One-Pan Creamy Lemon Shrimp Orzo

Ingredients

• 1 lb jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 4 tsp butter garlic seasoning (divided (2 tsp for shrimp, 2 tsp for orzo))
• olive oil (for searing)
• 1 small onion (diced)
• 5 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tbsp Calabrian chilis
• 5 tbsp fresh basil (divided (2 tbsp finely chopped, 3 tbsp torn for finishing))
• 2 cups orzo
• 1 lemon (zested and juiced (half juice used in sauce))
• 0.5 cup dry white wine
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 0.5 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp butter
• 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)

Steps

1. 1

   In a bowl, toss the jumbo shrimp with the Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, black pepper, smoked paprika, and 2 teaspoons of the butter garlic seasoning until evenly coated.

2. 2

   Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and sear for 1–2 minutes per side until just opaque and cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.

3. 3

   In the same pan, sauté the diced onion over medium heat until soft and translucent.

4. 4

   Add the minced garlic, Calabrian chilis, and 2 tablespoons of finely chopped basil to the pan. Cook for 30–45 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.

5. 5

   Stir in the orzo and toast for 1–2 minutes. Add the lemon zest and the remaining 2 teaspoons of butter garlic seasoning while toasting.

6. 6

   Deglaze the pan with the dry white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let the wine simmer until reduced by half.

7. 7

   Pour in the chicken broth and add the fresh thyme sprigs. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.

8. 8

   Remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Stir in the heavy cream, 1 tablespoon of butter, freshly grated Parmesan, and the juice of half a lemon until the sauce is creamy and well combined.

9. 9

   Add half of the cooked shrimp back into the pan and stir gently to heat through.

10. 10

    Top the dish with the remaining shrimp and the torn fresh basil before serving.

Notes

The transcript suggests toasting the orzo for up to 5 minutes, but the written directions specify 1-2 minutes; 1-2 minutes is standard for toasting pasta. Ensure the shrimp are not overcooked during the initial sear as they will be reheated in the final step.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• shrimp
• orzo
• one-pan
• seafood
• dinner
• creamy
• lemon