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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Lemon Orzo with Spinach

    Published: Oct 26, 2022 by Nicole · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Lemon Orzo with Spinach is a bright and simple side dish you can make in no time! Packed with lemony orzo, healthy spinach and tangy parmesan cheese, it's so delicious.

    Lemon Orzo with Spinach in a white bowl with a wooden spoon.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    This lemon spinach orzo is awesome! It's so quick and easy that it's ready in just 15 minutes.

    Although baby spinach is in season during the spring and fall, you can typically find it at grocery stores year round. Feel free to make this anytime of the year.

    If you like this orzo recipe, check out my most popular recipe, Rainbow Orzo Salad.

    Ingredients

    This pasta dish comes together with just 6 simple ingredients.

    • Orzo: Use your favorite type of orzo pasta! White, whole wheat, or gluten free would all work well. I especially love DeLallo pasta.
    • Spinach: Loosely packed fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped. You could also use it whole without chopping it. If you don't have spinach, you can substitute for baby kale.
    • Olive Oil: A good quality extra virgin olive oil. For a slightly different flavor, you could swap it out for butter.
    • Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best in this recipe.
    • Parmesan Cheese: Grated parmesan cheese, to make it a little creamy and tangy. For best results, grate it yourself.
    • Sea Salt and Pepper: To taste.
    Lemon Orzo with Spinach ingredients including lemon, spinach, parmesan, olive oil, orzo, salt and pepper.

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Once al dente, add the spinach to the boiling water with the orzo. Cook for 1-2 more minutes until orzo is at desired consistency and spinach is wilted. Remove from heat and drain. Return the orzo and spinach back to the pot.
    2. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. Season with sea salt and pepper, to taste.
    3. Serve warm with lemon wedges (optional). Enjoy!

    Expert Tip: For even more lemon flavor, use the juice of an entire lemon. You could also stir in or top with lemon zest.

    Lemon Orzo with Spinach with parmesan cheese and lemon slices.

    Variations

    I love this Lemon Orzo with Spinach as a simple side dish, however if you want to add more to it, here are some recommendations.

    • Add some cooked veggies. Some favorites are minced garlic, peas, chopped asparagus, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes.
    • Top with fresh herbs. Basil, parsley, and thyme are all great options.
    • Stir in a protein to make it more hearty. Sliced chicken sausage, bacon pieces or pancetta are great meat options. Chickpeas or any other white bean are delicious meatless options.
    • Make it vegan. Use a cheese substitute instead of parmesan cheese, or just leave it out.

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve it as a side dish to just about any main dish for a complete meal, like grilled chicken, shrimp or fish. For an additional side, serve with these Parmesan Garlic Knots.

    Top with some of these optional toppings: lemon zest, fresh herbs like parsley or basil, grated parmesan cheese, cracked black pepper.

    You can even meal prep this ahead of time for lunches or dinners for the week. Prepare according to recipe instructions, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Sometimes pasta will dry out in the fridge, so simply drizzle a little oil over the top and give it a quick stir before serving.

    Lemon Orzo with Spinach on a wooden spoon.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

    Is orzo pasta or rice?

    Although orzo looks like rice, it is a rice-shaped wheat pasta.

    How do you cook orzo?

    You cook orzo like you would cook any other pasta. Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add orzo and cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, typically about 8-10 minutes.

    More Orzo Recipes

    If you love this Lemon Orzo with Spinach, try these other recipes!

    • Pesto Orzo Salad
    • Vegetable Soup with Orzo and White Beans

    If you make this recipe, don't forget to come back and leave a 5-star rating with a comment below.

    Print
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    Lemon Orzo with Spinach in a white bowl with a wooden serving spoon.

    Lemon Orzo with Spinach

    • Author: Nicole | Fresh Apron
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Side Dishes
    • Method: Boil
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Lemon Orzo with Spinach is a bright and simple side dish you can make in no time! Packed with lemony orzo, healthy spinach, and tangy parmesan cheese, it's so delicious.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
    • 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • juice of ½ lemon
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
    • sea salt and pepper, to taste
    • lemon wedges, for serving

    Instructions

    1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Once al dente, add the spinach to the boiling water with the orzo. Cook for 1-2 more minutes until orzo is at desired consistency and spinach is wilted. Remove from heat and drain. Return the orzo and spinach back to the pot.
    2. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. Season with sea salt and pepper, to taste.
    3. Serve warm with lemon wedges (optional). Enjoy!

    Equipment

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    Medium Sauce Pan

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    Citrus Juicer

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    Cheese Grater

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    Notes

    For even more lemon flavor, use the juice of an entire lemon. You could also stir in or top with lemon zest.

    Optional toppings:  lemon zest, fresh parsley, parmesan cheese, cracked black pepper

    Nutritional values (per serving) are approximates only.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ½ cup
    • Calories: 192
    • Sugar: 1.4 g
    • Sodium: 244.3 mg
    • Fat: 9 g
    • Saturated Fat: 1.9 g
    • Carbohydrates: 22 g
    • Fiber: 1.4 g
    • Protein: 5.9 g
    • Cholesterol: 3.6 mg

    Keywords: lemon orzo with spinach, orzo, side dish, easy side, spring recipe, fall recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @freshapron on Instagram and hashtag #freshapron — I can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Nicole | Fresh Apron

    Hi, I'm Nicole! I’m so happy to share all my recipes with you. I'm all about using fresh ingredients and creating simple recipes. Enjoy and happy cooking!

    More about me →

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