Are you looking for a simple, light, easy-to-make side dish? This Cheesy Asparagus Orzo Pasta Salad is full of fresh asparagus and melty Parmesan cheese, perfect for a summer cookout or any meal!
Cheesy Asparagus Orzo Pasta Salad
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I am always looking for an interesting side dish for any meal. This warm pasta salad is delicious on it’s own, with a burger or steak, with a simple salad, or however you want to eat it!
I have found a new love for orzo pasta! It’s a fun change of pace from rice. Even though it’s pasta, it doesn’t exactly look like pasta, so it feels like something different (even when it’s the same). And because the pasta is short and sturdy, I don’t worry so much about it sticking together or falling apart like I do with other pasta shapes. Orzo is pretty versatile, and I’m having fun with it!
And of course fresh asparagus… This pasta salad is going to be a staple in our house every spring (and beyond)! While I love a basic roasted asparagus, sometimes that gets just a little bit boring. This is the perfect way to mix it up and still enjoy fresh spring asparagus!
This recipe is very similar to our Cheesy Zucchini Orzo Pasta Salad. You guessed it – I swapped out asparagus for the zucchini. If you want, you could put both asparagus and zucchini in this pasta salad, or add more vegetables, or take the vegetables out completely and just eat the orzo pasta with the Parmesan cheese! I don’t know about you, but I think I could fall into a bowl of this pretty much any way it was prepared!
Enjoy!
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Printable Recipe Card for Cheesy Asparagus Orzo Pasta Salad
Cheesy Asparagus Orzo Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the asparagus:
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the pasta salad:
- 2 cups cooked orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Roast the asparagus:
- Place the asparagus on a lipped baking sheet.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the asparagus, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Toss the asparagus to coat.
- Bake the asparagus at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, tossing occasionally, until tender.
- When asparagus is cool enough to handle, cut it into bite-size pieces.
Assemble the pasta salad.
- In a large skillet, combine the cooked orzo, cooked asparagus, and shredded Parmesan.
- Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes until everything is heated through and the cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately.
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