One Pan Creamy Butternut Orzo & Salmon
I’m craving all the cozy meals right now and this One Pan Creamy Butternut Orzo & Salmon is perfect to add to your Fall dinner menu. All you need are a few simple ingredients and you’ve got a simple weeknight meal!
This one-pan creamy butternut orzo and salmon is the perfect cozy dinner for fall! Tender orzo cooks in a flavorful sauce with roasted butternut squash, creating a creamy, comforting base for flaky salmon. The combination of sweet butternut squash, savory seasonings, and rich, creamy orzo makes every bite so delicious, and it feels a little elevated while still being simple enough to make on a weeknight.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that everything comes together in one pan, which means less cleanup and more time to enjoy dinner. The orzo absorbs all the delicious flavors as it cooks, while the salmon adds a boost of protein to make this a satisfying, balanced meal. Serve it straight from the pan for an easy dinner that feels special without requiring a ton of time or effort!
What you need for One Pan Creamy Butternut Orzo & Salmon:
- Salmon
- Butternut Squash
- Orzo
- Garlic cloves
- Yellow onion
- Vegetable broth
- Fresh Spinach
- Parmesan Cheese
- Heavy Cream
- Sea salt
- Black Pepper
- Avocado Oil
How to make this orzo:
- Pat the salmon dry on both sides with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Make two small slits in the skin side of each fillet, then season both sides with salt and pepper.
- In non stick pan, add avocado oil to heat up. Make sure pan has fully heated before adding the salmon.Place the salmon skin-side down and cook for 5–6 minutes until the skin is crispy. Flip and cook for another 2–3 minutes, or until cooked through. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fillets. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Remove any excess on pan from salmon.
- Add additional tbsp of oil and add in cubed butternut to brown and become fork tender, generally 6-7 minutes.
- Add in onion, minced garlic and additional salt and garlic powder to saute until fragrant.
- Add in orzo and broth. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes and then simmer for 10 minutes. Place lid on pan and continually stir so orzo doesn’t stick to pan.
- Once orzo has soaked up the broth, add in spinach, cream and parmesan. Remove from the heat and mix to combine.
- Nestle pieces of salmon into the orzo.
- Top with grated parmesan and fresh thyme.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to store your leftover orzo:
It’s best to store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge. I like using these!
If you want to switch it up, try doing this instead:
- Leave off the Salmon or use chicken sausage instead!
- Add in more fall veggies like shredded brussels sprouts.
If you like this recipe, you may also enjoy these on One Balanced Life:
FAQs:
It’s important to use a deep enough dish! I used this one which is great for one pan meals!
No! You can leave the salmon off and just do the butternut orzo or sub for chicken sausage or even chicken thighs!
Yes! Depending on your preference for reheating salmon, this can be prepped. I recommend serving it after fixing though.
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One Pan Creamy Butternut Orzo & Salmon
This One Pan Creamy Butternut Orzo & Salmon is the perfect cozy fall dish!
Ingredients
- 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 3 pieces salmon
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 1/2 cup dry orzo
- 2 cups spinach, lightly chopped
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- optional toppings: additional parmesan, fresh thyme
Instructions
- Pat the salmon dry on both sides with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Make two small slits in the skin side of each fillet, then season both sides with salt and pepper.
- In non stick pan, add avocado oil to heat up. Make sure pan has fully heated before adding the salmon.
- Place the salmon skin-side down and cook for 5–6 minutes until the skin is crispy. Flip and cook for another 2–3 minutes, or until cooked through. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fillets. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Remove any excess on pan from salmon. Add additional tbsp of oil and add in cubed butternut to brown and become fork tender, generally 6-7 minutes.
- Add in onion, minced garlic and additional salt and garlic powder to saute until fragrant.
- Add in orzo and broth. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes and then simmer for 10 minutes. Place lid on pan and continually stir so orzo doesn't stick to pan.
- Once orzo has soaked up the broth, add in spinach, cream and parmesan. Remove from the heat and mix to combine.
- Nestle pieces of salmon into the orzo.
- Top with grated parmesan and fresh thyme.
- Serve and enjoy!
