DELICIOUS CREAMY AND CHEESY ORZO PASTA

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: cheddar cheese

Cheddar is often less expensive and melts well.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Fill a large pot with water and add a little salt. Bring to a boil.

Add 1 pound of orzo pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions minus one minute.

Use a wooden spoon to prevent the pot from boiling over.

While the pasta cooks, prepare the cream sauce by heating 2 cups of heavy whipping cream in a saucepan, adding 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and seasoning with salt and pepper.

Mix the cream sauce and heat until hot but not boiling.

Add 1 cup of parmesan cheese to the cream sauce and mix until melted, about one minute.

Drain the orzo pasta using a fine strainer to prevent it from falling through the holes.

Return the drained orzo to the pot and fluff it up to prevent clumping.

Combine the orzo with the cream sauce, mixing well to coat all the pasta.

Grease a 9x13 pan and pour the pasta mixture into it.

Sprinkle 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the top.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until the top is browned.

If the cheese does not brown, turn on the broiler and broil for about 30 seconds to achieve a golden color.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens