Creamy Bacon and Gruyère Orzo

If you know me, you know I love, love, LOVE pasta and cheese. Macaroni and cheese is my absolute favorite food and I could eat it every day without getting sick of it, but I still like to try making new recipes with my favorite ingredients (that would be the aforementioned pasta and cheese!) This creamy bacon and gruyère orzo is a quick and easy recipe that can be whipped up in about 20 minutes!

Orzo is a small pasta, a little bigger than rice, but not as big as elbow macaroni. I like to cook it in a similar way to how you cook arborio rice in a risotto. Instead of boiling orzo in salted water and draining it, you instead cook it slowly using warm broth to create a creamy sauce out of the starch from the pasta as you cook. Then you’ll add some bacon and cheese and this creamy dreamy recipe is complete!

Creamy Bacon and Gruyère Orzo Recipe

8 slices bacon – cooked and chopped
2 Tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves – minced
1-1/2 cup uncooked Orzo pasta
2-1/4 cup chicken broth
1 cup Gruyere cheese
4-5 basil leaves

I start this by getting my bacon ready. Pre-heat your oven to 400-degrees.

If you’ve never baked your bacon, then you’re really overcomplicating your life! To make mine, I lay it flat on a metal rack which is placed on a foil-lined baking sheet. The grease from the bacon drips below and there’s also less cleanup. Throw away the foil once the grease hardens and toss the metal racks in the dishwasher.

Bake your bacon at 400-degrees for about 15-20 minutes, until it’s just at the crispy point.

Once your bacon is cooked, let it cool then chop it into small pieces. Set aside.

Start the pasta by melting your butter on medium-high heat. Stir in your chopped garlic and cook for one minute.

Add your uncooked orzo and cook while stirring for about two minutes.

Add your chicken broth and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to simmer and cover your pan.

Simmer for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender. You’ll still have some liquid leftover even after the pasta is cooked and that’s great! It will be a nice starchy liquid that serves as a sauce.

Next, you’ll add your cheese, bacon, and basil. Stir until combined. If it’s a little thick, add a bit more chicken broth. And that is IT! You’re done!

Serve this up nice and hot! For some ideas on what to serve it with, keep reading.

Helpful Cookware and Tools

Here are some helpful cookware tools I use to make this creamy orzo pasta recipe.

Microplane Grater

I always use one of these Microplane graters to grate garlic into my dishes rather than make a sticky mess chopping it up.

Wire Baking Racks

These are the baking racks I use to cook bacon in the oven. They help crisp up the bacon and make clean up so much easier. The grease can drain onto the foil-lined pan and you can throw the racks into the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Can you Drain the Orzo?

I don’t recommend cooking the orzo like you would another pasta where you boil and drain it. I love to cook it in the chicken broth and let the liquid reduce to a thick, starchy sauce. It makes the orzo, and your finished dish, much more flavorful.

What to Serve with Creamy Bacon and Gruyère Orzo

We ate this as a quick lunch, but it would also be good with some chicken breasts and a little veggie side. Try this Grilled Basil Garlic Chicken from A Family Feast. And since your oven would already be pre-heated to 400-degrees, I recommend some Roasted Green Beans.

You could also pair this dish with:

A perfectly cooked steak
Roasted broccoli and/or cauliflower
Breaded or seasoned pork chops
A simple Italian side salad

Other Cheeses for this Creamy Orzo Pasta Recipe

Gruyere is one of my favorite cheeses for creamy pasta sauce, but there are so many other options!

Try using a mix of parmesan and pecorino romano.
Asiago and parmesan with a little bit of cream cheese melted in
Brie adds a creaminess when mixed with white cheddar
Swiss with white cheddar and brie is a creamy, salty combination
For another creamy option, try parmesan, pecorino, and a dollop of ricotta!

Is this Creamy Bacon and Gruyère Orzo a Kid Friendly Recipe?

Yes! I definitely omit the basil when I serve this to my girls because anything green still freaks my toddler out. But the creamy and salty pasta with bacon and cheese is a huge hit with kids. If your kids like vegetables, you can absolutely sauté some up and throw them right in with the pasta. Or serve them on the side and cross your fingers your kids at least take one bite (that’s what I do!)