Orzo Stuffing Recipe (2024)

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5 stars (4 reviews)

40 minutes mins

Posted by Sommer Collier on Nov 22, 2013 (last updated Jun 17, 2019)

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A fabulous holiday stuffing recipe made with orzo pasta instead of day old bread. Just the thing to give your stuffing recipe a little dose of intrigue this year.

Orzo Stuffing Recipe (1)

It pains me to say this, but it has come to my immediate attention (after a very official survey on my Facebook page late one night) that approximately 20% of you don’t like Thanksgiving stuffing because of the texture.

As stuffing is my absolute favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner, my head is hanging in sadness.

In fact, to further explain my attachment to stuffing, let me just say my older sister tells stories about how I use to talk about stuffing in my sleep when I was a little girl. It is very special to me.

So today I’d like to reach out to those of you who don’t have the same appreciation for stuffing that I do, and offer a compromise…

Our Orzo Stuffing Recipe!

Orzo Stuffing Recipe (2)

If wet-bread texture is troubling to you, this stuffing recipe is the solution.

Using DeLallo Pasta in the orzo stuffing recipe creates a lovely firm yet fluffy texture, instead of the moist dense stuffing that the other 80% of us love.

After experimenting with this, I have to tell you, this might be my new favorite stuffing recipe. The piece-y texture and light pasta flavor means the other ingredients really shine through. You get the savory-sweet pop from sautéed apples, celery, carrots and onions, along with rich salty bits of crisp bacon.

Orzo Stuffing Recipe (3)

Plus the shape and size of my favorite orzo, DeLallo Orzo Number 65, is not only visually appealing, it makes it easy to scoop, serve, and stuff.

If you like to fill your bird with stuffing on Thanksgiving, you could most definitely use this orzo stuffing recipe in it! Wouldn’t your turkey look beautiful with this colorful orzo cascading out?

I think so.

Orzo Stuffing Recipe (4)

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5 stars (4 reviews)

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Orzo Stuffing Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

A fabulous holiday stuffing recipe made with orzo pasta instead of day-old bread.

Servings: 6

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1 pound DeLallo Orzo Pasta
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup diced onions
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • 1 1/2 cups diced apple
  • 12 ounces chopped bacon
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

Instructions

  • Place a large pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Cook the orzo according to the DeLallo package instructions and drain, saving 1 cup of the pasta water for later use. (If you plan to use this stuffing in a bird, undercook the pasta a little bit.)

  • Meanwhile, place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon to the skillet and brown until just cooked through. Then add the celery, onions and carrots to the skillet and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the apples, stir and saute another 2-3 minutes until soft, but firm.

  • Now mix in the cooked orzo and sage. Toss well and add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to help the flavors mingle. Toss and cook another 1-2 minutes, using more pasta water if needed. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 556kcal, Carbohydrates: 67g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 37mg, Sodium: 409mg, Potassium: 465mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 3695IU, Vitamin C: 5.2mg, Calcium: 46mg, Iron: 1.5mg

Course: Holiday, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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Christmas Holiday Side Dishes Thanksgivingbacon carrots celery onions orzo Pasta sage

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26 comments on “Savory Orzo Stuffing”

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  1. Pingback: 75 Recipes to Make Your Thanksgiving a Success

  2. Pingback: Food: 100+ Thanksgiving Side Dishes - Pink Heels Pink Truck

  3. Shaina Reply

    I love the idea of doing all the stuffing flavors but without the soggy bread. I can’t wait to try this!

  4. Nutmeg Nanny Reply

    Oh my, I love this stuffing recipe :) perfect twist on a classic

  5. Russell at chasingdelicious.com Reply

    Yum and yum!

  6. Megan {Country Cleaver} Reply

    I can just eat this with a spoon right ? I don’t want anything else getting in the way of me and that orzo but a fork!!

  7. marla Reply

    Such a great twist on traditional stuffing!

  8. Kevin @ Closet Cooking Reply

    Nice orzo stuffing!

  9. Julie @ Table for Two Reply

    Seriously so creative!!! I LOVE that you used orzo for this stuffing!!

  10. Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen Reply

    This looks amazing. I love the bacon and sage together!

  11. Laura (Tutti Dolci) Reply

    I love orzo, wonderful stuffing idea!

  12. Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles Reply

    What a fun way to mix it up for Thanksgiving!!

  13. Cassie Reply

    What an amazing stuffing recipe!!

  14. DeLallo Foods Reply

    This looks delicious, Sommer! Perfect for the holiday season! Thanks for featuring our orzo!

  15. Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living Reply

    What a beautiful simple stuffing alternative Sommer – love the bright veggies!

  16. Jay Reply

    Any ideas on a good substitute for the bacon? Other than that may fix it today….

    • Sommer Reply

      Jay in my mind, nothing compares to bacon. Are you looking for a meatless substitute or a pork-free substitute?

      You could make it with chicken sausage, or even try turkey or soy bacon.

  17. Heather Christo Reply

    I LOVE this idea in place of bread- beautiful dish sommer!

