Creamy Spinach Bacon Orzo

This one pot spinach bacon orzo recipe takes everyone’s favorite pasta and pairs it with fresh spinach and crispy bacon! It’s creamy, quick, and like a risotto but easier.

Ingredients:
6 strips bacon cut into small pieces
4 cloves garlic minced
¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup heavy/whipping cream
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:
Cut the bacon into small pieces (this is quick and easy with kitchen shears) and fry it in a soup pot until crispy. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and orzo to the pot (don’t drain the bacon grease, and leave the bacon in the pot). Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often (this infuses the orzo with more flavor and toasts it a bit). Stir in the chicken broth and cream. Once it starts bubbling, continue cooking for 10 minutes, uncovered, stirring fairly often. You will likely need to turn the heat down a bit (to medium or even medium-low). It should gently bubble vs. furiously boil, and you don’t want the liquid to reduce too much before the pasta has cooked. Take the pot off the heat, stir in the parmesan and spinach, and cover the pot for 3-5 minutes or until it has thickened up to your liking. The orzo will absorb the liquid quickly, so if it still seems like there’s too much, just wait a little bit longer. Season with salt & pepper as needed.

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