This Tomato and Basil Orzo with Ricotta is going to become your favorite orzo pasta recipe! Cooked all in one pan and ready in under 30 minutes, oh and it's delicious!
Easy Weeknight Vegetarian Main Dish or Side
I first made this easy orzo pasta recipe in 2008! Then as it is in the world of food blogging with the search for newer recipes, I didn't make it again!
I can't believe I have let all this time go by! This recipe is so easy and so simple and so delicious! Cooked all in one pot, with very little prep and ready in under 30 minutes! I call that a win, win, win.
The first two nights I served it as a side for some rotisserie chicken. There was still plenty left so we had it as the main dish for lunch.
It was perfect as a side dish and perfect as a vegetarian main dish.
Ingredients to Make this Easy Orzo Pasta Recipe:
Chicken Stock - I used my Instant Pot Homemade Chicken Stock (just look at that color!)
Orzo - I used organic.
Cherry Tomatoes - fresh from my garden!
Garlic.
Ricotta Cheese - I made my own, but any good store bought brand will work.
Butter - unsalted.
Basil - fresh basil. Mine is from my garden. If you buy one of those packs from the store and don't use it all, be sure and read about Easily Rooting Basil in Water!
How to Make Orzo with Tomatoes, Basil and Ricotta.
Heat butter in a deep skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and tomatoes and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the tomatoes start to soften.
Add the orzo pasta and the chicken stock and cook for about 15 minutes or until the orzo is cooked to your liking. Don't worry if not all of the chicken stock has been absorbed, it should almost have a risotto consistency.
Stir in the basil leaves and ricotta. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
That's it!! That's how easy it is to make this!
So Good!
This was completely delightful. It's sort of like a risotto, only with less work. The fresh basil and tomatoes sing together and the ricotta adds a creamy mildness to it all.
As I mentioned above, this makes a great side dish, but it also makes a great main dish! The first time you serve it, it is a little more like a risotto. After it refrigerates, it gets a little more firmer.
If you want to change this from a vegetarian main dish, you could easily add cooked chicken or add some shrimp when there is about 5 minutes left of cooking time.
More Easy Orzo Recipes:
Mediterranean Orzo Salad - One of our favorite salads with feta, cucumbers, Kalamata olives and tomatoes.
Seared Salmon with Orzo Pilaf - another easy dinner recipe!
Orzo Cucumber Salad with Mint - another vegetarian side dish or main!
For even more pasta recipes, be sure and follow my Pasta Recipes Board on Pinterest.
Orzo with Tomatoes, Basil and Ricotta
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups cherry tomatoes
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups orzo dry
- 1 cup basil leaves
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a deep skillet or frying pan over medium heat.
- When the butter has melted add the the garlic and tomatoes. Cook for about 2-3 minutes or the tomatoes have started to soften.
- Add the orzo and the chicken stock. Cook for about 15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked to your liking.
- Stir in the basil and ricotta. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.
Marjie says
Looks like my kind of side: colorful, sneaking in extra veggies, and delicious!
Pam Greer says
I think you would love it Marjie!
Vicky says
This looks so wonderfully creamy, almost like a risotto. I always keep some orzo on hand because you can use it so many ways.
Pam Greer says
It really is almost like a risotto!
Tatiana says
I have never seen such a recipe before. It looks so amazing and I have got to give a try to orzo. Thanks for sharing.
Pam Greer says
You'll have to let me know what you think!
Lauren Vavala | DeliciousLittleBites says
I love ricotta in pasta and the fresh tomatoes that add that burst of sweet! Great recipe!
Pam Greer says
Thanks, I'm glad you like it!
Traci says
So easy and so delicious with minimal planning needed! Thanks for another great recipe 🙂
Pam Greer says
You're welcome!! I hope you like it!
annika700 says
Made this today for our Father's Day barbeque. So delicious and easy! Everyone loved it! It's a keeper! Yum!
Anonymous says
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
The Food Hunter says
This looks great. I can't wait to try it.
Tomilyn says
I just made this and it was good, though I think served more than four! I've never used orzo before but this was a treat and I will again. I ended up using dried basil instead of fresh and that worked out fine as well.
Sweet and Savory says
I got so caught up reading about magazines in the comments, I forgot what the recipe was.
I am back to reality. I love the combination of tomato, basil and ricotta. I wonder if I would use pasta instead of orzo. Just a thought.
the ungourmet says
This is definitely delightful! It caught my attention immediately! I love all of these amazing flavors together!
I've not heard of this magazine. I will have to look it up!
The Food Hunter says
This looks really good. I love orzo
Chef Fresco says
This looks so fresh and delicious! Nice pics too!
Brentwood Kitchen Shopper says
The ingredients and your picture make my mouth water. Looks light and fresh.
