• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • What’s In The Pan?
  • About
    • CONTACT
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work with me
    • Featured On
    • About me
  • Recipes
  • Holiday
  • Privacy Policy
  • CONTACT
  • Nav Social Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Holiday
  • Popular
  • Pasta
  • Chicken
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Holiday
    • Popular
    • Pasta
    • Chicken
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Shrimp Orzo in Creamy Wine Sauce

    Aug 8, 2019 · 40 Comments

    75.0K shares
    • Facebook280
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Shrimp Orzo is an easy main dish that’s ready in 30 minutes! Orzo Pasta guarantees a meal with maximum flavor! Fast and fresh dinner for busy weeknights or family dinners!Shrimp Orzo in Creamy Wine Sauce

    What is Orzo

    Orzo is a small rice-shaped pasta! It means “barley” in Italian due to its resemblance to the grain in its unprocessed form. Orzo is popular across Europe, particularly in Greece, where it’s known as krithiraki.

    A two oz. serving of orzo is 200 calories. This small pasta is a good source of carbohydrates. One serving of orzo contains 42 grams of carbohydrates and two grams of fiber.

    Is orzo good for you?

    Orzo is a good source of thiamin and niacin, also providing some B6, folate, iron and zinc.

    How to Cook Orzo Pasta

    Very simple – I like cooking orzo in salty boiling water!

    1. In a large pot, bring water to a boil.
    2. Add the orzo pasta to the water, add salt to make water noticeably salty; and stir a few times to prevent the grains from sticking together.
    3. Cook stirring occasionally, until al dente or softer depending on desired texture.
    4. Drain, rinse with cold water and toss with desired sauce.

    Is Orzo same as rice?

    Rice and orzo share similar characteristics, but the two foods are not identical. If anyone ever asks you to explain the difference between rice and orzo—simply remember: orzo is rice-shaped pasta. Orzo is usually made from white flour, and is NOT gluten free.

    What is gluten free substitute for orzo

    I find that there are two options that make sense when going gluten free:

    1. You can use risotto (or Arborio) rice instead of orzo. Of course, any plain rice—regardless of whether it’s whole-grain brown rice, polished white rice, long-grained basmati rice, or even exotic black rice—is always a great gluten–free option in cooking.
    2. Quinoa. While it assumes a grain-like taste and texture after cooking, quinoa is a seed. This popular rice substitute is gluten-free and much higher in protein than rice or orzo.

    Shrimp Orzo Pasta

    Have you tried shrimp with orzo before? Together they. Are. AMAZING! Just one pot of pure comfort food. Shrimp is amazingly tender. And orzo. Well, it’s a fast cooking kind of pasta. It looks like rice, but it’s not. What else can I say?

    I have been cooking shrimp with orzo for years, and it’s absolutely magical! I think you’ll be excited with all the amazing Mediterranean flavors in this dish. Because orzo in white wine sauce with feta is super flavorful and delicious!

    Amazing Wine Sauce

    I love cooking with wine… SO much. Wine just makes everything taste better. The sauce is based on garlic and wine flavors that make your kitchen smell like a restaurant! I dreamt up this dish a while ago, even made an Instant Pot version of it and also made some tweaks based on what I had on hand. This version is made with everyday ingredients, and is incredibly flavorful!

    Skillet to use for Shrimp Orzo

    You can make this shrimp orzo pasta in any large skillet, but I always make it in my 12 inch stainless steel pan. When I’m cooking the shrimp, I don’t want to be worried too much about overcooking it. Since stainless steel conducts heat so well, cooking shrimp in it is a no brainer! Also, because I’m a messy cook, I need a large surface, which 12 inches provide plenty of! If you don’t have a stainless steel skillet, you can use cast iron, or carbon steel skillet … but I highly recommend picking up a stainless steel skillet, they have so many uses!

    Step by step instructions with photos

    Make sure to use raw shrimp. I usually peel it myself and leave the tails on. Fry the shrimp on each side for 1-2 minutes just until cooked through.

    To make the sauce, add butter to the pan first. Once melted, add onion and garlic and cook until fragrant. Now add wine and cook for a couple of minutes. Next add heavy cream and once the liquid is simmering, add cooked orzo, salt and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.

    You are now ready to add feta to the dish!

    Finally, I add the shrimp back to the pan and reheat it.Shrimp Orzo

    What goes well with Shrimp Orzo

    To go alongside this greek style shrimp orzo, I like to serve it with Mediterranean Bread. Add a nice green salad and it makes the perfect trio!

    In case your family isn’t begging for more by the time dinner is over, this shrimp orzo pasta reheats well for lunch the next day!

    As the weeknights get busier and busier, do yourself a favor and whip up this 30 minute Mediterranean shrimp orzo pasta!

