This One Pan Sun-Dried Tomato and Boursin Cheese Orzo is creamy, flavorful, and made entirely in one pan. Garlic & Herb Boursin melts into toasted orzo with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and lemon for an easy weeknight dinner.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: One Pot, Orzo, Pasta, Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomato
Cook the aromatics: Heat the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
Toast the orzo: Stir in the uncooked orzo and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring often, until lightly toasted.
Simmer: Add the sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. If needed, add more broth or water until the orzo is tender.
Finish the orzo: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the juice of half a lemon, spinach, and Boursin cheese until the spinach is wilted and the cheese has completely melted into a creamy sauce.
Garnish and serve: Taste and season with additional salt, black pepper, and more lemon juice if desired. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley.
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Notes
Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes: I recommend using oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for the best flavor. If using julienned sun-dried tomatoes, they can go straight into the pan. If using whole sun-dried tomatoes, give them a rough chop first. Olive oil works if you don't have the oil from the jar.
Vegetarian option: Substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth to make this recipe vegetarian.
Adjust the consistency: Add more chicken broth or water as needed if the orzo absorbs the liquid before it's fully tender. The finished orzo should be creamy, not dry.
Boursin cheese: Garlic & Herb is my favorite, but Shallot & Chive or another Boursin flavor would also be delicious.