One Pan Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Orzo Bake

Jessica Kostka — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 02:34:08 +0000

If you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner, this creamy spinach artichoke orzo bake is the recipe for you!

With just 5 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking time, this orzo pasta bake is perfect for busy weeknights.

It’s a favourite vegetarian one pot meal for the whole family.

Once the weather gets chilly and the nights get darker, I just want something creamy, comforting and simple to make during the week. This one pan pasta checks all those boxes for me! This is a dreamy combination of cheese, spinach and artichoke hearts.

Think of this like a spinach artichoke dip but as a main meal! If you’re looking for more simple and delicious weeknight meals then you have to check out my baked gnocchi recipe.

Why you’ll love this spinach artichoke orzo

This spinach artichoke orzo is made in just 1 pan, so no need to worry about a pile of dirty dishes once you’ve finished cooking.
The dish is seasoned with dried herbs like oregano and basil, a pinch of red chili flakes for a kick, and a little bit of sharp lemon zest. All of these flavors giving you a delicious and savory dinner!
It takes about 35 minutes in total for this dish, but the majority of that time is waiting for the orzo to cook in the oven.
Using cream cheese, mozzarella and parmesan makes this artichoke orzo bake so indulgent and creamy without the use of heavy cream or sour cream.

Ingredients Needed to make this creamy orzo

Dry Orzo Pasta: while this small pasta looks like risotto rice, this is actually a short pasta shape! It cooks just like regular pasta.

Spinach: I’m using fresh spinach here. Want more spinach? Feel free to add an extra cup at a time.

Cheese: There is a combination of cream cheese, mozzarella and shredded parmesan. The cream cheese is mixed in with the other ingredients before the orzo bake goes in the oven. The parmesan and mozzarella is then sprinkled on top towards the end of cooking for a deliciously melty topping.

Lemon: to bright the flavours we use lemon zest (instead of lemon juice)

Seasonings: I use a combination of seasonings to really amp up the flavors like garlic cloves, dried oregano, dried basil, kosher salt and red pepper flakes.

Broth: feel free to use vegetable or chicken broth.

Step by Step Process to make this baked orzo

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425F.

Step 2: Place the dry orzo, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped artichoke hearts, dried oregano, dried basil, lemon zest, salt, chili flakes, cream cheese and broth in a medium-large baking dish. Stir everything together and cover the top of the dish with foil.

Step 3: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Taste and give it a stir. This depends on the size of your dish, but most of the liquid will have absorbed and the orzo will be almost cooked. If not, you may need another 15-20 minutes.

Step 4: Once the broth is almost fully absorbed, take the dish out of the oven and turn the oven to a low broil.

Step 5: Remove the foil from the dish and stir in the shredded parmesan cheese and spinach. Top with the shredded mozzarella and place the dish bake in the oven, uncovered. Broil on low for 2-4 minutes or until the mozzarella cheese is bubbly and starts to turn golden brown.

Step 6: Season with ground black pepper and enjoy!

Expert Tips to make this spinach artichoke pasta bake

The cooking time totally depends on the size of your baking dish and your oven so please keep that in mind! It might take up to 30-40 minutes depending on the size of the dish you use.
Need this to be dairy free? Make sure to use dairy-free cream cheese, parmesan and mozzarella!
If you want to boost up the protein in this dish you can stir in 1-2 cups of shredded cooked chicken breasts when you stir in the spinach.
Make sure you taste the dish after the first 15-20 minutes, that way you can adjust the seasonings and cook time.

FAQ

What goes well with this spinach and artichoke orzo bake?
While I love this dish on it’s own as a complete meal, you can also serve it with an easy green salad if you want some more greens, or add some shredded chicken to the dish for more protein!

Is orzo gluten-free?
While orzo might look like rice, it is pasta so it isn’t gluten-free. If you need this recipe to be gluten-free then make sure to use gluten-free orzo!

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

More one pot pasta dinners to love from the blog:

One Pan Baked Gnocchi with Boursin Cheese & Tomatoes

Easy One Pot Pasta Primavera (Quick 30 minute meal!)

One Pot Spicy Sausage Pasta with Tomato Sauce

Easy One Pot Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta Recipe