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring often. Pour in white wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
• Pour in chicken broth, milk, and remaining old bay seasoning. Let it come to a boil then turn down to medium low and simmer until the orzo is cooked through, about 10-15 minutes. Stir often to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• Once the orzo is cooked, remove from heat and add lemon juice and cheddar cheese. Mix until the cheese is melted and well combined. Serve immediately with shrimp, bacon pieces, parsley, green onion, and hot sauce.

Did you try this Shrimp & Grits Orzo? Leave a Review!

You really can't go wrong with shrimp & grits, but combining those flavors with pasta takes everything to another level! This dish is ultra-comforting, ultra-savory, and ultra-delicious.

If you try this recipe, feel free to rate/leave a review. You can also tag me on Instagram or TikTok!

4.50 from 8 votes

One Pot Shrimp & Grits Style Orzo

By: Carolyn Stilwell

If you like shrimp and grits then you will LOVE this shrimp and grits inspired orzo! The orzo is cooked in chicken broth and whole milk and loaded with sharp cheddar cheese. It's all topped off with shrimp, crispy bacon, herbs, and hot sauce for that familiar shrimp and grits flavor.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 50 minutes mins

Servings: 3

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Equipment

• Sauté Pan This Made In Sauté Pan is my favorite for all of my orzo recipes
• Box Grater
• Chef Knife

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 4 strips Bacon, I used Applegate Hickory Smoked Bacon
• ▢ 8 oz Shrimp, large uncooked, I used Argentinian Red Shrimp from Trader Joe's
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning, divided; more or less to taste
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Butter
• ▢ 1/4 cup White Wine, dry
• ▢ 1 Shallot, minced
• ▢ 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• ▢ 1 cup Orzo Pasta, uncooked
• ▢ 1 cup Chicken Broth
• ▢ 1 cup Whole Milk
• ▢ 1/2 Lemon, juice
• ▢ 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, freshly grated
• ▢ Fresh Parsley, chopped; to serve
• ▢ Green Onion, sliced; to serve
• ▢ Hot Sauce, to serve

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Instructions 

• Heat large wide skillet or sauté pan over over medium-low heat. Fry bacon until crispy, flipping while cooking. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and break into small pieces once cooled.
• Coat shrimp in old bay seasoning until thoroughly coated, about 1-2 tsp. Cook over medium in the same pan using the leftover bacon grease. Cook 2-3 minutes a side and remove from the pan.
• Drain bacon grease. Add butter to the same pan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook 3 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and orzo and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring often. Pour in white wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
• Pour in chicken broth, milk, and remaining old bay seasoning. Let it come to a boil then turn down to medium low and simmer until the orzo is cooked through, about 10-15 minutes. Stir often to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• Once the orzo is cooked, remove from heat and add lemon juice and cheddar cheese. Mix until the cheese is melted and well combined. Serve immediately with shrimp, bacon pieces, parsley, green onion, and hot sauce.

Video

@carolbeecooks

Februrary Orzo Series: One Pot Shrimp & Grits Style Orzo 🍤 #orzotiktok #orzotok #orzo #shrimpandgrits #onepot #onepotmeals

♬ Self Care - Mac Miller

Nutrition

Calories: 690kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 39g, Fat: 36g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 209mg, Sodium: 651mg, Potassium: 678mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 793IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 460mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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