This Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo is the easiest pasta you’ll ever make! This spin on the viral Boursin pasta has creamy garlic and herb Boursin cheese, juicy tomatoes, rich cream, and basil for creamy orzo pasta that is SO good! Plus, all you need are 5 minutes hands-on time and one pan. I told you it was easy!
Whether I need a fast and easy side dish or crowd-pleasing entree, this Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo fits the bill! Orzo bakes up plump and full of flavor, right in the baking dish for a one-dish wonder of a recipe.
When it comes to baked orzo, Boursin is the perfect addition! All you need to do for this creamy orzo recipe is to add grape tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and a round of Boursin cheese to a casserole dish. Bake for a bit, stir, then add the pasta, broth, cream, and salt. Bake for awhile longer, stir, and serve! 5 minutes work, 7 ingredients, and only ONE dish.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Simple & easy – All you need are 7 easy ingredients + 5 minutes prep time to make this creamy orzo pasta. I love how easy it is!
- Easily vegetarian – Just use vegetable broth and this Boursin cheese orzo bake is 100% vegetarian!
- Family friendly – This Boursin cheese orzo bake is a massive hit with everyone in the family.
Recipe Notes
This Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo recipe is as simple as promised! Just 5 minutes prep time for a family friendly dinner.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Olive oil – Use your favorite brand of olive oil
- Grape tomatoes – You’ll want 8 ounces, which is equal to about 1 cup of tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes will work, too.
- Garlic – 3 cloves of garlic, minced, for loads of flavor.
- Boursin cheese – One 5.2 ounce package of the classic garlic and herb flavor.
- Orzo – Orzo is a small pasta shape that’s similar to rice, but larger. It can be found in the pasta aisle of most well-stocked grocery stores. You’ll need one pound, or 16 ounces, of orzo – usually one box.
- Chicken broth – Chicken broth helps the pasta to cook in the oven. You can sub in vegetable stock for a fully vegetarian Boursin orzo bake.
- Heavy cream – For a luxuriously creamy sauce.
- Salt
- Basil – For garnish.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Creamy Chicken Orzo– Stir in two cups of cooked shredded chicken with the orzo and continue cooking as directed.
- Creamy Lemon Orzo– After cooking, stir in the zest of a medium lemon and a couple of tablespoons of the juice. Garnish with plenty of basil and serve.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo.
Place the tomatoes and garlic into the pan. Drizzle with olive oil and stir. Nestle the Boursin cheese into the middle.
Bake for about 10 minutes, then add the orzo, broth, cream, and salt. Stir, blending in the cheese and crushing the tomatoes.
Stir, blending in the cheese and crushing the tomatoes.
Bake until the pasta is tender. Garnish with basil and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Test the pasta for doneness – After the initial baking time, taste-test a piece of pasta. If it is tender and cooked through, it’s done! If not, bake it for another 5-10 minutes and test again.
- Add more broth if needed – If the liquid has dried up but the pasta isn’t quite cooked, add another splash of broth to help plump the orzo all of the way up.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Prep ahead – Dice the garlic and chop the basil ahead of time to shave a couple of minutes off of the prep.
- Make ahead – Meal-prep this Boursin cheese orzo pasta recipe 3-4 days ahead of time, then reheat individual portions when it’s time to eat. Add a splash of water or broth to thin it back out a bit, if needed.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to Freeze Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo After Cooking
- Bake and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Transfer creamy orzo pasta to a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag.
- Freeze for up to 6 months.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat in the oven or microwave in 30-second intervals (stir in between heating).
What to Serve with Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of garlic, herbs, and pasta, it will pair well with many of your favorite Italian-inspired side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- La Scala Chopped Salad, Arugula Pear Salad, or Kale Salad
- Best-Ever Garlic Bread or Pesto Cheese Bread
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower or Pesto Roasted Veggies
Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Recipe FAQ’s
Can you bake Boursin cheese?Yes! Boursin gets ultra creamy when heated up. I love it in easy pasta dishes like this Boursin orzo bake.
Yes! Boursin gets ultra creamy when heated up. I love it in easy pasta dishes like this Boursin orzo bake.
Can you use milk instead of heavy cream?Yes, you can swap in milk instead of the heavy cream, but the end result won’t be quite as rich and creamy.
Yes, you can swap in milk instead of the heavy cream, but the end result won’t be quite as rich and creamy.
More EASY Pasta Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy pasta recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces grape tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 package garlic herb Boursin cheese, (5.2 ounce)
- 1 pound orzo, (uncooked)
- 3 cups chicken broth, or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup chopped basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚F.
- Pour the tomatoes and minced garlic in a large 9×13 inch baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over it and give it a stir. Place the Boursin cheese in the middle of the dish and then bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove after 10 minutes and stir in the orzo, broth, cream, and salt. Continue to stir blending in the softened Boursin and crushing the tomatoes.
- Place back in the oven for 30 minutes. At the end of 30 minutes, remove for the oven and stir. Test the pasta and if it is done, proceed to next step. If it needs longer, return to the oven for up to 10 more minutes.
- Once done, stir, then garnish top with fresh basil. Serve immediately.
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