Pam says
Must wipe drool off of keyboard. This looks and sounds FANTASTIC.
Les says
"Almost like risotto, but less work." I'm sold!! I love risotto, but orzo is quite yummy, too. Especially with tomatoes. Gorgeous photo!
Kalyn says
Oh yum! You're on a roll with the drool-inducing recipes lately!
Never even seen a Donna Hay magazine but now I'm very curious.
Jeff says
I never thought I would say this but starting to run out of ideas for tomatoes. What started off as going to be a bad tomato season has turned into colander full of tomatoes getting shoveled in daily.
Nicely done and love the flavors!
Debinhawaii says
I get Donna Hay too--it is the ultimate in food porn, I love looking at them. This recipe looks great, I'll have to tab it to make.
livinginalocalzone says
All those tomatoes and basil... so fresh and summery. This time of year, one-pot meals are often the fastest and easiest way to go. And I love the way you work around the flip of seasons by using another issue.
lydiatheperfectpantry says
I don't see Donna Hay's magazine often, but when I find it at the local bookstore, I grab it. I love recipes like this one.
Joan's Good Life says
Ooooo, yummy! I may have to give this one a try since I have a BOAT LOAD of tomatoes!
Thanks for always having yummy things for us to try out!
Anh says
I like DH's mag as well. i actualy came around to her general store last weekend. Quite nice!
This recipe is lovely, and I am sure it's tasty!
La Table De Nana says
This looks so FRESH!!!!I love orzo..and basil and tomatoes.. we had puttanesca tonight:) It looks a bit the same..from far:)Quite far.. same colors:)
I just GLANCED at the Monster Of Florence to the right!
Last November..one of our stays was in Assisi..just outside of Assisi..At a Villa.. we were the only guests.. even the owners were not there.. in an olive grove..I read your book on the way home on the plane..Grateful I had not read it on the way there! Remember?:)
Going to check your list:)
Natashya says
That looks delish! I wish we had a store that sold DH here - it is an even larger fortune to get her in Canada. I get all the rest of the mags combined for less than hers is here. (Tired of me complaining about how expensive things are in Canada yet? 😉
Mari at Once Upon a Plate says
You're killin' me Pam ~ everything you make... I WANT! *grin*
Oh how I love Donna Hay's books (and the occasional mag if I can get my hands on it.) I can't think of a recipe of hers that I've ever been disappointed with ~ and this one looks like no exception. Thanks for showing us the way; I must make this soon. xo
5 Star Foodie says
A delightful summer dish! Love all the delicious flavors here!
Ty'sMommy says
I do love orzo. It is a terrific and very versatile pasta.
I have gotten bored with all of my cookign magazines, so I have let all the subscriptions lapse and I'm a few issues away of not getting any more at all. Then I found out that my niece's school fundraiser this year is magazine subscription sales. Well HEY, you know, I have to suppport my niece....what a perfect excuse to get a new magazine!
Casey says
This looks perfect for a summer meal. I bet it would be good with quinoa (protein rich) instead of orzo, making it a bit more heart-healthy!
Katherine Aucoin says
What a wonderful summer dish. The basil really freshens this meal.
Patricia Scarpin says
Pam, you know how much I love Donna's recipes and that is a "luxury" I gladly give myself - the magazine subscription is really expensive (our currency here is about half the dollar amount), but I don't care - I'll even stop myself from buying other stuff - like shoes - to have my DH collection complete. 😀
As for the seasons, they mag works perfectly for me, since we're in the winter here. This dish would go really well, though. 😀
Marjie says
Ah, our weekly spatchcocking reminder! this looks good. Usually I just add orzo to rice for a rice-a-roni sort of thing.
maybelle's mom says
Oh, I really want the Donna Hay subscription. Though, I love new shoes so much, J--said I needed to make a choice. ALas, my vanity is much stronger.
Joanne says
I love all of the summer flavors in this! Kind of like a caprese pasta but with ricotta instead of mozzarella...delicious.
I allow myself to buy the Rachael Ray magazine every once in a while but every time I go grocery shopping I stare with lust at Bon Appetit, Gourmet, and Food and Wine. It's a problem. One of these days I'm going to break.
Grace says
i thought i spied some chicken in there--great addition, and all-around lovely soup. 🙂
Paula says
MMmmm ... I would eat this year round! I'm afraid to look at the Donna Hay magazine for fear that my cookbook addiction would cross over to magazines as well. I'll depend upon you for her recipes! 🙂
Fearless Kitchen says
This looks delicious. I've seen a lot of bloggers who are fans of that magazine, but I've never seen it at any of the bookstores around here. The recipes people have done - like this one - from it seem pretty exciting, though.
Alisa - Frugal Foodie says
I think you made your case, and if you didn't that recipe did!
I haven't used orzo but like the idea; excellent!