Cheesy Baked Orzo With Bacon Peas Recipe 41

CHEESY BAKED ORZO WITH MARINARA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees and bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain the orzo and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a very large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil over medium. Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook until fragrant (don't let the garlic burn), about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, tossing often, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the marinara, basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat.
• Stir the cooked orzo into the sauce. Stir in the mozzarella, sprinkle the Parmesan on top, and bake, uncovered, until the Parmesan is melted and the pasta is heated through, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with additional basil, and serve warm.

BAKED ORZO WITH FONTINA AND PEAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish.
• Bring the chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. Add the orzo and cook until almost tender, about 7 minutes. Pour the orzo and the broth into a large bowl. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium heat in a medium skillet. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue to saute until the mushrooms are beginning to turn golden around the edges, about 7 minutes. Add the Marsala. Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan and cook until the Marsala has reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the mushroom mixture to the orzo in the large bowl. Add the cream, fontina, mozzarella, peas, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
• In a small bowl combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and dried thyme. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture on top of the pasta. Bake until golden, about 25 minutes.

ORZOTTO WITH PEAS AND BACON

Steps:

• Heat oil in large saucepan on medium heat. Add onions; cook 2 to 3 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add pasta; cook and stir 2 min. or until lightly browned.
• Stir in chicken broth. Bring just to boil; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 8 to 10 min. or until pasta is tender and broth is absorbed, adding peas for the last minute. Remove from heat.
• Add reduced-fat cream cheese, bacon and 1/4 cup Parmesan; stir until cream cheese is completely melted.
• Serve topped with remaining Parmesan.

CHEESY BAKED ORZO

Steps:

• Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add in the grated garlic.
• Once the cream is hot, mix in 1 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese.
• Cook the orzo according to the package, making sure to salt the pasta water. Once cooked, drain the water out.
• Add the hot cheesy cream into the pot of pasta and stir to combine.
• Place the pasta in a buttered 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
• Shred the mozzarella and sprinkle 1 cup over the orzo along with 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until the cheese becomes golden brown.

CHEESY ORZO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Bring chicken broth to a boil in a pot; stir in orzo. Cook until almost tender, about 7 minutes. Pour orzo and broth into a bowl.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and mushrooms in the melted butter until softened, about 7 minutes. Pour in Marsala wine and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir mushroom mixture into orzo.
• Stir peas, cream, fontina cheese, mozzarella cheese, salt, and pepper into orzo-mushroom mixture. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and thyme together in a bowl; sprinkle over orzo-mushroom mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and breadcrumbs are lightly browned, about 25 minutes.

BAKED SALMON WITH LEMONY ORZO AND BASIL-BACON PEAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Mix garlic powder, 4 leaves basil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a small bowl.
• Place salmon skin side-down on the prepared pan. Brush with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle garlic-basil mixture on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until salmon flakes easily with a fork, about 8 minutes. Remove and let rest.
• Place bacon in a skillet over medium-low heat and cook, stirring often, until crispy, about 4 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and peas. Season with pepper. Cook and stir until peas are heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons butter, juice from 1 lemon, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt together in a bowl. Pour over the cooked orzo and toss to coat. Season with pepper.
• Divide orzo among 4 plates; top with salmon and place peas on the side. Garnish with the remaining basil. Drizzle remaining lemon juice on top.

CHEESY BAKED ORZO WITH BACON & PEAS RECIPE - (4.1/5)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon; cook 8 minutes, until crispy. Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute. Whisk in flour; cook 1 minute. Whisk in milk, bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in Gruyere, salt and pepper until smooth. Set aside. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add orzo; cook 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain. Stir into sauce with peas and cooked bacon. Transfer orzo to a 2-quart baking dish. Top with Parmesan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, until bubbling and lightly browned.

CREAMY PARMESAN ORZO WITH BACON

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crisp; remove with a slotted spoon (you can drain the bacon fat or leave it).
• Melt 2-3 tablespoons butter, then add in onions and garlic; saute until soft (about 5 minutes).
• Add in the orzo and stir for about 2 minutes.
• Slowly add in the 4-1/2 cups broth; simmer uncovered until the orzo is firm-tender and the broth is absorbed, stirring occasionally (this should take about 7-8 minutes).
• Add in whipping cream and bring to a simmer.
• Mix in Parmesan cheese and thyme, then cooked bacon.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• *NOTE* you can thin with additional broth if desired.

SPINACH GARLIC PARMESAN ORZO WITH CRISPY BACON

Steps:

• Add bacon to a large skillet or pan and place over medium heat, cook bacon on both sides until crispy and golden brown. If the pan starts to smoke at any point, simply lower the heat. I always cook my bacon on medium low heat. Once bacon is done, blot with a paper towel to absorb excess grease, then chop into bite sized pieces and set aside.
• While the bacon is cooking, place a large pot of water over high heat and add in a generous amount of salt. Once water boils, stir in the orzo and cook until al dente about 7-9 minutes. Once orzo is done cooking, drain pasta and set aside in the colander. Make sure to reserve ½ cup of the pasta water.
• Next add 1 tablespoon butter to the same pot you cooked the pasta in and place over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add in minced garlic, carrot, corn, red bell pepper and saute for 2 minutes.
• Next add in spinach; cooking until the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Add the cooked orzo back into the pot and turn the heat to low. Stir in the reserved pasta water, parmesan, garlic powder and red chili pepper flakes.
• Finally, stir in bacon crumbles. Add salt and pepper to taste. I like to add A LOT of black pepper into this dish -- it just gives it a really nice flavor! If you think it needs a little extra parmesan cheese, feel free to stir in 1/4 cup more. Enjoy. Serves 4.