  18. Stacy Reply

    O.M.G. My mouth is watering! You just added a new twist to our Thanksgiving. Wonderful!

  19. Marian (Sweetopia) Reply

    Looks soo good! Wish this was my lunch today!

  20. Jenny Flake Reply

    What a fun way to switch up stuffing! I want some!!

  21. Maria Reply

    Love DeLallo’s orzo! Great way to switch up the traditional stuffing!

  22. Shari Reply

    This looks delicious, and great presentation dish. The colors are gorgeous.!

    xoxo ~Shari
    http://www.pinkblotmom.com

  23. Tieghan Reply

    This looks good good, Sommer! I love the idea of using orzo instead of bread! My family is actually not real big on traditional stuffing so this is perfect!

  24. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl Reply

    I love this version of stuffing!!! I could eat this any day of the year!

  25. Pingback: The Party Blog: Where DIY Projects and Confetti collide | The Party DIY

Orzo Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much does 1 cup of orzo make? ›

Add Orzo. Add 1 cup dried orzo (about 6 ounces) to boiling water. This yields 2 cups cooked: 4 servings of ½ cup each.

How much orzo for 2 servings? ›

You can measure out orzo and should plan on about 1/4 cup (or 2 ounces) dry pasta per person. Orzo will more than double in size when cooked so don't worry, there will be enough.

How do you keep orzo from getting mushy? ›

Boil the orzo about 10 minutes or until it has a firm, chewy texture, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking together. Drain orzo in a colander. For the best flavor and texture, serve the orzo immediately after cooking.

Should you rinse orzo? ›

Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally to keep orzo from clumping. Depending on thickness, orzo typically cooks in about 8-10 minutes. Drain, but do not rinse the orzo.

How many cups is 2 ounces of orzo? ›

Orzo. You get a little less orzo in a portion size because of its small, rice-like shape. Two ounces dry pasta is equal to 1/3 cup dry pasta. When boiled, that comes out to be 4/5 cup cooked pasta, or just shy of 1 cup.

What is a portion size of orzo? ›

Orzo can be enjoyed al dente (with a bite) or soft, depending on who's enjoying it and how you're serving it. Wondering how much orzo per person? A serving is about ⅓ c uncooked, as long as the pasta is the “main” component. Plan on ¼ cup orzo per person if adding to a soup or making a pasta salad with lots of mix-ins.

Is 1 cup of pasta enough for 2 people? ›

If you've already cooked your spaghetti, and you're wondering how to dole out servings, one cup of cooked pasta is a serving. Pile up your plate, slather on some sauce, and get to slurping.

How many cups is 1 lb of orzo pasta? ›

🍽️ Standard Guideline: As a general rule, 1 pound of dry pasta is roughly equivalent to 4 cups. 👩‍🍳 Adjustment for Shape: Larger pasta shapes might yield slightly fewer cups, while smaller shapes could result in more cups per pound. 🌐 International Variations: In some regions, pasta may be measured by grams or ounces.

Is orzo healthier then pasta? ›

Is orzo more healthy than pasta? Orzo is a type of pasta. So, they share similar nutritional values. But how healthy a dish is depends more on what you mix into it and how much you take.

Is orzo healthier than rice? ›

Orzo also has a higher fiber content than rice as well. Orzo does, however, have a higher carbohydrate content per serving, but not by much. Due to the higher protein and fiber content, orzo will leave you feeling fuller for longer which is helpful for those trying to lose weight.

Can you overcook orzo? ›

Cooking with orzo is typically straightforward but still presents certain common issues. Overcooking is a frequent error, which can make the orzo mushy and unappetizing. It's best to always test it a couple of minutes before the package instructions say it should be done, as you want it to be al dente.

What is the ratio of water to orzo? ›

1 cup raw orzo (about 6 oz) will give you about 2 cups cooked. If you want a slightly creamier result, orzo can be cooked as you would rice. Boil 1/2 cups water for each cup orzo.

How much pasta does 1 cup dry make? ›

You will need roughly 1 cup (or 0.9 cups to be precise) of dried pasta to obtain 2 cups of cooked pasta. Generally, the ratio of dry pasta to cooked pasta is approximately 1:1.5 to 1:2, as the dry pasta tends to expand upon boiling/cooking, and it can easily double in weight.

How much water for 1 cup of orzo? ›

Generally it is 1 cup of uncooked orzo to 2 cups of water or broth. There is typically liquid left over after cooking that needs to be drained before using.

Does orzo double in size when cooked? ›

You'll also find that the cooking times and temperatures for each vary widely. Orzo has a creamier and softer texture than rice. Much like rice, it can double in size when cooked. Rice can be cooked to be sticky, while orzo will just clump without enough moisture.

How much pasta does 1 cup uncooked make? ›

Use the following guide: Small pasta (such as macaroni, conchiglie, or cavatelli): Four ounces equals about 1 cup uncooked. That will give you about 2 1/2 cups cooked pasta, enough for 2 or 3 servings. – Medium pasta (such as rigatoni or mostaccioli): Four ounces measures about 3 cups.

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