This recipe for CrockPot Cheesy Ranch Orzo is super easy with only 4 ingredients. It’s ultra cheesy, creamy and almost risotto-like. Serve as a side dish with dinner or bring a big batch to your next potluck!
This orzo kind of reminds me of macaroni and cheese a little bit. It’s really creamy and comforting. I was thinking after I ate it that it would be super awesome with some green chiles for an extra flavor dimension or adding bacon bits would be totally tasty and make it taste almost like carbonara. Another idea is to add some cooked broccoli in with it and have a cheesy broccoli and pasta meal. I will definitely be playing with these flavor combinations in the future!
Recipe for Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Orzo
Makes 4 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 3 quart
Cooking time: 2 hours
1 cup orzo, uncooked
2 cups chicken broth
1 Tbsp Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1. Pour orzo into the bottom of the
slow cooker. Pour broth over the top of the orzo.
slow cooker. Pour broth over the top of the orzo.
2. Sprinkle with the ranch dressing
mix.
mix.
3. Cover and cook on low for about 2
hours.
hours.
4. When orzo is cooked through and
there isn’t any liquid left, stir in cheddar cheese gently. Serve
immediately for best results.
there isn’t any liquid left, stir in cheddar cheese gently. Serve
immediately for best results.
*For extra flavor add in bacon bits or a
can of green chiles.
can of green chiles.
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Lori Sari says
I love this recipe! I’ve made it several times before. I have a broken ankle so I’m trying to come up with easy recipes to help my daughter out. We doubled the recipe and added frozen broccoli. It came out so good!
Janelle says
if I doubled this recipe and cooked it in 6 qt slow cooker on high (only for the last half hour) would that work?
Karen says
yep that would work.
Joseph says
Looks good. I wonder if it would work well with mozzarella cheese. I like most cheese well enough but my girlfriend isn’t much of a cheese person (in fact I don’t think she likes too many cultured dairy products at all…that means no sour cream or yogurt products or buttermilk products either). About the only cheese she’ll eat is mozzarella and maybe provolone and only when it’s on or in things like lasagna or pizza (as those cheeses tend to be much milder in flavor). So she might enjoy a cheesy pasta made with mozzarella.
Karen says
Sure mozzarella would be really yummy!
Malinda says
I really want to try this, sounds so yummy. If I was making a double batch, how long would it need?
Karen says
Just add 30 minutes.
Heidi Bisagno says
How much time for just over 1 and a half times the recipe in a 6 quart crock pot? (I didn’t have enough orzo to completely double it).
Karen says
I would use the same amount of time, or maybe just a few minutes more.
Meghann says
So… Not sure what happened, I followed the directions precisely… But this turned into a homogeneous rubbery concoction that my kindergartener dubbed “mash-a-Roni” and refused to eat.
Karen says
Sorry to hear that! What size slow cooker did you use?
The DeMille Family says
If I were to add broccoli {probably frozen} when should I add it to the crock pot?
[email protected] says
I would add it at the beginning. Just place on top.
Senic says
Hi! This looks delicious. Could I use another mix (such as Knorr's french onion dip) instead of the ranch?
[email protected] says
Oh totally. That sounds yummy!
Lacey says
I just made this for a work potluck. Don't get me wrong- I liked it and will definitely make it again, but my co-workers were raving and all asking me for the recipe. As I type my boss is in her office telling her daughter in law (I think) about it. Great job- it was sure popular.
[email protected] says
Haha! You can't go wrong with cheesy pasta! Glad they liked it 🙂
Patti says
This looks easy and delish. Do you think it would double/triple okay?
thanks for the great recipes!
[email protected] says
yes! I think it would work great.