This Shrimp Orzo Skillet is an easy one-pan dinner with tender shrimp, creamy orzo, and fresh spinach. It’s rich and comforting without being heavy, making it the perfect weeknight meal. If you love easy shrimp recipes, this creamy orzo skillet is one to add to your dinner rotation.
For more favorite orzo recipes, try this Chicken Orzo Bake or these Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Lemon Orzo.
Now that I’ve been blogging for nearly 20 years (!), one of my favorite things is to go back into the archives, find a recipe that needs some love, and revamp it. There are definitely a lot of the old recipes that need some new love!
Sometimes, the recipes just need a little tweaking, and some recipes, after trying them again after so long, need a total redo. The original recipe I had posted here for this Shrimp Orzo Skillet wasn’t awful, but I knew I could make it so much better.
Enter version 2026. This is a dinner I could eat weekly and not get sick of. Creamy orzo. Succulent shrimp. And it’s all made in one skillet, in 30 minutes. This is literally a dinner of my dreams.
Serve it up with some crusty bread, and I am one happy girl.
Ingredients
- Shrimp: I like to use large shrimp. Mine are listed as 21-25 shrimp per pound. This ensures that each serving gets 5-6 shrimp.
- Garlic and Onion: These are both added for flavor.
- Seasonings: The seasonings are kept pretty minimal, using only Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. You can sub in regular paprika, but I almost always prefer smoked!
- Oil & Butter: I use oil to cook the shrimp, then butter to cook the orzo. You can use all of one or the other, if desired.
- Orzo: You need 1 cup of dry orzo. This is usually around 6 ounces.
- Chicken Broth: I like the flavor that chicken broth brings, but you could also use vegetable broth.
- Spinach: I like to add in some fresh spinach, for flavor and for nutrition. If I buy regular spinach, I like to chop it up a bit before adding. You can usually add in baby spinach whole, but even then, sometimes I’ll chop it or tear it.
- Cream: This makes the orzo nice and creamy.
- Parmesan: If possible, it’s best to use freshly, finely grated parmesan. If I’m in a pinch, I’ll use pre-grated parmesan, but not the stuff from a can. Choose the kind that you can find in with the refrigerated cheese.
- Salt, Pepper, and Crushed Red Pepper: Use all of these to taste. I usually like a little bit of extra salt, lots of pepper, and a good sprinkling of red pepper flakes.
How to Make a Shrimp Orzo Skillet
STEP 1: Season the shrimp with the garlic, part of the smoked paprika, the Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Heat the oil, then cook the shrimp just until opaque. This only takes about a minute per side. Remove from the skillet.
STEP 2: To that same skillet, add the butter and let it melt. Add the onion and cook until soft, then the remaining garlic, orzo, and the rest of the smoked paprika. Stir this together.
STEP 3: Pour in the broth, then let this all cook together until the orzo is tender. You will want to stir a few times during this cook time so that the orzo doesn’t stick.
STEP 4: Stir in the spinach and allow it to wilt.
STEP 5: Add the cream and the parmesan cheese. Stir this together until everything is nice and creamy.
STEP 6: Last – add in the shrimp that you cooked at the beginning. Taste, and add more salt and pepper if needed, and add your red pepper flakes, if using. It’s ready to serve!
Tips and Tricks
I like to remove all the tails from the shrimp before I cook them. You can always leave them on for aesthetics, but I just find it’s harder to eat that way.
If your shrimp are bigger or smaller, you will need to slightly adjust the cook time. But remember – shrimp cook very fast. If anything, I like to undercook just a tad at the beginning because they can finish cooking when added to the orzo at the end.
I don’t always love leftover, reheated shrimp, but this makes surprisingly good leftovers. You may need to add in a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen it up, though.
More Shrimp Recipes
Bang Bang Shrimp
Shrimp Fra Diavolo
Shrimp Caesar Salad with Spicy Croutons
LOOKING FOR MORE FREE RECIPES?
Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Shrimp Orzo Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw shrimp peeled, deveined, and tails removed
- 5 cloves garlic minced, divided
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika divided
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 4 cups lightly packed fresh spinach chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Crushed red pepper flakes for serving, optional
Instructions
- Place the shrimp in a shallow dish. Add 3 cloves of the garlic, 1 teaspoon of the smoked paprika, the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to coat the shrimp.1 pound raw shrimp, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the shrimp and cook for about 1 minute per side, until the shrimp is opaque. Remove from the skillet and cover to keep warm.2 tablespoons olive oil
- To the same skillet, add the butter. Once melted, add the onion and cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cloves of minced garlic, the uncooked orzo, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika. Stir and cook for another minute.2.01 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup diced onion, 1 cup uncooked orzo, 1 teaspoons smoked paprika
- Pour the broth into the skillet. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer until the orzo is tender, stirring often to prevent sticking, about 10-12 minutes.3 cups chicken broth
- Once the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, stir in the spinach and cook for a minute or two to wilt the spinach. Add the cream and the parmesan cheese and stir until heated through and creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.4 cups lightly packed fresh spinach, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, Salt and pepper
- Return the shrimp to the skillet, and sprinkle in some red pepper flakes, if using. Cook for another minute or two, just to combine everything well.Crushed red pepper flakes
- Serve warm, topped with additional parmesan cheese, if desired.
Annick says
Just wanted to say that I made this for dinner tonight. It was a simple and comforting meal that was quick to prepare. By the way, I omitted the clam juice and it was great!
Kevin says
The picture speaks for itself and it is saying yummy!
Hillary says
This looks super tasty! I’m going to start eating more shrimp since it’s healthy.
Elyse says
Mmm, this dish looks delicious! I’m always up for a new delicious and easy recipe. Count me in!
kristina says
That sounds delicious! But I’ve had no luck trying to find orzo in England. It must be somewhere though, and this recipe might be a good reason to resume the search! K x
kat says
I hate that feeling when I sit down to write a blog post & nothing comes
Sophie says
Ya know, I run out of things to say all the time :P…for instance, I use the word yummy way to much, and I know it doesn’t do this dish justice…but it does look delicious, I loove shrimp!
Claire says
mmmm….looks yummy! I might change the peas to something else, but all else looks wonderful!
Dawn says
ha ha, I do that a lot, just sit there waiting for something ‘witty’ to come along after I’ve done all the pic editing, recupe check over and then “poof” wit is all gone.
Well, no need for words on this one as shrimp and orzo go very well together.
how is motherhood treating you?
Sarah says
Love orzo! Love shrimp! Looks like a great meal!
Sara says
I love one pot meals, this one looks pretty healthy too!
Michelle @ Find Your Balance Health says
Orzo is lovely, isn’t it? Don’t worry about being witty, we love you however you are and especially when you bring us yummy recipes!
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
A nice meal! Delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Ginny says
this looks great! I made a wonderful dinner the other night but when I sat down to post it, I couldn’t come up with anything to say… we all have those days! 🙂
Chocolate Shavings says
That does look good! Orzo and shrimp works so well together!
Cassie says
This looks a-mazing. I’m always looking for new and different shrimp recipes, so I think I’m definitely going to have to give this one a try!