Looking for a side dish for dinner? Whip up this Parmesan-kissed Lemon Orzo with kale and cherry tomatoes. It’s fresh and flavorful!
This quick cooking rice-shaped pasta is easily one of my favorites.
When I found myself with lots of extra kale and cherry tomatoes to use up, I knew a tasty little orzo dish was the way to go!
Tossing this pint-sized pasta with fresh veggies in a speedy lemon parmesan sauce was nothing sort of magical. I can’t wait for you to try it!
serving suggestions for this tasty orzo side dish
This parmesan-kissed lemon orzo makes a lovely side dish for your favorite protein like grilled or roasted chicken or fish as well as alongside veggie burgers, various sandwiches, and so much more!
You can also serve it straight-up as a stand alone pasta dish that’s full of flavor!
Easy Lemon Orzo with Parmesan, Kale, and Cherry Tomatoes
Serving a crowd? Feel free to double the recipe if needed. You can also easily have the recipe if serving as a side dish for two. It’s super versatile and oh so tasty!
Have some left over? That’s cause for celebration! This dish reheats marvelously so feel free to save some for later.
Lemon Orzo with Parmesan, Kale, and Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups dry orzo pasta
- ½ tsp oil
- 1 shallot
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ lemon , juiced
- 3 TBSP unsalted butter
- 1.5 oz freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 12 cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups kale , cleaned and chopped
- ¼ cup vegetable broth or chicken broth
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add orzo and cook until al dente, approx 7-9 minutes. Drain orzo in a wire-mesh strainer and set aside.
- While orzo cooks chop kale, halve or quarter cherry tomatoes, and mince shallot.
- Next heat a pan to medium heat with ½ teaspoon olive oil. Add minced shallot to hot pan and stir often until tender, approx. 4-6 minutes.
- Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper (to taste) and add lemon juice and broth.
- Add orzo and kale and mix well until kale has wilted and some of the liquid has been absorbed into the pasta. Stir in tomatoes, Parmesan and butter, then season with a pinch of salt and pepper, to taste.
- Optional: serve with lemon wedges to add an extra burst of citrus flavor, if you'd like! Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you get a chance to try this easy peasy lemon orzo recipe, let me know!
Leave some love in the comment form below or tag your photos with @peasandcrayons on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creation. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
oodles of orzo recipes
Around here we have a wee bit of an orzo obsession.
Since writing up my 8 awesome orzo recipes post, I’ve come up with several more to add to our recipe box including an epic Orzo Pasta Salad with chickpeas, edamame, and lots of veggies!
Looking for more ideas for your box of orzo pasta? Try these!
- POPULAR: One Pot Orzo Vegetable Soup
- Greek Orzo Salad – an easy + delicious pasta salad!
- READER FAVORITE: Mushroom Orzo Pasta
- Italian Sausage + Peppers Orzo via Taste and Tell
- Chickpea Lemon Orzo Soup – perfect for a cold day!
Questions & Reviews
I added chopped ham. I used tender collards rather than kale but that worked just fine !
Sounds delicious, Eleanor!
This was absolutely superb, quick and could not have been better. Thank you so much, looking forward to more of your recipes
Definitely making this one again. So yummy😋 bonus it was simple and quick thank you!
So stoked to hear it! Thanks Tawny!
Such an easy yet delicious meal! Going to put this in my weekly rotation. Excellent!
My husband and a absolutely LOVED this recipe. So glad I found it!! So yummy with our fresh yellow cherry tomatoes! I used a tsp. of fresh garlic, some chopped red pepper, and some fresh basil from my garden. I didn’t have Orzo on hand so I used Fregula Sarda that I had bought when on the island of Sardenia, in Italy. It was FABULOUS! Fast and easy to prepare. Couldn’t have been better!!! You can’t go wrong trying this recipe.
Hi Jenn! Delicious recipe.I was wondering if you put the butter in broth while warm, or melt the butter before adding it?
Hi Carol! I just toss it right in during step 5 and the warm pasta melts the butter. You can also slice it into smaller pieces first if you would like it to melt even faster. xoxo
Just made this super quick and it’s so tasty and refreshing. I added crushed red pepper to give it a little spice! Love it will def make again
I’m thinking this dish, which looks delicious, can be served either warm or cold, yes?
Yes absolutely Sheila! I like it both ways honestly! Cold it’s like a pasta salad and warm it’s super cozy and comforting.
Yum–the whole family liked this one, and that’s saying something! We’ll be making this again.
The Lemon Orzo with kale and cherry tomatoes is one of our favourite dishes!
I use spinach instead of kale and cook a boneless chicken breast (cut it up) and it’s a meal for us! Delicious!
I’m looking to buy a cook book. Do you have one to purchase?
Hi Amy! I don’t currently but hope to write one one someday! <3
This was one of the best side dishes I’ve ever prepared. The whole family loved it despite having kale. LOL.
Ahhh yay! So happy it was a hit!
Exactly the comment I was looking for! But does the kale *actually* taste good in this?! Thanks
My husband tends to runs when I mention kale and he has devoured this twice now, lol. Hope you get a chance to try it! xo