Creamy orzo with veggies is the perfect comforting dairy free and gluten free meal! So tasty in the winter weather!
I have two friends that just had babies (yay!) and I decided to make a gigantic pot of chili to take some meals to them, and of course I made it kind of late at night, so now here I am, waiting for it to cool before I can head to bed. But it’s fine, because the boys went to bed early and I am sitting here watching Arrested Development and typing up a post. Hooray for a little quiet time!
I was so happy to find gluten free orzo at the store the other day. GF orzo is one thing that I haven’t been able to find here, not even at Whole Foods, so when the store closest to me suddenly had Delallo brand gluten free orzo, I was blown away! So many salad and dinner ideas.
This creamy orzo with veggies is so simple to make, and requires just one pot, mostly because I really did not want a sink full of dishes the day I made it.
If you are not dairy free, just use your favorite shredded cheese. Any type of milk will work in this recipe, so feel free to use your favorite.
Creamy Orzo with Veggies
Ingredients
- 12 ounces gluten free orzo
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 small zucchini diced
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 cup frozen carrot coins
- 1 cup non-dairy milk
- 1 cup Daiya non-dairy cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
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In a large sauce pan, bring about 3 quarts of water to a boil.
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Add the orzo, chopped onions, and olive oil. Boil for 10 minutes, then add the zucchini and carrot coins and boil for another 5 minutes.
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Drain the water out of the pan. Add the Daiya cheese, non-dairy milk, and spices, and cook over medium low heat. Stir constantly for a few minutes until the cheese melts. If the sauce seems too thick, feel free to add a little more non-dairy milk.
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Add the spinach leaves, and stir them into the pasta mixture until they wilt.
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Add more seasoning to taste.
You can make this creamy orzo your own by:
- using your favorite cheese
- adding peas or corn
- topping it with crunchy chickpeas or gluten free breadcrumbs
This was such a nice lunch on a grey rainy day. It kind of reminded me of macaroni and cheese…but an adult version with lots of vegetables, so I felt good about eating it. :)
Darryl
Delicious recipe
Tammy Hotch
Just wondering where you find all of your gluten-free pastas and orzo? I only find about 3 different styles of pasta.
Kelly
I have found a lot of variety of shapes with the Barilla brand and the Delallo brand, and both are affordable brands found in normal grocery stores.
Caitlin
I like the sounds of adult Mac and cheese :) and while watching arrested development…perfect!
Olivia
Woah, this is making me hungry right now ;-)
Kelly
I hear you! :)
Graham @ Glazed & Confused
I’ll take multiple servings!
Kelly
It is hard to say no to seconds of this recipe! :)
Lisa Howard
Once upon a time I was asked to document my favorite food group. My response resulted in a lengthy explanation of why I consider “Comfort Food” to be THE best food group. This recipe is perfect for me. Healthy AND hearty? What could be better? Already pinned to my Healthy Eats & Drinks board!
Kelly
Comfort food is definitely a food group! Thanks for pinning, Lisa!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
Is there version of gluten free orzo good? I want to try it! I’ve been trying to eat gluten free lately. This creamy orzo with veggies sounds delicious!
Kelly
Thanks, Natalie! Yes, it is a really good orzo! I can’t tell the difference. It is a mix of rice and corn.
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I love grown-up versions of M&C and I LOVE orzo pasta! This pasta would make a fabulous lunch and I wouldn’t even have to feel gulity, obviously because of all the veggies! :) Pinned!
Kelly
Thank you for pinning, Sarah! No guilt here! :)
Allison
GF orzo!? I need to search for this product! This recipe is fabulous! My family and I can eat everything in it. I love macaroni and cheese! The addition of the vegetables is so nice to add texture, and I adore wilted cheesy spinach -there’s just something about it! Pinning this gem! :)
Kelly
I was so excited to find it! And it is really good. Just like normal orzo. Thanks so much for pinning, Allison! :)