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The Easiest One Pan Spinach and Artichoke Orzo Bake. Trust me, this is going to become your new go-to for busy nights. Marinated artichokes with fresh spinach, garlic, and olive oil, all tossed together with dry orzo pasta, basil pesto, and then finished with melty fontina cheese. This tasty dish is all made in one pan without even having to boil any water. Simply mix, bake, eat, and enjoy!
Happy Monday! I’m writing this from sunny, warm Miami. Here for a very quick trip but soaking up as much of the warm weather as I can. But by the time you read this, I’ll be home.
I made this yummy bake last week and have been so excited to share it ever since. It’s so good and I think you’ll all love how easy it is to make!
If you remember from last year, I made a Caprese Orzo Bake that I quickly started to make on repeat throughout the spring and summer.
It’s such a smart cooking method that saves us all so much time. And because of that, we especially love this recipe.
I took inspiration from that recipe and applied the cooking method to this orzo bake. I just love the variety of flavors! Plus, it means that there is truly no effort to this one pan pasta dish.
Here are the details
This recipe is so simple it’s going to shock you!
Start with your baking dish. Use a casserole-style pan that can fit lots of pasta and cheese.
To the bottom of the pan, add in the olive oil, garlic, herbs, and spices. I used a few Italian chilies for some heat, and a small amount of paprika too.
Add dry orzo pasta right to the pan, no need to boil it!
Now, mix in the artichokes. It’s best to use jarred marinated artichoke hearts. They’ll come with a mix of oil and spices. I use the DeLallo brand.
Dump the oil and artichokes directly into the pan with the orzo for an even more delicious flavor.
Next mix in basil pesto and a pinch of chili flakes. Or try using the Calabrian chili paste I’ve been loving.
From here simply add water and bake it all up in the oven. As everything bakes together, the orzo will soak up the water and become perfectly cooked. It’s such a simple way to cook orzo pasta!
Pull the dish out, add a mix of mozzarella and provolone cheese, then bake again until the cheese is all melty and bubbling up.
It’s going to smell so delicious!! The pesto really is such a nice addition to the spinach and artichokes.
Top with plenty of fresh basil and that’s literally it. SO SIMPLE, SO DELICIOUS! And I love that there’s basically no prep or extra dishes.
Simple but delicious really is the key! Especially as we head into the nice springtime weather! Of course, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Looking for other easy pasta bakes? Here are my favorites:
One Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Whipped Ricotta
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
4 Cheese Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach Pasta Bake
Lastly, if you make this Easy One Pan Spinach and Artichoke Orzo Bake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pan Spinach and Artichoke Orzo Bake
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 543 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
- 1-2 tablespoons crushed Calabrian chili paste, or chili flakes, to taste
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 pound dry orzo pasta
- 1 jar (12 ounces) marinated artichokes, quartered (or use 2 smaller jars)
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
- 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded fontina cheese
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.2. In a 9×13 inch baking dish, combine the olive oil, garlic, shallots, basil, paprika, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Add the dry orzo, artichokes, and pesto. Pour over 2 1/4 cups of water and stir to combine. Place the spinach on top. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until most of the water has cooked into the pasta, but not all of it.3. Stir the pasta around, then sprinkle the cheeses overtop. Bake another 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling. If there's a lot of oil from the pesto on top, drain off the excess. Top with fresh basil!
This post was originally published on February 27, 2023
I made this tonight & it was very good. Orzo pasta was not available so I used ditalini pasta & it worked well. I adjusted the recipe for 3 people instead of 6 but I noticed the amount of water, which is only listed in the instructions and not the ingredients, isn’t reduced as it should. I cut the amount in half and it worked out just fine. I paired this dish with grilled chicken and it made a wonderul meal.
Hey Beth,
Perfect!! Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing the adjustments that worked well for you! So glad to hear that this was enjoyed! xT
This recipe came out so good! My husband, who is very picky and doesn’t like most vegetables, went back for seconds! I used Barilla brand orzo and it cooked perfectly with recommended liquid and time. I also added sliced pan seared smoked sausage to mine and I was not disappointed! Delicious!
Hey Caitlin,
Happy Tuesday!! I love to hear that this dish turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! Great idea to add sausage! xT
this is sooo good and super filling! my boyfriend had never had artichokes before and i made him this for dinner – he loved it! This makes so many servings and will last for 3 lunches after 🙂
Hey Brittney,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for giving this dish a try and your comment, I love to hear it was a hit! 😊
This was a miss. The amount of water did not properly cook the orzo for this method. I am going to try and salvage it this evening by removing the cheese, adding more water and covering it and reheating for about 15 minute then replace the cheese and continue to heat until melted. We shall see. Be forewarned before attempting this recipe. It is flavorful however, but the not quite cooked orzo distracts from the flavor.
