One-Pan Cheesy Broccoli-Cheddar Orzo

This quick and easy orzo recipe is a 30-minute dinner that’s low on dishes and full of gooey, melted cheese flavor. It’s like an adult twist on mac and cheese that the entire family will love. Read on for some tips on how to make it:

The broccoli:
Broccoli adds color, crunch, and extra veggies to this hearty one-pan dinner. You can use both the stems and the florets—just be sure to peel, then cut the stems into 1/4"-thick pieces to ensure they cook through. If you’re not a fan of broccoli, cauliflower or green beans will also work.

The cheese sauce:
This take on mac and cheese is simple and easy. There’s no béchamel or even a roux. All you need is your favorite sharp cheddar cheese and some milk. The cheese coats the orzo and melts into a gooey, rich sauce. Orange cheddar will give you the classic mac and cheese look, but white will also work.

The pasta:
Orzo is quick-cooking and has the soft, creamy texture of risotto. In this recipe, the pasta gets packed with extra flavor from cooking in chicken broth. You can use homemade or store-bought broth, and if you want to keep the dish vegetarian, vegetable broth will work well.

Add-ins:
Feel free to enhance this recipe with add-ins. For protein, you could fold in cooked sausage or chopped rotisserie chicken at the end. Or add heat with cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes.

If you make this, be sure to let us know what you think with a rating and review below!