main dishes greek

Shrimp Orzo with Tomatoes & Parsley

Name: Shrimp Orzo with Tomatoes & Parsley
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: greek
Ingredients: 1 lb Large Shrimp (Peeled and deveined); 1.5 cup Orzo Pasta; 3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 4 clove Garlic (Minced); 2 cup Cherry Tomatoes (Halved); 0.5 cup Dry White Wine; 2.5 cup Vegetable Broth; 0.25 cup Fresh Parsley (Chopped); 2 tbsp Lemon Juice; 0.5 tsp Sea Salt

Plump shrimp and orzo pasta cooked together in a garlicky tomato sauce with white wine. A one-pot Mediterranean meal that's ready in 25 minutes.

dairy free nut free

More Recipes

Prep 10 min

Cook 20 min

Total 30 min

Servings 4

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

Instructions

Sear the shrimp. Season shrimp with salt. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat. Sear shrimp 1 minute per side until pink. Remove and set aside.
Build the base. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining oil, garlic, and cook 30 seconds. Add cherry tomatoes and cook 3 minutes until starting to burst.
Toast the orzo. Add orzo to the pan and stir to coat with oil. Toast for 1 minute until lightly golden.
Add liquids. Pour in wine and let it absorb (1 minute). Add broth, bring to a simmer. Cover and cook 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender.
Finish. Return shrimp to the pan. Stir in lemon juice and most of the parsley. Cook 1 minute until shrimp is heated through.
Serve. Divide among bowls. Garnish with remaining parsley and a drizzle of fresh olive oil.

Storage & Meal Prep

Keeps for up to 1 day in the refrigerator. The orzo absorbs sauce as it sits—add a splash of broth when reheating. The shrimp texture is best eaten fresh.

Variations

Shrimp Orzo with Feta: Stir in crumbled feta cheese in the last minute for a Greek-style creamy finish.
Shrimp Orzo with Spinach: Add 2 cups fresh spinach in the last 2 minutes of cooking for extra greens and color.
Baked Shrimp Orzo (Giouvetsi-Style): Transfer to an oven-safe dish, top with feta, and bake at 200°C / 400°F for 15 minutes for a bubbly, gratinéed finish.

FAQ

What is orzo?

Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta made from durum wheat. Despite looking like rice, it's pasta—and it cooks in about 8-10 minutes. It's popular in Greek and Italian cooking and is perfect for one-pot meals.

Can you use frozen shrimp?

Yes—thaw frozen shrimp under cold running water for 5 minutes and pat very dry before cooking. Most shrimp at grocery stores is previously frozen anyway, so buying frozen is often fresher.

What's the difference between shrimp orzo and giouvetsi?

Giouvetsi is a traditional Greek baked pasta dish, often with lamb or shrimp, cooked in a tomato sauce until the pasta absorbs the liquid. This stovetop version is faster but achieves similar flavors.

The Story Behind This Dish

This is Greek cooking at its most practical—a complete meal from one pan with minimal fuss. The orzo absorbs the tomato-wine broth as it cooks, developing layers of flavor without any separate sauce-making.

The trick is to not overcook the shrimp. Sear them first, remove them, then add them back at the very end just to warm through.