This recipe for my quick and easy Cheesy Shrimp and Orzo Skillet is the perfect ooey-gooey weeknight meal! It all cooks in one pan – even the pasta! You can even swap the shrimp out for chicken!
This post is sponsored by my friends at Tony Chachere’s, but all opinions expressed are my own – just as always. Thanks for supporting the brands that support my family and me.
Having an arsenal of quick and easy weeknight recipes is super important during the busy school year for us, but as things crank up for summer, I’m finding my need for those fast recipes that come together easily isn’t fading. With summer camp, football practice, and the like, it seems we’re just as busy in the summer as we are during the school year.
That’s why I love this super easy Cheesy Shrimp and Orzo Skillet. It takes just about 30 minutes to make from start to finish and it all cooks right in the same pan – even the orzo!Â
It’s also packed with flavor! I mean, who can say no to peppers, onions, and garlic? Right!? And I add in a healthy dose of Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning for a punch of flavor that kicks this dish up a notch!
With a little help from some heavy cream, the starch from the pasta and the chicken broth combine to create a rich sauce and then it gets topped with melty mozzarella cheese! This is one of those ooey-gooey comfort food dishes that really sticks to your ribs.
So what’s the deal with orzo? Well, orzo is a short rice-shaped pasta – yes, pasta – that has tons of uses. Orzo literally means barley in Italian and is called so because of the pasta’s similar shape to barley. But this pasta is rarely called orzo in Italy – or so I’m told. {Dreams of an Italian vacation where I can find out for myself…} Apparently us Americans call it orzo more frequently. Go figure.
Regardless, the pasta is super versatile and one that works perfectly in this recipe.
If you’re not a fan of shrimp or have an allergy, simply replace the shrimp with about 1 pound of diced chicken breast or sausage (or both) and cook through just as in the recipe (keeping in mind the chicken will take a bit longer to cook) and then continue with the recipe as written.
I’m convinced your family will love this skillet meal because it’s so delicious. And you’ll love it because it’s so easy and cleanup is a breeze!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 teaspoons Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning, divided
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
- 3 cups chicken or seafood broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups traditional orzo pasta, uncooked
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through – 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil in the pan. Set shrimp aside.Â
- Add the bell pepper and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent – about 5 minutes. Add more oil if necessary. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the undrained tomatoes, broth, heavy cream, and 1 teaspoon of creole seasoning. Bring to a boil then stir in the orzo. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender to your liking. Add additional creole seasoning if desired.Â
- Add the shrimp back to the top of the pasta and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Turn off the heat and cover. Keep covered until shrimp has heated through and the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.Â
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
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My family loves this recipe. Easy to follow with very few staple ingredients which makes it easy to make.
Glad to hear y’all have enjoyed it!
This was really good. My husband and I really enjoyed it. The only thing I would add more shrimp. Will definitely make again
Glad y’all enjoyed it!
Oh, my! Made this today with only a few adjustments because I can’t tolerate garlic. The spiciness and taste was amazing. Love the use of orzo! Thanks for another great recipe, Stacey.
You’re so welcome! So glad you enjoyed it, Phyllis!
Could I use Monterey Jack instead of Mozzarella?
Absolutely! Enjoy!
Oh my gosh U made this tonight and it was excellent! My whole family loved it. It also made a very large amount! Thank you for this recipe!
So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!
I am gluten and lactose sensitive Can I sub rice for orzo and eliminate the heavy cream and still do this dish justice?
I think it might work. You might need to adjust the liquid to rice ratio, though.