Easy One Pot Lemon Orzo Shrimp (30 minute recipe!)
When you need a quick and delicious dinner make this one pot lemon orzo shrimp!
Easily make in just one pot, you get an easy dinner with tons of flavour.
Grab a handful of simple ingredients and then get dinner on the table in about 30 minutes!
I love one-pot meals like this pasta and this pasta for easy weeknight dinners.
Lemon, pesto and shrimp go wonderfully together, packing lots of flavour in a light pasta dish. You can make this recipe really any time of year!
Why you’ll love this easy one pot orzo shrimp dinner
- All you need is one large skillet or pot (a dutch oven works well) to make this recipe.
- Quick-cooking orzo makes this recipe come together super fast!
- Serve with a side of green beans or a quick side salad for a full meal.
- Delicious for a weeknight dinner OR to serve to guests at a dinner party!
Ingredients needed to make this 30 minute meal
Olive oil: olive oil is perfect to saute the shrimp in
Shrimp: 1 lb or 450g of defrosted and peeled shrimp is the protein in this one pot orzo
Onion: diced yellow onion (sweet onion) is best
Seasonings: minced garlic, kosher salt, dried oregano and ground black pepper are all the seasonings you need for this recipe
Orzo: small orzo pasta cooks quickly which keeps the cook time of this orzo skillet reasonable for a weeknight dinner
Lemon: lemon zest brings a bright flavour to this dish
Broth: you’ll need 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth for this orzo recipe
Pesto: use your favourite store-bought or homemade pesto sauce to bring an extra punch of flavour to this recipe
Garnishes: fresh basil leaves, an extra squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of red pepper flakes are the best garnishes for this orzo pasta
How to make this one pot orzo dinner
Step 1: Add 3 tbsp olive oil to a large high-sided skillet or frying pan and turn to medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the shrimp and 1 tsp salt. Cook 3-6 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through / pink. Transfer the shrimp to a plate or bowl and set aside.
Step 2: Keep the pan on medium heat and add the diced onion, cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Add in the minced fresh garlic, ½ tsp salt, dried oregano and ground pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 4: Stir in the the orzo and lemon zest until well combined with ingredients in the pan.
Step 5: Stir in the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, keep at a simmer over medium-low heat until most of the liquid is absorbed and the orzo is al dente, about 10-12 minutes, stir occasionally to make sure the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. If you have a lid for the skillet, keep it on the pan most of the way while the orzo cooks, removing the lid to stir.
Step 6: Once the orzo is cooked, add the shrimp back to the pan and ¼ cup pesto, stirring to combine and cook on low for another 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with more pesto if desired.
Step 7: Remove from the heat and serve the finished dish immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves, squeeze of lemon juice and/or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Expert tips to make this one pot lemon shrimp orzo
- Get ahead of the game by defrosting the frozen shrimp for this recipe in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, if you forget to take the shrimp out the night before you can submerge the bag of shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 20-30 minutes or until the shrimp are defrosted. Use a plate, bowl or lid on the shrimp bag in the bowl to help hold the bag down.
- Add more freshness to this dish by topping with halved cherry tomatoes just before serving.
Common questions
What kind of shrimp should I use?
I prefer to buy frozen as it’s flash frozen quite soon after being caught so it’s generally good quality for a good price. Look for deveined and peeled uncooked shrimp, not cooked shrimp.
How can I reheat this recipe?
Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds until desired temperature is reached. Alternatively, you can reheat in a pan on medium heat and add a little bit of water or broth while reheating to help soften the orzo.
Storage
Store leftover shrimp orzo in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. See instructions for reheating above.
More one-pot dinners to love from the blog
Easy One Pot Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta Recipe
One Pan Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Orzo Bake
Easy One Pan Creamy Lemon & Garlic Chicken Gnocchi
Easy One Pot Lemon Orzo Shrimp (30 minute recipe!)
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb (450g) defrosted shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 + 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
- zest of one lemon
- 3 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1/4-1/2 cup pesto
- garnishes: fresh basil leaves, squeeze of lemon juice and/or a pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pot.
- Add in the garlic and onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes until they start to brown.
- Add in your frozen peas, salt and pepper and stir occasionally, for about 1 minute.
- Next, pour in the vegetable broth and turn the heat up to high for about 5 minutes until it comes to a boil.
- Remove the pot from the oven and let sit 5-10 minutes to cool slightly.
- Then, blend the soup in the pot using an immersion blender or in batches using a stand blender.
- Once the soup is blended, heat on medium-low in the pot for about 5 minutes, taste and add additional salt and pepper to your liking.
- Serve with a drizzle of greek yogurt, your favourite crackers or grilled cheese!
Notes
- Chicken tacos: serve chicken with grilled tortillas, avocados, salsa, fresh cilantro, cabbage coleslaw mix and cilantro.
- Chicken bowls: serve with rice, pickled onions and cilantro.
- Serve with grilled veggies and your favourite grain.
- Chicken burrito bowls: serve with brown rice, black beans, chopped romaine lettuce, corn, avocado and shredded cheese.
- Make these barbecue chicken nachos with this chili lime chicken for an extra boost of flavour!
This recipe was originally created for the Italian Centre Shop.
