Orzo with Zucchini and Tomato is the best orzo side dish!! So versatile, that goes great with shrimp, chicken, pork chops, or double the portion and enjoy it as a main dish.
Orzo with Zucchini and Tomato
This healthy orzo recipe would make the perfect side for any protein. You could serve it with chicken, steak, or salmon. It would also be great with grilled chicken or shrimp if you did want to add in some protein to make it a complete meal. Some other easy orzo recipes are Shrimp Scampi with Broccoli Orzo and Broccoli and Orzo.
I whipped up this quick orzo side dish the other night to serve with my air fryer chicken tenders for a really quick and easy meal. I showed the dish on my Instagram Stories and got so many requests for the recipe, so here it is.
This is such an easy side dish, the longest step is cooking the pasta. But once the orzo is done, the rest of the dish comes together in under 10 minutes.
Variations:
- Swap orzo for another small pasta like ditalini or pearl couscous.
- Substitute zucchini for yellow squash or add in other vegetables if you prefer.
- Add in chicken or shrimp for protein to make this orzo side dish a complete meal.
More Easy Side Dishes You’ll Love:
- Baby Pasta Shells with Asparagus and Marinara Sauce
- Instant Pot Black Beans
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Lemon-Parsley Potato Foil Packets
- Low-Carb Mashed Cauliflower
Orzo with Zucchini and Tomato
Ingredients
- 5 oz uncooked orzo pasta
- 1/2 large zucchini, 1/4-inch dice (5 ounces total)
- 1 small plum or Campari tomato, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan or Pecorino
Instructions
- Cook pasta in large pot of salted water as directed for al dente.
- Reserve about 1/2 cup liquid before draining. Drain orzo in a colander and add the oil to the pot.
- Saute garlic 1 minute, until fragrant, add the zucchini and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and mix well. Cook until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the cooked orzo and stir to combine all. Add some of the reserved liquid as needed so pasta isn't dry.
- Add freshly grated cheese and stir.