    More pasta recipes you may like

    Italian Chicken Pasta
    Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Bacon
    Instant Pot Orzo with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Feta

    Print Recipe
    4.15 from 64 votes

    Shrimp Orzo in Creamy Wine Sauce

    Amazingly delicious and easy dish to make!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4
    Author: Olya

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup orzo
    • 1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
    • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, (divided)
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 2 tablespoon butter, divided
    • ½ onion, chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • ⅓ cup white wine
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
    • Parsley to garnish

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl pat the shrimps dry with paper towel, and mix them with salt, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes.
    • Melt 1 tbsp. of butter in a large, non-stick skillet on medium heat. Add shrimp and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side, just until it cooks through.
    • Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook orzo pasta according to the package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside. 
    • Remove the shrimps from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tbsp. of butter and melt until it just starts to brown. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent and fragrant.
    • Once the garlic is cooked, add wine and cook for a couple of minutes. Next add heavy cream and once the liquid is simmering, add cooked orzo, salt and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
    • Add crumbled feta cheese and mix with orzo. Now add shrimp back into the skillet and reheat. Serve with chopped parsley.
    Nutrition Facts
    Shrimp Orzo in Creamy Wine Sauce
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 482 Calories from Fat 198
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 22g34%
    Saturated Fat 13g81%
    Cholesterol 358mg119%
    Sodium 1303mg57%
    Potassium 262mg7%
    Carbohydrates 32g11%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 31g62%
    Vitamin A 745IU15%
    Vitamin C 6.4mg8%
    Calcium 306mg31%
    Iron 3.4mg19%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only. This information comes from online calculators. Although whatsinthepan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

    « No Bake Peanut Butter Dessert
    Instant Pot Chili »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rita Braddock says

      November 04, 2022 at 8:34 pm

      This dish was outstanding!!! What a great recipe. Easy recipe but yet it is truly a gourmet recipe. Better than going to a restaurant any day!!!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        November 05, 2022 at 10:51 pm

        What a thoughtful comment, Rita!

        Reply
    2. Michelle says

      May 31, 2022 at 10:13 pm

      My hubs is gluten intolerant so I made GF fettuccini. Was super yummy! Will def make it again!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        June 01, 2022 at 4:43 pm

        Wonderful to hear Michelle! I love gluten free pasta! Brings variety to our diets.

        Reply
    3. Allyson Gallagher says

      May 31, 2022 at 12:37 am

      My husband & I loved it! Maybe a little to much of Italian Seasoning, but otherwise delicious & easy to make.

      Reply
      • Olya says

        May 31, 2022 at 5:41 pm

        I am glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Barbara says

      April 26, 2022 at 12:12 am

      Do you have to use wine?

      Reply
      • Olya says

        April 26, 2022 at 10:53 am

        Wine definitely imparts a good chunk of flavor, but the dish will be delicious without it as well!

        Reply
    5. Linda says

      April 13, 2022 at 12:22 am

      What cheese can I use instead of feta

      Reply
      • Olya says

        April 14, 2022 at 1:25 pm

        Ricotta or goat cheese.

        Reply
    6. Jo says

      February 27, 2022 at 10:57 am

      What could I use instead of feta cheese

      Reply
      • Olya says

        February 28, 2022 at 11:51 am

        I use goat cheese as a replacement.

        Reply
        • Joyce Fields says

          January 08, 2023 at 1:35 pm

          Can I use rice?

          Reply
          • Olya says

            January 09, 2023 at 1:53 am

            Arborio rice.

            Reply
    7. Patti says

      December 04, 2021 at 7:34 pm

      Yummy, yummy this is a keeper. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        December 05, 2021 at 3:25 pm

        Thank you Patti!

        Reply
    8. Barb says

      November 01, 2021 at 8:16 pm

      I loved this. I added halved cherry tomatoes . I find red pepper flakes , sometimes, too spicy so I used a pinch of cayenne instead. Wonderful recipe.

      Reply
      • Olya says

        November 06, 2021 at 2:12 pm

        A pinch of cayenne is a great substitution, Barb! Thank you for this wonderful comment and a 5-star rating!

        Reply
    9. Gina Null says

      September 23, 2021 at 1:24 am

      This was fantastic! Used shallots instead of onion because I was out of onion. Otherwise followed directions exactly! Company worthy dish!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        September 23, 2021 at 5:29 pm

        Thank you for your kind words, Gina!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Click on stars to rate the recipe!




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Olya! Welcome to the online home of my recipes that will make you look like a pro, yet without having to spend too much time in the kitchen! More about me →

    Most Recent:

    • Italian Sausage and Spinach Pasta
    • Homemade Peach and Blueberry Puff Pastry Tart
    • Lemon Chicken and Rice
    • Brussels Sprouts and Ravioli in Maple Butter Sauce
    JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Me
    • Work with me

    Copyright © 2021 Whatsinthepan.com