Creamy Mushroom Orzotto

This Creamy Mushroom Orzotto is a rich and flavourful pasta dish that feels decadent and cozy yet comes together with simple ingredients. It’s all about the earthy, oven-roasted mushrooms and buttery orzo simmered in a garlicky broth with cream, Parmesan Reggiano cheese, and fresh sage.

This 30-minute pasta recipe makes a great vegetarian main dish or hearty side dish for both weeknight family dinners and elegant dinner parties. For a completely vegetarian meal, serve it alongside a Mixed Greens Salad with Beets and goat cheese or beef it up with a Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon for the meat lovers.

Creamy Mushroom Orzotto

Do you love risotto but not the cooking time? This Creamy Mushroom Orzotto is like an orzo risotto made with tiny rice shaped pasta in a fraction of the time it takes to make risotto. You get the same creamy comfort food, but it takes much less effort!

Like risotto, this easy one pot dinner gets its incredible flavour from chicken stock and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. A touch of heavy cream and fresh herbs complete the dish’s creamy texture and flavour profile.

Finally, the oven roasted mushrooms are the crowning glory of this dish. The key to perfectly caramelized mushrooms is to start with dry mushrooms and drizzle them with extra virgin olive oil. A simple seasoning of salt and freshly ground black pepper with garlic and fresh thyme leaves compliments their earthy flavour.

Even though I love my usual mushroom risotto recipe with black garlic cloves, I often need a quicker dinner solution. This mushroom orzo risotto is ready in under 30 minutes and is always a hit with my family!

Ingredients for Creamy Mushroom Orzotto

As there are very few ingredients in this recipe, it is crucial to start with high-quality ingredients for best flavour results. Use either homemade chicken stock or high quality store-bought stock for this recipe.

• Chicken Broth
• Orzo Pasta
• Garlic
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Heavy Cream
• Parmesan Cheese
• Sage
• Thyme
• Mushrooms
• Butter
• Olive Oil

Regular button mushrooms (cremini) or baby bella mushrooms work well in this recipe but you can always mix it up with Portabella, Shiitake or oyster mushrooms. Or, go wild with Black Trumpet, Maitake, Chanterelles, or Morel Mushrooms. Buy them fresh and clean them without water for best results.

Instead of arborio or carnaroli rice, use quick cooking orzo – a tiny pastina (general Italian term for tiny pasta) shaped like a grain of rice.

Heavy cream contains at least 36% milk fat, which makes this dish super creamy and comforting. The freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a sharp flavour contrast while the freshly chopped sage and fresh thyme leaves compliment the earthy flavour of the mushrooms.

Use unsalted or salted butter but always taste when adjusting the seasoning with additional salt as the chicken stock will also add an amount of salt.

Feel free to add grilled chicken, steak, or eat this tasty vegetarian dish as is. Stir in wilted spinach, peas, or your favourite cooked greens for more vegetables.

How to Make Creamy Mushroom Orzotto

Recipe timing is the key to making this dish in under 30 minutes. Once you start roasting the mushrooms, you can turn your attention to the orzo.

Roast the Mushrooms

Begin by preheating the oven to 425º. Line a baking sheet (you may need two depending on the size of your baking sheet) with parchment paper and set aside.

Next, clean and slice the mushrooms. In a large bowl, toss the mushrooms with garlic paste, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and melted butter.

Spread the mushrooms out on the baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with more olive oil if needed. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes. Make sure to stir them and spread them back out in a single layer halfway through cooking. Sprinkle fresh thyme on top and roast for another 10 minutes.

After the mushrooms have cooked for a full 20 minutes, turn the broiler on high and roast them for 1 – 2 more minutes. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn! The mushrooms should be tender and browned when done. Remove mushrooms from the oven, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

For the Orzotto

To make the orzotto, set a medium pot on the stove and pour in the broth. Cover and cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Stir in the orzo along with the garlic, a pinch of salt, and some fresh ground black pepper.

Lower the heat, cover loosely with a lid, and let it gently simmer over medium low heat. Give it a stir every few minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick, cooking until the orzo has soaked up most of the broth and is tender. Pro tip: If the pasta dries out before it is done cooking, splash in a little more broth and keep going.

Once the orzo is ready, turn off the heat. Mix in the cream, Parmesan, thyme leaves, and chopped fresh sage until everything comes together into a silky, cheesy sauce. Taste the sauce and add additional salt if needed.

To serve, divide orzo between four pasta bowls. Top with the roasted mushrooms, a few tablespoons of grated parmesan, and a little fresh cracked black pepper. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Wipe mushrooms clean with a paper towel instead of washing them. Washing adds moisture and it will not produce perfectly caramelized roasted mushrooms. Instead, they will steam and become soggy.
• Any kind of mushrooms will work for this dish. A mix of mushrooms is a great choice.
• Make sure to use low-sodium chicken broth or your orzo may turn out too salty.
• Yes- you can cook the orzo in water if needed, but it will not have the same rich flavour. The chicken broth really is what makes the orzo flavorful.

Storing the Leftovers

Leftover Mushroom Orzotto will keep in the fridge for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator when stored properly in an airtight container. I do not recommend freezing this dish.

To reheat, add a bit of cream, milk, or stock to the orzotto and heat in a microwave. Note that the pasta will be drier and the mushrooms will have less texture when reheated as leftovers.

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill, the heart and soul behind Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

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