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Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese #SundaySupper

April 29, 2018

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I told you the other day about how I was wearing all the spring colors because yay spring.  I love spring.  The sunshine.  The warmth.  The flowers.

But while I’m just getting used to it, tipping my toes outside to see if it is warm enough for a walk each day, the bugs need to adjustment phase.  They are all out full blast.

We see bugs in the house year round with no idea from where they have come.  Lady bugs, spiders, these creepy beetles.

And now that it’s even a little nice out all the bugs are out.  Not even one or two days of nice bug free weather.  Walks now include swatting my way through swarms of gnats.  Ducking from flies.  Running from bees.  I even had one of those tiny gnats caught in my lipstick one day and it wasn’t even that nice out.

I am not complaining.  I am not.  I do not permit myself to complain about warm weather.  There is no such thing as too hot or too windy or too sunny when it is reasonably nice out and there is no snow on the ground.  Since bugs come with warm weather, I cannot complain about them either.

However, if they could mind their business and stay outside, that would be fantastic.

You know what else is fantastic?  This Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese.  As a kid I grew up on Kraft and Velveeta macaroni and cheeses.  Kraft was pure comfort food, a little lighter than the Velveeta and perfect for if I was under the weather.  Velveeta was indulgence and even better with some broccoli in it (it should really come as no surprise I was the kid that liked broccoli).

There was no such thing as baked macaroni and cheese and there still isn’t in my world.  You lose that goo factor.  The creaminess that made me fall in love with macaroni and cheese in the first place.

I don’t eat too many things out of boxes these days, so I needed a replacement and this is so it.  It is insanely easy to make, a genuine thirty minute meal, and it is packed with gooey, cheesy, flavor, that is only enhanced by a heavy dose of black pepper.

I used parmesan and gruyere in this recipe along with the orzo, but as I am so often telling you, use what you love and have on hand.  Mix it up to see what different flavor combinations you can create.  No one will complain about some hot and cheesy macaroni!

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Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese #SundaySupper


★★★

2.5 from 2 reviews

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 cups milk (I used skim, use what you love)
  • 8 ounces orzo pasta
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups freshly grated cheese (I used gruyere, use any gooey, easily melted cheese you love)
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Melt the butter and stir in the flour until well combined. Whisk in 1 cup of water until fully incorporated. Stir in the remaining water and milk and bring to a simmer. Add the pasta, mustard, and pepper, and simmer about 8 minutes, until the pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally.
  2. Stir in the cheeses until melted and serve immediately. This is going to be best served fresh, but it may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Eat cold or reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Gimme Some Oven

Did you make this recipe?

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Orzo Pasta Recipes

  • Beef with Onion Gravy Orzo by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
  • Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Chicken by Sunday Supper Movement
  • One Pot Italian Sausage Orzo with Spinach by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
  • Orzo Risotto with Asparagus and Shrimp by Delaware Girl Eats
  • Orzo Salad with Watermelon and Feta by Positively Stacey
  • Elegant Orzo Shrimp & Vegetable Salad Stuffed Avocados by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
  • Orzo with Provencal Pesto by Cooking Chat
  • Rice Pilaf Amandine by Palatable Pastime
  • Roasted Vegetable Salad with Orzo, Mozzarella and Basil by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
  • Southwestern Orzo by The Freshman Cook
  • Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese by Pies and Plots
  • Summer Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad by My Fearless Kitchen

Sunday Supper MovementThe Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

S

Filed Under: Savory Tagged With: Cheese, Dinner, Pasta

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Comments

  1. Cindy @CindysRecipesAndWritings says

    April 29, 2018 at 10:50 am

    I never thought to use orzo for mac and cheese. Great choice! Bugs are here already too. lol

    Reply
  2. Renee - Kudos Kitchen says

    April 29, 2018 at 11:26 am

    Look at that lovely bowl of delicious creaminess! What a fantastic idea to use orzo to make mac and cheese!!

    Reply
  3. Liz says

    April 29, 2018 at 2:13 pm

    Yup, this is exactly how my daughter likes her mac and cheese—no crust, no toppings. I’m going to have to make her a batch ASAP!

    Reply
  4. Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says

    April 30, 2018 at 4:16 pm

    I totally love the goo factor, the cheese, the pepper, the creaminess and the orzo! Such a great side Laura! Pinning!

    Reply
  5. Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck says

    December 29, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    This bowl of creamy goodness needs to happen at my house! The sooner the better!

    Reply
  6. Grace Slayton says

    June 27, 2020 at 7:20 pm

    The meserments were way off mind came out do liquidly like soup you chouldnt even see the pasta and I even added more chesse just very watery

    Reply
    • Laura says

      July 4, 2020 at 9:51 pm

      Hi Grace! I am sorry you had trouble with the recipe. It’s hard to say what might have caused this, perhaps the type of cheese used. I hope you were able to salvage it in some way. I mean, there are worse things than cheesy soup 😉

      Reply
  7. Sara says

    October 31, 2021 at 4:39 pm

    Epic failure! Flavor on point. Consistency was like soup.

    ★

    Reply
    • Laura says

      November 1, 2021 at 5:36 pm

      I’m so sorry, Sara. You could try adding more orzo or refrigerating and reheating it, as both of these will undoubtedly make it thicker.

      Reply
  8. Christine Pilling says

    January 11, 2022 at 7:32 pm

    This is delicious! Followed the recipe exactly, it wasn’t watery at all. We used cheddar as it was for kids – if we make this again, I think we’ll half the cheese to begin with and add more if necessary… it was a LOT of cheese. 😬

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 3, 2022 at 1:10 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed, Christine!! It is a lot of cheese, and with cheddar it might have been more powerful and gooey.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Chicken - Sunday Supper Movement says:
    April 29, 2018 at 7:17 am

    […] Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese by Pies and Plots […]

    Reply
  2. One Pot Italian Sausage Orzo with Spinach says:
    April 29, 2018 at 7:27 am

    […] Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese by Pies and Plots […]

    Reply
  3. Rice Pilaf Amandine and other Orzo recipes for #SundaySupper - says:
    April 29, 2018 at 8:23 am

    […] Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese by Pies and Plots […]

    Reply
  4. Elegant Orzo, Shrimp & Vegetable Salad Stuffed Avocado says:
    April 29, 2018 at 8:45 am

    […] Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese by Pies and Plots […]

    Reply
  5. Summer Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad #SundaySupper - My Fearless Kitchen says:
    April 29, 2018 at 10:01 am

    […] Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese by Pies and Plots […]

    Reply
  6. Orzo with Provencal Pesto #SundaySupper | Cooking Chat says:
    April 30, 2018 at 5:53 pm

    […] Stovetop Orzo Macaroni and Cheese by Pies and Plots […]

    Reply
  7. January Recipe Round-Up | The Saucy Southerner says:
    December 31, 2018 at 6:05 am

    […] Manicotti w/ Bechamel Sauce from Girl Gone Mom Stovetop Orzo Macaroni & Cheese from Pies and Plots Weeknight Chicken Pot Pie from Books n’ Cooks Instant Pot Beef Tips […]

    Reply

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