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Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Orzo

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A quick and easy one-pan dinner featuring tender shrimp, creamy garlicky sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and orzo pasta, ready in about 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
  • 1 cup orzo pasta (about 170g)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed preferred)
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken broth (600 ml), low-sodium preferred
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (120 ml)
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: peel and devein shrimp if needed, mince garlic, chop sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, and grate Parmesan cheese.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Season shrimp lightly with salt and pepper and cook until pink and opaque, about 2 minutes per side. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  3. Lower heat to medium and add remaining olive oil. Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, stirring until fragrant without browning the garlic.
  4. Add orzo to the skillet and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring to coat in oil and garlic.
  5. Pour in chicken broth, stir, and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes until orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
  6. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes if using. Add chopped spinach and cooked shrimp back to the pan. Stir gently until spinach wilts and sauce thickens slightly.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Toast orzo before adding liquid to enhance flavor and prevent mushiness. Use fresh grated Parmesan for best melting and flavor. Stir gently when adding cream to prevent sauce from breaking. Adjust liquid if sauce is too thick by adding broth or cream. For leftovers, reheat gently with broth to loosen sauce; avoid microwaving straight from cold.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy Tuscan shrimp orzo, one-pan dinner, quick shrimp recipe, easy weeknight meal, garlic shrimp pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Parmesan sauce

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/creamy-tuscan-shrimp-orzo-recipe-quick-easy-one-pan-dinner-in-20-minutes/