Orzo Pilaf with Lemon and Dill

This easy Orzo Pilaf recipe is full of buttery flavor with lemon, dill, and green onion. An optional but delicious step: the orzo is toasted in brown butter before it’s cooked for a boost of delicious flavor. This simple Greek-inspired side dish will be your go-to to serve with chicken, fish, and more!

Look closely at the photo of orzo pilaf above. Do you see how there are some pieces of orzo that are darker in color than others? That, my friends, is the beauty of this dish. The toasted orzo not only makes this pilaf pretty to look at, but also boosts the flavor.

And browning the butter before toasting the orzo in it results in a delicious earthy, toasty flavor that adds a lot of depth to this otherwise simple side dish. (Intimidated by brown butter? Don’t worry- if you want to skip browning the butter, that’s fine too!)

Best of all- you only need a handful of ingredients, one pot, and 20 minutes total to make this easy orzo pilaf. You’re going to love how versatile and yummy it is!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Butter – use olive oil or a vegan butter sub for a vegan version, or ghee for dairy free (and skip the browning part).
• Green onions – I really recommend green here, but finely diced yellow, white, or sweet onion would also work.
• Orzo – parboiled rice can be used instead, or substituted for half the orzo.
• Lemon zest and juice
• Chicken broth – vegetable broth or water may also be used.
• Fresh dill – dried may be used in a pinch, or another herb such as parsley.

How to make orzo pilaf

1. First, BROWN butter in a medium pot, stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn (or just melt the butter if you’re skipping browning).
2. As soon as the butter is brown (or melted), ADD the green onions to the pot. Cook until softened.
3. Then, ADD the orzo and lemon zest. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until orzo is toasted.
4. ADD the chicken / vegetable broth, along with some salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 10-13 minutes or until orzo is cooked.
5. Finally, turn off heat and STIR IN more butter, lemon juice, and fresh dill. Stir until butter is melted and season to taste. Serve.

Recommended Additions to the Pilaf

This orzo pilaf is delicious as is for a simple side dish. But it’s easy to add other ingredients to make it more hearty for a light meal on its own.

• Add 1/3 cup slivered almonds or another chopped nut like pecans or walnuts when you add the orzo. They will toast with the orzo and soften as it cooks.
• Stir in cooked chicken or shrimp.
• Add a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas or white beans.
• Sauté some chopped spinach with the green onions, or other delicate veggies like diced zucchini or summer squash.
• Add in some frozen peas and/or corn after the orzo is cooked and stir in until they are heated through.

What to serve with orzo pilaf

• New England Baked Haddock
• Pan Fried Sea Bass
• Salmon Patties
• Keftedes (Greek Meatballs)
• Greek Chicken Bites

Other easy orzo recipes

• Shrimp and Orzo Salad
• Orzo with Mushrooms, Brown Butter, and Thyme
• Mediterranean Chickpea and Orzo Salad
• Spinach, Orzo, and Meatball Soup
• Manestra (Greek-Style Orzo with Ground Beef)

You may also want to check out this recipe for Greek Spinach and Rice, or Spanakorizo – a similar recipe packed with spinach that uses rice instead of orzo.

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