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This creamy orzo pasta is one of those cozy recipes you’ll return to when you’re craving an easy, creamy pasta dish that’ll be ready in under an hour. The true beauty of this recipe is that we blend cottage cheese with garlicky sautéed tomatoes to make a creamy sauce that is out-of-this-world-DELICIOUS. Whether you need a new recipe for busy weeknights or special occasions or are just plain hungry, this orzo pasta is sure to satisfy.
What makes this orzo pasta recipe unique? It’s a veggie-forward pasta recipe made with bursting cherry tomatoes and zucchini. Oh, and we creamed it with whipped cottage cheese for extra protein! The entire team seriously loved this pasta so much. We had fun filming the video too and all went back for seconds it’s so delicious.
What’s In Creamy Orzo Pasta
- Cherry tomatoes: these sweet, juicy tomatoes add a burst of flavor and color to the dish. They pair perfectly with the creamy sauce and add a nice texture.
- Cottage cheese: when blended with garlic and tomatoes, it creates a rich, creamy marinara sauce without the added calories from heavy cream.
- Tomato paste: this gets immediately mixed with the orzo, so you’ll want to make sure it’s evenly distributed. It adds a deeper tomato flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
- Orzo pasta: this small rice-shaped pasta is perfect for soaking up all the delicious flavors in the dish.
- Zucchini: we love the way chunks of zucchini add a bit of crunch and fresh flavor to the creamy pasta.
- Fresh basil: this herb gives the recipe its signature Italian taste. We recommend using fresh basil.
Variations and Substitutions
This tomato orzo recipe is like a blank canvas that you can customize to your liking. Swap the cheese, add or swap vegetables, make it vegetarian, or herb it up. Anything is fair game, really!
More of our Favorite…
More Pasta Recipes
Tips for Creamy Orzo Pasta
To make this recipe even quicker, you can use pre-cooked orzo. Just be sure to reduce the cooking time accordingly. Don’t skip the step of blending the cottage cheese, garlic, and tomatoes. This is what gives the dish its creamy texture.
Storage + Freezer Directions
Store any leftover creamy orzo pasta in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. We don’t recommend freezing this recipe, as it is cream-based and won’t keep its same texture or flavor.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy orzo pasta with blended cottage cheese would pair nicely with meat dishes like our Seared Beef Tenderloin Roast, Cast Iron Steak, or Easy Whole Roasted Chicken. To balance out the savory flavors, add this Apple Burrata Salad or Arugula Salad on the side.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil divided
¼ white onion minced
5 cloves garlic minced
1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup 2% or whole fat cottage cheese
½ teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons kosher salt separated
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1.25 cups orzo pasta
1 medium zucchini cubed (~2 cups)
1.5 cups chicken broth
¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil
Optional red pepper flakes
Instructions
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil becomes fragrant, add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, the onions should be translucent…
Tips & Notes
Make this dish vegetarian by using vegetable broth. Rosemary or thyme could be used in this recipe in place or in addition to the basil. When you blend in step #3 be sure you blend the sauce until it is light and almost frothy. That will ensure that it doesn’t curdle.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 366kcal
Carbohydrates: 46g
Protein: 15g
Fat: 14g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 8g
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.
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