Cheesy Orzo

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

Orzo is baked with mushrooms and plenty of cheese creating a rich and creamy side dish perfect with chicken and pork.

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth
1 (16 ounce) package orzo pasta
3 tablespoons butter
1 white onion, chopped
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 cup Marsala wine
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
4 ounces shredded fontina cheese
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2 Bring chicken broth to a boil in a pot; stir in orzo. Cook until almost tender, about 7 minutes. Pour orzo and broth into a bowl.
3 Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and mushrooms in the melted butter until softened, about 7 minutes. Pour in Marsala wine and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir mushroom mixture into orzo.
4 Stir peas, cream, fontina cheese, mozzarella cheese, salt, and pepper into orzo-mushroom mixture. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
5 Mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and thyme together in a bowl; sprinkle over orzo-mushroom mixture.
6 Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and breadcrumbs are lightly browned, about 25 minutes.