Garlic Butter Orzo with Asparagus
Creamy, garlicky orzo tossed with tender asparagus tips and Parmesan—ready in just 20 minutes! This elegant side dish is buttery, cheesy, and packed with fresh flavors. Perfect with grilled chicken or fish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American (often considered a comfort food or side dish)
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
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1 cup dry orzo
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1 lb fresh asparagus, tips only (cut 2–3 inches from the top)
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4 tbsp butter
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3 garlic cloves, minced
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¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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2 tbsp milk (or cream for richness)
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1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
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Salt & black pepper, to taste
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Shredded Parmesan, for garnish
Instructions
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Cook Orzo: Boil according to package instructions.
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Blanch Asparagus: Add asparagus tips to the orzo pot during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain.
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Sauté Garlic: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; cook for 30 seconds until fragrant (don’t brown!).
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Combine: Toss in orzo, asparagus, Parmesan, milk, parsley, salt, and pepper. Heat through for about 1 minute.
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Serve: Garnish with extra Parmesan.
Notes
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For a richer flavor, substitute the milk with heavy cream.
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This dish pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken, fish, or even roasted vegetables.
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If you prefer a dairy-free version, you can use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 30mg