Hi Kim,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback! Sorry to hear you had some issues, did you use the liquid from the artichoke jar? Let me know how I can help! xx
Hi Tieghan,
I did use the liquid from the artichoke jar. Perhaps there are different liquid/artichoke quotients in brands? idk. I did take the remainder of the dish and place it in a smaller baking dish with 1/4 cup of water and covered and cooked for 20 minutes and it came out really nice. The flavor is outstanding. Thanks!
Okay great to hear! Sorry for any trouble!
This recipe no doubt delivered on flavor and is easy peasy to make. Love that about it. But the amount of liquid and cook time is way off. That was clear from the comments so I was prepared but it would better if the recipe was updated to be more accurate. There is just no way 1lb of orzo is going to properly cook with only 2.25 cups of liquid. If it requires a special orzo to do that, the recipe should call out that brand and offer an alt cooking method for regular orzo. I will make the proper adjustments next time as it was absolutely delicious. I added shrimp half way through the cook time and it turned out fabulous. I see mushrooms in this dish’s future!
Hey Erica,
Thanks for sharing your feedback and giving this recipe a try!! There’s a few factors that can affect cooking time and liquid, like brand of pasta and the huge difference in ovens. Glad to hear it tasted good for you! xT
Can you freeze after cooking?
I haven’t done it specifically with this dish but I have frozen similar dishes for future meals and they froze beautifully. You might get a little water from the spinach when thawed but that will help keep the orzo from getting dried out. I have every intention of freezing a portion of two of this recipe.
Thanks for sharing Erica!!
Hi Katie,
I’ve not tested this, but I don’t see why that wouldn’t work for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
I want to share what worked for me – I did this with chicken instead of artichokes – it turned out amazing.
– Bake for 10 minutes (use 3 cups of water). Do not add spinach yet.
– While baking, sear the chicken (I used 1 1/2 pound of cubed chicken breast, seasoned with extra paprika, basil, olive oil, salt, pepper). About 3-5 minutes total. Do not cook all the way through.
– Remove pan from oven and add the chicken + juices. Add another cup or so of water here if needed. Stir. Top with spinach.
– Bake another 10 minutes.
– Remove from oven, add a little more water! Stir. Layer cheese on top. Bake until done.
All in all I used five cups of water, added ant intervals.
It was sooooo good. Thanks HBH 🙂
Thank you! I plan to make this recipe tonight and this is great information.
Hey there,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks so much for sharing what worked well for you and your handy notes! Have a great week! xT
We made it tonight! So quick and easy. It was nice as a quickly prep, dump and heat! I could see this with chicken too. Enjoy!
Hi Kristin,
Happy Monday!!🌞 Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
Could I use sambal oelek instead of Chili paste?
Hi Mackenzie,
You bet, that will work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it’s a hit! xT
I love this, but am Gluten free. I can’t seem to find GF orzos. Can you suggest a substitute?
I used 2 pkg of the Jovial Organic Grain Free Cassava Orzo instead and it cooked a little faster then normal orzo and was a bit drier. It wasn’t bad but maybe add a little more water if you use gluten free?
Thanks for sharing Kristin!
I’m sure any GF pasta will work great
Hey Joanne,
Arborio rice would be your next best option here! Let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
So good and so easy! Our 9 and 11 year old loved it, and we will be adding it to the dinner rotation. Adding grilled chicken, sun dried tomatoes or other veggies would be easy too!
Hey Chelsey,
So glad to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it! Have a great Monday! xx
Took much longer to cook the orzo and I had to add more water. I think the orzo measurement is incorrect; 1 poundkw ( more than 6 cups?). Suggest putting the measurement in cups.
Hi there,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback. 1 pound is correct, but it’s definitely not 6 cups of orzo, that’s too much! xx
I thought the ingredients were intriguing so I tried it. It came out well. However, I made adjustments that worked well. Instead of adding all that water… preboil or is it parboil? the pasta first. Add a little water but take advantage of juices from the jar of artichoke. A lower temp for half-hour or so. Any pasta will do. It was good!
Hi Shirley,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback! The orzo for this recipe should be completely raw, making it a one pot meal:) Let me know if I can help in any other way! xx
Delicious! Based on the previous comments, I let the orzo cook about 20 minutes (5 minutes before adding the spinach then 15 more before adding the cheese). I used vegan cheese and also added the Quorn chicken pieces to it. I will definitely make this again!
Hey Lisa,
Happy Monday!!🌞 Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
I am a huge fan of spinach artichoke dip so i wanted to try this! It is the best! Could eat it on its own or as a side. It turned out perfect! I was worried the orzo wouldn’t cook through so i left it in an extra couple minutes prior to putting on the cheese and it was 10/10!
Thanks so much Stephanie!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it:) xT
Really loved this! I couldn’t find the Calabrian chili paste, so I used jarred chopped and they worked great. The orzo cooked up perfectly.
Hey there,
Happy Monday!!🌞 Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx