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Slow-Cooker Creamy Orzo with Parmesan and Peas

By Ashley Moore

Published on October 16, 2019

Time

1 to 2 hours on high

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Slow cooker size

4 to 7 quarts

Slow-Cooker Creamy Orzo with Parmesan and Peas

Ingredients

1 cup orzo 1 onion, chopped fine6 garlic cloves, minced3 tablespoons unsalted butter Salt and pepper 2 ½ cups vegetable or chicken broth, plus extra as needed¼ cup dry white wine 1 cup frozen peas, thawed2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest

Before You Begin

You will need an oval slow cooker for this recipe.

Instructions

  1. 1. Microwave orzo, onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon butter, and ½ teaspoon salt in bowl, stirring occasionally, until orzo is lightly toasted and onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes; transfer to slow cooker.
  2. Microwave 2 cups broth and wine in bowl until steaming, about 5 minutes. Stir broth mixture into slow cooker, cover, and cook until orzo is al dente, 1 to 2 hours on high.
  3. Sprinkle peas over orzo, cover, and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes. Microwave remaining ½ cup broth in bowl until steaming, about 2 minutes. Stir broth, Parmesan, lemon zest, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter into orzo until mixture is creamy. Adjust consistency with extra hot broth as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Slow-Cooker Creamy Orzo with Parmesan and Peas
Styling by Sally Staub.

Slow-Cooker Creamy Orzo with Parmesan and Peas

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Time

1 to 2 hours on high

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Slow cooker size

4 to 7 quarts

Ingredients

1 cup orzo
1 onion, chopped fine
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and pepper
2 ½ cups vegetable or chicken broth, plus extra as needed
¼ cup dry white wine
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest

Ingredients

1 cup orzo
1 onion, chopped fine
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and pepper
2 ½ cups vegetable or chicken broth, plus extra as needed
¼ cup dry white wine
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest

Ingredients

1 cup orzo
1 onion, chopped fine
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and pepper
2 ½ cups vegetable or chicken broth, plus extra as needed
¼ cup dry white wine
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest

Why This Recipe Works

For a side dish of tender—not mushy—orzo, we toasted the pasta in butter in the microwave before moving it to the slow cooker and adding hot broth to jump-start its cooking. Grated Parmesan and a couple more pats of butter added at the end gave us a rich-tasting dish with a creamy texture. Stirring frozen peas in at the end of cooking ensured that they stayed bright and fresh-tasting. 

Before You Begin

You will need an oval slow cooker for this recipe.

Instructions

  1. 1. Microwave orzo, onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon butter, and ½ teaspoon salt in bowl, stirring occasionally, until orzo is lightly toasted and onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes; transfer to slow cooker.
  2. Microwave 2 cups broth and wine in bowl until steaming, about 5 minutes. Stir broth mixture into slow cooker, cover, and cook until orzo is al dente, 1 to 2 hours on high.
  3. Sprinkle peas over orzo, cover, and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes. Microwave remaining ½ cup broth in bowl until steaming, about 2 minutes. Stir broth, Parmesan, lemon zest, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter into orzo until mixture is creamy. Adjust consistency with extra hot broth as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

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