This Creamy Salmon and Orzo Skillet is the perfect one pan meal for an easy and delicious weeknight dinner.
One-pot
Easy cleanup
You’ll Learn: The pan-searing technique for ideal salmon texture
Worth It: It’s a satisfying, protein-forward option that actually keeps you full
Bonus: One-pan approach for easy cleanup
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy weeknight eating – This recipe has minimal prep, making it perfect for an easy meal on a busy weeknight
- One pan meal – Clean up is so easy because everything goes into one skillet
- Light and refreshing – Even though this is a creamier dish, it feels so summery and fresh with the lemon and salmon flavors
Serving suggestions
This salmon and orzo skillet is great on its own because it has protein, carbs, and veggies, but you can serve it with more greens on the side if you would like. I like to make a quick greens salad with creamy balsamic dressing or an apple cider vinaigrette.
For an easy summer dessert, you could make this strawberry cheesecake dip.
Ingredients and Ingredient Substitutions
- Kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper – this simple spice blend seasons the salmon. Feel free to add any other spices or seasonings you love.
- Salmon fillets – if you don’t want to use salmon, you could also make this dish with chicken breasts, but adjust your cooking time as needed.
- Olive oil – use a bit of oil in the pan to cook your protein
- Butter – the butter will toast the orzo and give it great flavor
- Dry orzo pasta – I love to use orzo because it cooks perfectly alongside the salmon
- Chicken broth – you could use water but cooking with chicken broth adds extra flavor
- Fresh or frozen green peas – peas are an easy way to add in some vegetables to your orzo skillet
- Boursin cheese spread or any herbed soft cheese – I love boursin but any soft cheese you love will work great
- Lemon – the lemon is the perfect garnish on your salmon
How to make
Step 1: Season and Cook Salmon
Preheat oven to 400F. Combine salt, garlic powder, and black pepper in a bowl. Pat the salmon dry and season each fillet with the seasoning mixture.
Heat an oven safe skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and place salmon fillets flesh side down. Let the salmon cook for about 4 minutes. When the fillets are browned, remove from the skillet.
Step 2: Cook Orzo
Reduce skillet heat to medium-low. Add the butter and let it melt before pouring in the orzo. Toss the orzo and allow it to cook for a minute or two.
Pour the chicken broth into the pan, stir and increase the heat. As soon as the broth starts to bubble and simmer, add the peas and Boursin cheese to the skillet.
Step 2: Bake and Enjoy
Stir constantly until the cheese is melted. Turn off the heat and nestle the salmon back into the skillet.
Place skillet in the oven to cook for 12-14 minutes. Salmon should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145F. Squeeze lemon juice over the skillet and serve warm.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, put the salmon and orzo in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
Check out these other One Pan Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Creamy Salmon and Orzo Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 fillets of salmon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup fresh or frozen green peas
- 7 oz Boursin cheese spread or any herbed soft cheese
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Combine salt, garlic powder, and black pepper in a small bowl. Place fillets of salmon on a plate and pat dry with a paper towel. Season each fillet liberally on the flesh side with the seasoning mixture.
- Heat an oven safe skillet over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add olive oil and carefully place salmon fillets in the skillet flesh side down.
- Let the salmon cook without moving them for about 4 minutes. When the fillets are browned, remove from the skillet.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium-low. Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt before pouring in the orzo. Toss the orzo in the butter and allow it to cook for a minute or two.
- Pour the chicken broth into the pan, stir and increase the heat back up to medium. As soon as the broth starts to bubbler and simmer, add the peas and Boursin cheese to the skillet.
- Stir constantly until the cheese is completely melted. Turn off the heat and nestle the salmon fillets back into the skillet with the flesh side facing up.
- Place skillet in the oven to cook at 400F for 12-14 minutes. Salmon should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145F
- Squeeze lemon juice over the skillet and serve warm.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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