Orzo with Mushrooms

This Orzo with Mushrooms is full of savory, earthy flavor, pungent garlic, and the tang of white wine. This scrumptious dish can make a great meal or side.

You are going to love this Orzo with Mushrooms dish. Made with tender orzo pasta, white wine-infused mushrooms, and cream, it's a rich and flavorful side that can be served with just about anything. It's a truly satisfying and hearty recipe that is perfect for winter weather when you want something that will stick to your ribs, as they say.

One of the things that I love about this recipe is that it's really easy to tweak with added vegetables or make more filling with proteins. There are easy substitutions that can make this dish fresh every time you serve it. It also stores really well, so you can conveniently make it in advance and then just heat it up before serving. This really is a wonderful recipe. Before we look at how to make it, let's look at what you'll need for this Orzo with Mushrooms.

Video Tutorial

Main Ingredients

• Onion. White or yellow can be used.
• Garlic. Fresh is best.
• Butter. Or olive oil.
• Orzo. Or you can use another small pasta.
• White wine. Such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or Pinot Grigio.
• Broth. Homemade or store-bought. I used veggie but you can use any kind.
• Mushrooms. Baby bella or crimini.
• Milk. Or heavy cream or Half & Half.
• Salt & Pepper. To taste.

How to Make Orzo with Mushrooms

1. Saute the chopped onion in a medium pot with butter for 4-5 minutes, or until it starts to brown.

2. Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook for 7-10 more minutes, until the mushrooms begin to brown.

3. Now, add the wine and cook until it almost completely evaporates.

4. At this point, add the orzo, broth, milk, salt, and pepper and simmer everything together. Stir occasionally and let it cook for about 10 minutes, until almost all of the liquid is gone. Taste, add more seasonings if needed, and serve.

Tips for the best Orzo with Mushrooms

• Cut the mushrooms to a uniform size. So that the mushrooms cook evenly and none are burnt, make sure to cut them into similarly sized chunks so they cook at the same rate.
• Start with the onions. You'll want to give the onions the most time in the pan because this allows them time to soften and brown, releasing their sweet flavor. They'll be extra tasty when you do this.
• Let the wine cook out. By giving the wine time to evaporate and the alcohol to cook out, you let the Orzo with Mushrooms retain the tangy, crisp flavor of the wine without any alcohol, making this dish great for all ages.
• Let it simmer. The orzo needs time to absorb the liquids and soften, so let this dish simmer for the allotted time. Without that simmer time, the orzo becomes hard and chewy.

Variations to this Recipe

• Add protein. Add some sliced chicken breast, black beans, Crunchy Baked Shrimp, steak bites, or bacon.
• Sub in other vegetables. Make this Orzo with Mushrooms with spinach, brussels sprouts, asparagus, or broccoli rabe in place of or with the mushrooms.
• Omit the wine. If you haven't got any white wine or prefer not to use it, then go ahead and skip it.
• Substitute a different pasta. You can make this dish just as easily with another type of small pasta, such as small elbows, risoni, ditalini, or stelline, Just adjust the cooking time if the pasta is larger than orzo so it has enough time to cook.

How to Store and Reheat it

Store this Orzo with Mushrooms in an airtight container once it has cooled. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.

What to Serve this with

• Proteins. Serve this orzo with Roasted Pepper Stuffed Chicken Breast, Spinach Stuffed Flounder, Salmon in Creamy Sauce, or Cajun Shrimp.
• Salads. Enjoy it with a crisp green salad, like this Wedge Salad, Spring Mix Salad, Fresh and Crunchy Broccoli Salad, or Iceberg Lettuce Salad.
• Soups. Pair this pasta dish with a bowl of Mushroom Soup, Turkey Cabbage Soup, Lentil and Kale Soup, or Moroccan Chickpea Soup.
• Vegetables. Serve this dish with some Roasted Asparagus, Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Easy Baked Okra, or Steamed Green Beans.

I hope you enjoy this Orzo with Mushrooms. It is savory, satisfying, and so easy to make. Enjoy!

More tasty recipes with mushrooms:

• Mushroom Bourguignon
• Garlic Mushrooms
• Rice with Mushrooms
• Hearty Mushroom Soup