Parmesan Mushroom Orzo

Parmesan Mushroom Orzo is perfect to serve as a side dish or as a meatless dinner. Tender orzo pasta is made delicious with sautéed shallots, mushrooms, and plenty of freshly grated parmesan cheese. This dish is simple, yet oh so satisfying!

For more pasta side dish ideas, check out out Mediterranean Orzo Salad, Mac and Cheese, and Gnocchi.

scooping out some parmesan orzo with mushrooms from a bowl.

Delicious Orzo Side Dish

This Parmesan Mushroom Orzo is perfect for busy weeknights! It’s SO easy to make – from start to finish, this recipe will take you less than thirty minutes. Plus, the results are always so worth the minimal effort you have to put into this homemade pasta dinner.

The only step of this recipe that actually requires a little effort might be grating the cheese or slicing the veggies while the pasta cooks. Just play some music and enjoy a glass of wine as you go and the time will fly by!

Parmesan Mushroom Orzo is ideal for those nights when you’re craving some comfort food. Whether you make it your entree on a meatless Monday or plate it next to the protein of your choice, it’s sure to bring some comfort to your evening. After all, aren’t pasta dishes perfect for warming your body and soul?!

I originally made this dish years ago as a side for my entree, but I (along with the rest of my family) quickly realized that it was filling and tasty enough to stand on its own.

You’ll love how short the list of ingredients is here. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly recipe, you’ve found it! You only need seven inexpensive ingredients to make this orzo. The best part? You likely already have most of (if not all) of those pantry staples in your kitchen right now.

If you’re feeling a little fancy and want to add another flavor to the mix, toss in a teaspoon or two of truffle oil. I love truffle, so I like to use my oil whenever I can!

ingredients to make parmesan mushroom orzo on cutting board.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Orzo – This dish is pretty filling! A 16 oz. container of dry orzo will yield about 8 cups of cooked pasta.
Olive Oil – Try to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
Baby Bella Mushrooms – Keep in mind that baby bella mushrooms and cremini mushrooms are the exact same thing! If you can only find cremini mushrooms at your grocery store, that’s perfectly fine.
Shallots – In a pinch, thinly sliced yellow onions will also work and add 1 small garlic clove.
Seasonings – I like to keep things simple with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. You can add more flavor with something like garlic powder if you’d like – just keep in mind that a little tends to go a long way.
Parmesan Cheese – For the best flavor and consistency, you must grate the parmesan cheese yourself! Pre-shredded parmesan cheese contains an anti-caking powder that prevents the cheese from melting smoothly.
Truffle Oil – If you don’t like the taste of truffle, don’t use this ingredient. If you’re a truffle lover like me, stir some in a little at a time until you reach the desired potency.

How to Make Parmesan Mushroom Orzo

You’ll love how quick and easy this orzo recipe is!

mushrooms cooking in a pan next to orzo cooking in a pot.

sautéed sliced mushrooms in a cooking pan.

adding grated parmesan to orzo in a pot.

adding some truffle oil to the orzo with cheese.

Cook the orzo.

Follow the package instructions to cook the orzo. Once cooked, drain it and place it in a large mixing bowl or even right back into the pot it was cooked in.

Stir the grated parmesan cheese in with the orzo while it’s still hot. Mix well until the cheese is melted.

adding sautéed mushrooms to the pot with orzo.

Sauté the veggies.

Make the most use of your time by preparing the mushrooms and shallots while the orzo is cooking. Peel and thinly slice the shallots and rinse and thinly slice the mushrooms.

Add a little olive oil to a pan over medium heat and cook the onions until softened. Then stir in the mushrooms, season, and continue to stir occasionally until the mushrooms are cooked.

Combine everything and serve.

Add the cooked veggies to the bowl with the cheesy orzo and mix well. Do a taste test to see if you’d like to add more salt and pepper. If you’re using truffle oil, stir in a little bit at a time until you reach your desired level of potency.

grating parmesan cheese over the bowl of orzo.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

While this side dish is pretty good reheated, it’s definitely best served when it’s been freshly made. If you are planning to reheat it, you can add a couple of tablespoons of broth and some more cheese to refresh it and keep it from drying out.

How much does this recipe yield?

You will get about 6-8 servings since we are using a whole 16 oz package of orzo.

Can I add more cheese?

Of course! If you love parmesan cheese, you can add another 1/2 cup or so.

Do I have to use fresh grated parmesan?

Yes, fresh grated parmesan is pretty much a must because it will melt the nicely mixed with hot pasta. You can buy freshly grated parmesan in the cheese or deli section of many grocery stores if you don’t want to grate it yourself off the block.

Why is my orzo not saucy?

This side dish is actually not meant to be like pasta with sauce. It’s still a pasta side dish flavored with sautéed mushrooms and onions and parmesan cheese. If you’re looking for something more saucy, check out my Cacio e Pepe.

top view of parmesan mushroom orzo in a white bowl.

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