15-Minute Creamy Garlic Shrimp Orzo You’ll Make Every Week

Hate doing dishes but want a dinner that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen? This One-Pan Garlic Butter Shrimp & Orzo is the ultimate lazy dinner hack you need in your life right now!

Trending all over Pinterest for a reason, this ridiculously easy recipe combines juicy shrimp, perfectly cooked orzo pasta, and a rich, creamy garlic butter sauce—all made in just ONE skillet in under 15 minutes. It’s the perfect weeknight meal when you want something fancy with zero effort.

🛒 What You Need (Ingredients)

• 1 lb (450g) large shrimp: Peeled and deveined (frozen is perfectly fine, just thaw it first!)
• 1 cup dry orzo pasta: The star of the show.
• 3 cloves garlic: Minced (measure with your heart, the more the better).
• 2 tablespoons butter & 1 tbsp olive oil: For that rich, golden flavor.
• 2 ½ cups chicken or vegetable broth: This cooks the orzo right in the pan.
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese: For the ultimate creamy finish.
• Fresh lemon juice & parsley: To brighten it all up!

👩‍🍳 How to Make It (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Sear the Shrimp Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in your shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 1-2 minutes per side until they turn pink. Remove the shrimp and set them aside on a plate (don’t overcook them!).

Step 2: Toast the Orzo In the same skillet (keep all those yummy shrimp juices!), add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Toss in the minced garlic and dry orzo. Stir it around for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant and the orzo gets slightly toasted.

Step 3: Simmer & Cook Pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a gentle boil. Turn the heat down to low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick. The orzo will absorb all that delicious broth!

Step 4: The Creamy Finish Once the orzo is tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed, stir in the Parmesan cheese until it’s perfectly creamy.

Step 5: Bring It All Together Add your cooked shrimp back into the pan. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve immediately and enjoy your stupidly easy, restaurant-quality dinner!