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This creamy Lemon Salmon Orzo is a fresh and vibrant one-pot dinner that is ready in under 35 minutes! Flaky salmon, tender orzo, and spinach come together in a lemony garlic cream sauce that creates a restaurant-quality dish, that is easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
I love making this salmon orzo when I want something cozy but still light. The lemon keeps it bright, and the orzo soaks up all that rich, creamy goodness. It’s a dish that feels special, without the fuss.
If you love this creamy one-pan lemon orzo recipe, try my other easy dinner recipes, like Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes, Bang Bang Chicken Skewers, or Tuscan Salmon.
Creamy Lemon Salmon Orzo 🍋
Creamy lemon orzo with salmon looks beautiful and tastes amazing. It’s great for people who want to eat salmon but don’t know how to cook it. The perfectly seared salmon pairs well with the creamy flavorful orzo pasta.
Create this quick and easy dinner in 35 minutes or less! Here are some of the reasons why I love this salmon pasta:
- It’s an easy one-pan dinner – Looking for an easy weeknight dinner idea? This simple recipe has minimal ingredients and is a family favorite. Everything cooks in one pan for minimal clean up on busy nights.
- It’s packed with flavor – This dish is a perfect blend of cheese, cream, and richness. It features garlic, shallots, white wine, and butter – some of the best ingredients in the world!
- It’s a crowd pleaser – Even the pickiest of eaters will love this dish! This delicious family-friendly meal is sure to please anyone. Both kids and adults love it!
- It’s a complete meal – Serve this salmon orzo on its own for a complete meal for the whole family. Or you can serve it with a fresh side salad or side of veggies.
What is Orzo?
Orzo is a small pasta shaped like grains of rice. It’s often used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes and is perfect for soups, pasta salads, or creamy main dishes like this one.
Don’t be intimidated by the small size of the pasta. It’s quick and easy to cook, like other types of pasta.
Ingredients You Need
This creamy lemon salmon orzo is made with simple ingredients that work together beautifully to create vibrant flavor.
All of the ingredients that you need for this recipe are included in the photo below. Screenshot it and take it with you to the grocery store so you can buy everything you need.
- Salmon Fillets: Use your favorite cut—skinless or skin-on works. Atlantic salmon, sockeye salmon, King’s salmon, or coho salmon are all great choices.
- Orzo: This is a small, rice-shaped pasta that cooks quickly and absorbs flavor well. It’s perfect for this dish, but you can use any other short pasta like fusilli, penne or farfalle, if desired. Long noodles like fettuccine or angel hair also work okay but the texture will be slightly different.
- Lemon: Both fresh lemon juice and lemon zest add brightness and balance.
- Garlic and Shallots: A flavorful base for the sauce.
- White Wine: Adds depth and richness. (See FAQ below for substitutions.)
- Chicken Broth: Helps cook the orzo while adding savory flavor.
- Heavy Cream: For a creamy, luxurious texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: Melts into the sauce for a salty, cheesy finish.
- Spinach: Adds a pop of color and a boost of nutrients. You can omit or use baby kale or green peas. Or if you prefer, you can use a handful or so of fresh basil instead of the spinach.
- Butter and Olive Oil: Used for searing and building the sauce.
- Spices: I use Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. The red pepper flakes add a little kick to the dish but you can omit them, if desired. You will also need salt and pepper.
Recipe Tips
- Pat the salmon dry: Before seasoning the salmon, be sure to pat the salmon filets completely dry. This will help to achieve the perfect sear.
- Make sure the pan is hot: To prevent the salmon from sticking to the pan, make sure there is a thin layer of hot extra virgin olive oil on the bottom of the pan. The oil should be hot before you add the fish to the pan as this will prevent the fish from sticking to the pan. It also helps to ensure a nice crust on the salmon.
- Cook skin side down: Start by searing the salmon skin side down to get that extra crispy crust. This helps lock in the amazing flavor.
Chef’s Kiss
You can garnish with more freshly grated Parmesan cheese, fresh lemon slices or fresh herbs like fresh parsley or basil. Or stir in some sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use more chicken broth, chicken stock, or cooking wine with low alcohol content instead of the white wine.
A large, shallow Dutch oven or cast iron skillet works best. I like this affordable 3 qt Dutch Oven from Amazon.
Yes! Cod, halibut, or even tilapia works. Adjust cook time for thickness of the fish.
Yes! You can use chicken or shrimp for this recipe. I recommend using bone-in chicken thighs for the best flavor. You could also use chicken breasts.
What to Serve with Salmon
Serve this meal on its own for an entire meal. Or you can serve with a side dish, like one of the following:
- Roasted or Steamed Broccoli or Green Beans
- Cucumber, Tomato and Feta Salad
- Roasted Garlic Cheesy Bread
Storage and Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat on the stove top or in the microwave.
Freeze: This salmon orzo recipe is freezer-friendly. Store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat before serving.
Enjoy this one-pot dinner recipe any day of the year for meal prep or as a quick and easy weeknight meal. It’s a delicious culinary masterpiece that anyone can make at home!
Creamy Lemon Salmon Orzo
Ingredients
For the Salmon
- 4 salmon filets skin on or off
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil plus more as needed
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Pasta
- 20 ounces orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup minced garlic
- ¼ cup minced shallot
- ¼ cup white wine
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth add more if needed
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Season the salmon fillets with the paprika, oil, salt, and pepper.
- In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. It should be enough to lightly coat the bottom of the pan.
- One the oil is hot, add the salmon fillets and cook for about 2 minutes on each side until browned. Remove the salmon from the pan (including the juices) and set aside.
- Add the butter, shallot, and garlic in the same skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
- Pour in white wine and let it reduce for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add in the orzo, and stir until fully combined.
- Add the chicken broth to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Stir in the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and salt until combined. Stir in the spinach and simmer for 10 minutes until the orzo softens, adding more broth if needed.
- Add any juices from the salmon to the pan and stir to combine. Lower the heat to low heat, add the salmon pieces back in, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until pasta is tender.
Notes
- If needed, add more chicken broth to cook pasta, if needed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is so impressive and so easy!! Absolutely delicious, thank you!
– Sunshine Coast, Australia
I do not see the amount of spinach to add for this recipe, would love to try to tonight.
Hi, 1 cup 🙂
Your recipes are so flavorful. This was a great dinner for hubby and me and makes for a great, healthy lunch for tomorrow. I used a bit of thyme in place of Italian seasoning, and I only had a quarter cup of cream, was still fine.
I made it last night and it was delicious. The only problem was no mention of how much spinach or not even listed in the ingredients.
This is so delicious! I’ve made it 3 times so far and it is always a hit. I have to alter the ratio of orzo to broth: I use 8 oz (half a box) of dry orzo with almost 32 oz broth or homemade chicken stock. This recipes also works great with a few pieces of the vacuum packed salmon from Honey Smoked Fish Co if I am in a rush—just skip the beginning and start with step 4.
Sooo delicious! My orzo took on a ton of broth, and it was so flavorful! I subbed shallots for carmelized onion cubes, and parm for sharp white cheddar. Highly recommend this dish for a fancy yet easy dinner in.
This was amazing!! We used almond milk instead of heavy cream and it was chefs KISS!
Phenomenal,. Easy. Quick. Fantastic way to work some fish into a busy family diet. My kid even liked it. Thank you. 🙏
I made this recipe for my family, and they all really enjoyed it!
This was such a great recipe! I just added sun dried tomatoes & used low fat milk instead. Still came out super good
Also I think you meant lemon zest 1TBSP..? Thanks for sharing!